Hurricane Helene caused 57 deaths in Buncombe County, left 'miles of complete devastation'

Hurricane Helene caused 57 people to die in Buncombe County alone, according to the sheriff.

More than 100,000 people remain without power in the county, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. Water and meals will continue to be provided at several distribution sites in the county. Neighboring counties have stepped in to help and are now receiving overflow 911 calls from Buncombe County, Pinder said.

There are "miles of complete devastation" in Buncombe County, said Scott Dean, with the responding National Urban Search and Rescue team. Nineteen federal urban search and rescue teams are on the ground in the state, working to get to those that cannot leave their homes and to provide assistance. Local police and fire departments are responding to more accessible areas to answer calls.

Buncombe County and state officials are also discussing deploying and using mobile morgues in the county, Pinder said.

Biltmore Village no longer has standing water, but roads remain blocked from the devastation, which will continue to make it difficult to respond and remove debris from the Asheville neighborhood.

Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, Buncombe County Medical Director, said that the county is accepting donations of certain medications and providing primary health care to adults in need. The NC Board of Pharmacy is helping direct people to pharmacies that are currently open in the state.

Asheville Assistant City Manager Ben Woody reiterated that it would take weeks for water services to be fully restored in the city.

President Joe Biden announced he would be traveling in North and South Carolina to tour damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

The president will make the trip Wednesday, Oct. 2.

While in the area, he will see the damage caused by the hurricane, receive operational briefings, and meet with first responders and local officials.

Specifics about where he will visit in the Carolinas have not been released at this time.

Hurricane Helene demolished the bustling lake town between Asheville and Charlotte known as Lake Lure.

Conditions continue to be so bad in Lake Lure that people are not allowed -- and can't get access -- into the town. Roads leading into the town were washed out and homes and businesses were severely damaged.

Restaurants and volunteer organizations are working to get supplies to people in the town who need it most.

People who live and work in the area described it to ABC11 as a "Katrina-like event."

The community of Bat Cave is located just west of Lake Lure. It saw damage just as devastating.

"Bat Cave looks third world right now. People are out in the streets cooking and people are having heart attacks and strokes and people are trying to get out," Paul Brock said.

Brock owns a restaurant in Lake Lure, but he and his partner live in a home in Bat Cave. They had to be airlifted out of that home Monday.

Pastor Mike Roberts wants to see the government doing more to help.

"Help. We need help for this whole area. We can't be the only ones left out of the government's help. These people love this country just like I do, and they need help," he said.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and other government officials told residents displaced by Hurricane Helene and those worried about loved ones that a massive effort continued Tuesday to bring stability to the mountains - and to their lives.

"No matter where you are in western North Carolina, if you need help, we are working around the clock to reach you," Cooper said at a media briefing in Raleigh.

The state Division of Emergency Management confirmed 38 storm-related deaths in North Carolina from Helene, with the number expected to rise.

"The devastation brought by Helene is beyond belief. Communities were wiped off the map," Cooper said. He planned to return the damaged areas later Tuesday.

More than 1,100 people were staying in close to 30 shelters in the region, with over 400 roads still closed and hundreds of rescues completed, officials said. First responders and others were working to locate people whose loved ones or friends had not heard from or needed welfare checks.

The National Guard ferried close to 200,000 pounds (90,700 kilograms) of food and other necessities out of the Asheville Regional Airport on Monday, North Carolina guard Major General Todd Hunt said.