ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Rescuers continue to search for anyone still unaccounted for since Hurricane Helene's remnants caused catastrophic damage to the Southeast, with the death toll at least 220.
The devastation was especially bad in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where at least 40 people died in and around the city of Asheville, a tourism haven known for its art galleries, breweries and outdoor activities.
The death toll in North Carolina is at 72 after Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller reported additional deaths. At least 200 people remain missing.
The sheriff sent a message to those still stranded or unaccounted for.
"We know these are hard times, but please know we're coming. We're here to get you," Sheriff Miller said Thursday. "We will not rest until you are secure and being cared for," he said.
Exhausted emergency crews worked around the clock to clear roads, restore power and phone service, and reach those still stranded by the storm. Nearly half of the storm's deaths were in North Carolina, while dozens of others were in South Carolina and Georgia.
The ongoing search is complicated by obstacles such as landslides and blocked roads.
"Our search and rescue crews are using drones and canines to search for people," an official told ABC News. "Once those crews have exhausted every resource, we will conclude the search."
The western part of the state is in ruins from destroyed homes, severe flooding, mudslides and collapsed roads. Some roads are gone making it a challenge to deliver water, food and other supplies to people.
Search and rescue crews from all levels of government were deployed throughout western North Carolina. Federal agencies, aid groups and volunteers worked to deliver supplies by air, truck and even mule train.
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