Helene's grim toll: 104 lives lost in North Carolina, state officials say
NCDHHS confirms storm-related deaths amid ongoing questions about missing persons more than 100 days later
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Over three months after the historic storm Helene devastated western North Carolina, state officials have confirmed that 104 people lost their lives due to storm-related causes across 22 counties. This week the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) released a list fatalities with names for the first time, marking a somber milestone in the state’s recovery.
While the official death toll stands at 104, many believe the true number could be higher, particularly during the chaotic early days following the storm. The total number of missing persons remains unclear, as each law enforcement agency handles these cases independently. However, in October, Rutherford County authorities reported that over 1,100 individuals were located safely, with no active missing persons cases remaining.
The most recent addition to the death toll was for a motor vehicle crash in Mitchell County. The storm’s fatalities across seven states is 233. Hurricane Helene has left an indelible mark as one of the worst natural disasters in North Carolina's history, with estimated damages surpassing $53 billion according to former Governor Roy Cooper’s office. There’s also the politics of cost-sharing.
“President Biden agreed to North Carolina’s request to cover 90% of Public Assistance. The federal government typically covers 75% of the cost. The increased federal reimbursement share decreases the financial cost to the State of North Carolina for eligible programs and projects,” Cooper said in December.
Billions of federal aid has supplemented state contributions of $1.1 billion across three legislative packages, with more expected. Newly sworn-in Governor Josh Stein has issued executive orders targeting critical recovery efforts, including assistance for over 12,000 people without safe housing and repairs to an estimated 8,000 private roads and bridges to restore access for essential services.
Helene's extraordinary rainfall, exceeding 30 inches in some areas, led to catastrophic flooding in the mountainous terrain, far surpassing forecasts. North Carolina’s reported deaths are primarily from drownings, landslides, and blunt force injuries, with significant fatalities also recorded across South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, and Indiana. Helene now ranks as the fourth deadliest Atlantic hurricane in 75 years, following Katrina, Audrey, and Camille.
North Carolina Emergency Management initially partnered with United Way of NC and the 211 system to track missing persons in the immediate aftermath of the storm. However, state officials confirmed in November that this system is no longer in use, raising questions about the long-term tracking and support for affected families.
Honoring the Lives Lost
To honor those who perished during Helene, the following list includes the names of all 104 individuals confirmed by NCDHHS. These names represent not just statistics but beloved family members, friends, and neighbors whose lives were cut short by the storm. If someone lived in one county but died in another, the “county of death” is reflected, per NCDHHS. The names, counties of death and dates of death of the victims are as follows:
Vicki Lynn Allen - Henderson County - 9/27/2024
James Ernest Andrews - Yancey County - 9/27/2024
Keith Max Arvey - Macon County - 10/4/2024
Robert Bruce Athey - Yancey County - 10/1/2024
Marsha Lynn Ball - Buncombe County - 9/27/2024
Cathy Jo Blackburn - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Lisa Peeler Brady - Rutherford County - 10/2/2024
Billy Joe Calloway - Avery County - 9/27/2024
Patricia Craine Carey - Polk County - 9/27/2024
James Ryan Carroll - Mitchell County - 12/7/2024
Brian Hilbert Carter - Buncombe County - 10/2/2024
David Allen Carver - Avery County - 9/28/2024
Molly Ashleigh Chandler - Madison County - 9/27/2024
Rocco Vincent Chieco - Madison County - 10/2/2024
