With death toll at 95, Helene is the deadliest tropical storm in NC history

More than three weeks after Helene tore through North Carolina, the death toll from the storm is continuing to rise. 

According to a press release from Governor Roy Cooper’s office, 95 people are confirmed dead and 26 remain missing, making Helene the deadliest tropical storm in the state’s history. 

The release says the North Carolina National Guard rescued 765 people from floodwaters, with local first responders rescuing hundreds more. 

Officials say state, federal and local agencies are continuing to make progress on recovery efforts. Nearly 800 of the 1,200 roadways that closed after the storm have reopened. Around 5,000 residents remain without power — down from a peak of more than a million. And about $129 million in direct disaster assistance has been distributed to those impacted.  

In the release, Cooper warned against spreading disinformation about the storm, and recently called out former President Donald Trump for making false claims about recovery efforts on social media. The governor said those claims “have hurt the morale of first responders and people who lost everything, helped scam artists and put government and rescue workers in danger.”