'All-hands-on-deck operation,' Cooper says; NC's Helene death toll at 88

When Helene hit McDowell County, the whole area was covered by water and landslides. The town of Old Fort has been quick to clear the roads and get residents moving again but there are piles of debris left behind from homes, some of them gutted, some of them completely gone.

The people still here are trying to figure out what's next.

The town of Old Fort has been quick to clear the roads and get residents moving again but piles of debris remain.

China Langford rode out the storm as water began to fill her house. Realizing it was too late to evacuate, she and her dog tried to go to the second floor of her sister's home next door.

"By the time we decided we should evacuate that house, it was about up to our waists," Langford said. "And the three of us and our dog just hugged the side of the cinder-block building here so we could get to our neighbor's carport. And then we stood there about 3 hours."

They made it out, but their home is considered unlivable until they can decide whether it's worth repairing.

While homeowners here are still waiting for FEMA assistance, town leaders in Old Fort are also working to get the water back on, get all the shops and restaurants back open and the town up and running

They are also working to get schools back in session as soon as this week.

Eleven family members living in what is known to locals in Fairview, North Carolina, as Craigtown are part of the more than 200 people killed by Helene.

"It's unrecognizable now, but this is where I was born and raised," Jesse Craig said to ABC11 as he walked Diane Wilson through the destruction of his hometown.

Jesse and his wife MeKenzie are still grappling with the life-altering nature of this storm.

"We'll never make sense of it. You know, it's our community and our town. I don't -- I don't know that it'll ever be the same," MeKenzie said. "It's been that life-altering a situation."

Craigtown is a remote part of western North Carolina that's now even harder to get to due to Helene.

A mudslide caused by Helene left a path of destruction through Craigtown, erasing several homes and killing everyone who was inside them.

Click here to read the complete story and see how you can donate to the Craigs.

Airbnb said Tuesday that it is offering relief for people displaced by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The company is offering free, temporary housing to those displaced or who were forced to evacuate from their homes. The organization is seeking volunteers who can offer a place to stay to those fleeing the region ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall on Wednesday.

In just more than a week, Airbnb has provided access to free housing for more than 2,400 people displaced by Helene. Airbnb said it will continue to support Helene relief efforts in North Carolina, Florida and South Carolina.

People who have homes or space available can sign up through Airbnb or they can donate to Airbnb. The company said 100% of donations go toward covering the cost of temporary stays. All one-time donations will be matched 100 percent by Airbnb until Nov. 1.

Learn more here.

Monday is the last day to donate to the Helene donation drive organized by several agencies and law enforcement.

This includes the Wake County Sheriff's Office, Back the Blue and the North Carolina FOP.

At least six truck-loads of items were taken to western Carolina since last Thursday when the drive started. Four of them were 26-foot trucks and one of them was a tractor-trailer.

The level of donations reflects the community's support for our neighbors in need.

"Everything that we're sending out there is useful to not only the first responders out there but the citizens that were also affected by the hurricane," Wake County Sheriff's Office Capt. Paul Anastasi said.

Donations will be accepted until 4 p.m.

At least six truck-loads of items were taken to western Carolina since last Thursday.