Buncombe County Revises Death Toll: 72 to 42 in Asheville Area
- Buncombe County, North Carolina, originally reported 72 deaths attributed to Hurricane Helene, but has now revised that number to 42.
- The initial overcount was due to challenges in communication and misclassification of deaths as storm-related.
- The revised figure aligns with the state tally and reflects a more accurate count of fatalities caused directly by the storm.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which impacted North Carolina, Buncombe County's death toll was initially reported at 72. However, the county's sheriff's office has now revised this number downward to 42, deferring to a state tally that has been consistent since October 10. The discrepancy arose due to difficulties in communication following the storm, which disrupted both cell service and electricity across multiple counties in the region. The chaos following the hurricane led to a rush in reporting fatalities, with all deaths being classified as storm-related initially. As investigations progressed, county officials were able to distinguish between deaths actually caused by the hurricane and those that occurred due to other reasons. This overcount was acknowledged by Public Information Officer Christina Esmay, who attributed the inflated numbers to a lack of consistent communication during a critical period. The revised figure has brought Buncombe County's tally in line with state evaluations, reflecting a more accurate assessment of storm-related deaths. As of the latest updates, the total death count associated with Hurricane Helene in the state stands at 96. This incident highlights the need for careful evaluation and communication in disaster response scenarios to ensure accurate reporting of fatalities.