Buncombe County Corrects Hurricane Helene Death Toll

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office has revised the death toll from Hurricane Helene. Initially reported as 72, the new count is now 42. This reduction comes from a more accurate classification of storm-related deaths. The confusion arose due to communication issues caused by power outages. State officials have consistently reported 42 deaths since early October. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, all deaths were initially considered storm-related. However, as time passed, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office was able to differentiate between hurricane-related deaths and those from other causes. This clarification led to a decrease in the reported death toll. The Department of Health and Human Services reports a total of 96 deaths statewide from Hurricane Helene. This revision in the death count highlights the challenges in accurately reporting fatalities during natural disasters.