Asheville, N.C. — In a recent revision of data, Buncombe County has significantly lowered its reported death toll from Hurricane Helene, acknowledging an overcount by approximately 30 fatalities. The revised tally aligns with state figures, painting a clearer picture of the storm’s impact on the region.
Previously, county officials reported that 72 lives were lost due to the historic storm. However, updated figures provided by the state show only 42 storm-related deaths in the county, which encompasses Asheville. This adjustment comes after discrepancies arose between local and state figures.
The initial count by Buncombe County officials followed an Oct. 3 announcement, but a meticulous review by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, which consistently indicated lower figures, caused officials to reassess their data. As of Oct. 10, the state’s death toll for Buncombe has stood firm at 42.
In a move toward transparency, Christina Esmay, Public Information Officer for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, issued a statement explaining modifications in the fatality count. She cited updated causes of deaths and complications in initial communications due to storm-inflicted disruptions in cell service and electricity across several mountain counties.
The early days post-Helene saw all deaths preliminarily classified as storm-related within the county. “As time progressed, we were able to more accurately determine which deaths were directly due to Hurricane Helene, who were actually residents of Buncombe County, and who died from other causes,” the sheriff’s office clarified, acknowledging the role that inconsistent communication played due to the widespread outages during the disaster.
This acknowledgment reveals the challenges faced by local officials during disaster scenarios where the urgency to report figures can occasionally lead to premature counts. This scenario underscores the importance of cross-verifying with state-level data which, according to process, undergoes scrutiny by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Adding to the complexity, neighboring Henderson County also reported a disparity initially but has since aligned its numbers with the state’s official count. This adjustment is part of a larger statewide reassessment post-Hurricane Helene.
As of the latest reports, the state has accounted for 96 storm-related deaths across North Carolina, a number that had been fluctuating as bodies were discovered and examined. Conversations with Kelly Haight Connor, a spokesperson for the State Department of Health and Human Services, conveyed that while the storm’s death toll in mountain areas is becoming more concrete, the possibility of it increasing slightly still exists.
The accurate tally of fatalities is crucial, not only for historical records and governmental responses but also for the families affected who seek clarity amidst their grief. As local and state agencies continue to refine their reporting processes, the lessons learned from Hurricane Helene are likely to inform future responses to natural disasters, aiming for swift and accurate communication to better serve impacted communities.