Two Watauga County residents confirmed dead after Helene, officials say

Watauga County officials say two residents were killed by landslides after Helene swept through mountain communities. Numerous other injuries have been attributed to the storm or clean-up efforts.

At a press conference, County Director of Emergency Management Will Holt said they are working with volunteer organizations and state officials to set up distribution points for hot meals, water, and cell phone charging stations. 

“This storm has stretched the capacity of all our partners. So please understand these efforts are moving as fast as possible," he said. "And in an effort to keep our citizens safe, and continue to allow for response and recovery operations, we continue to ask everyone to please stay out of Watauga County unless you were called upon or coordinated.” 

Holt called uncoordinated donations “incredibly harmful.” He also characterized recovery as a “yearslong process.”

Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle said the town would stay under a curfew for the foreseeable future from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. He also said Boone’s water boil advisory has been lifted as issues at the water plant have been resolved.