Kathleen Egitto Chieco - Madison County - 10/3/2024
William Carl Cordell - Henderson County - 10/19/2024
Angela Leigh Craig - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Sandra Elizabeth Craig - Buncombe County - 10/5/2024
Ronald Jesse Craig - Buncombe County - 10/7/2024
Robert Jack Davis - Rutherford County - 10/3/2024
George Frank Dixon - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Judy Gail Dockery - Buncombe County - 9/28/2024
James Olver Dockery - Buncombe County - 9/28/2024
Madge Louise Downs - Rutherford County - 10/2/2024
George Wesley Drye - Henderson County - 9/30/2024
Michael Warren Drye - Buncombe County - 10/1/2024
Nora Drye - Buncombe County - 10/5/2024
Micah Ashton Drye - Buncombe County - 9/30/2024
Christopher Sylvester Haywood Dunbar - Henderson County - 9/30/2024
Patricia Elaine Fleming - Buncombe County - 9/27/2024
Thomas Mitchell Freeman - Henderson County - 9/27/2024
Luna Jade Gaddis - Catawba County - 9/26/2024
Brian Christopher Gaddis - Haywood County - 9/27/2024
Chase Edward Garrell - Buncombe County - 10/5/2024
Tony Ray Garrison - Buncombe County - 9/27/2024
Janicke Therese Glynn - Yancey County - 9/29/2024
Gabriel Gonzalez Gonzalez - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Jacqueline Lum Goodrich - Wake County - 10/12/2024
May Colette Greene - Yancey County - 9/29/2024
Melissa Sue Guinn - Avery County - 9/27/2024
James Harbison - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Gordon Dean Hargrove - Haywood County - 9/28/2024
Cheryl Lynn Hart - Watauga County - 9/27/2024
Jody Nyle Henderson - Buncombe County - 10/5/2024
Joseph Charles Hoyle - Cleveland County - 9/27/2024
Lula Bell Jackson - Buncombe County - 9/28/2024
John David Keretz - Buncombe County - 10/1/2024
Omar Farooq Khan - Buncombe County - 10/9/2024
Jessica Lynn Kirby - Buncombe County - 10/4/2024
Charles James Lau - Macon County - 9/28/2024
Melissa Marlene Lawrence - Cleveland County - 9/27/2024
Victoria Rose Leger - Gaston County - 9/28/2024
Julie Ann le Roux - McDowell County - 10/3/2024
Jeffrey Alan Mackay - Mecklenburg County - 10/9/2024
Shirley Maureen Mains - Ashe County - 9/27/2024
Juan Martin - Yancey County - 11/12/2024
Phyllis Ann Matheson - Henderson County - 9/27/2024
Michael Gene Matheson - Henderson County - 9/27/2024
Angela Ruth Maybin - Henderson County - 9/29/2024
Elizabeth Rose Mayes - Henderson County - 9/30/2024
Lyn Dale Mcfarland - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Norman McGahee - Buncombe County - 10/2/2024
Patrick Andrew McLean - Buncombe County - 10/7/2024
Calvin Michael McMahan - Buncombe County - 9/30/2024
Jeffrey Lee Merry - Rowan County - 10/5/2024
Nick Hartwell Mitchell - Burke County - 9/27/2024
Jimmy Issac Moore - Rutherford County - 9/27/2024
Timothy Lee Moore - Buncombe County - 9/27/2024
Sean Michael O’Connor - Buncombe County - 9/30/2024
Freddie James Pack - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Teresa Kim Pack - Buncombe County - 10/7/2024
Knox Emerson Petrucci - Mitchell County - 10/7/2024
Lisa Renee Plemmons - Buncombe County - 10/3/2024
Todd Joseph Proffitt - Yadkin County - 9/27/2024
Michelle Lynn Quintero - Yancey County - 9/27/2024
Patricia Ruth Radford - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Nola Lee Ramsuer - Buncombe County - 10/4/2024
Robert Lee Ramsuer - Buncombe County - 10/7/2024
Shirley Anne Ray - Haywood County - 9/29/2024
Brittany Rosann Robinson - Watauga County - 9/27/2024
Sandra Lynn Rogers - Haywood County - 10/2/2024
Robert Butch Ross - Avery County - 9/27/2024
Robert Brandon Ruppe - Buncombe County - 9/28/2024
David Eric Russell - Haywood County - 9/28/2024
James Michael Scroggs - Wilkes County - 10/22/2024
Anastasiia Novitnia Segen - Yancey County - 10/10/2024
Dmytro Segen - Yancey County - 10/4/2024
James Scott Sieminski - Henderson County - 9/28/2024
Lois Edith Souther - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
James Willard Souther - Buncombe County - 10/7/2024
Kim Kutscher Stepp - Buncombe County - 9/30/2024
Bobby Dewayne Stokely - Buncombe County - 10/28/2024
Susan Strickland - Yancey County - 9/27/2024
Anthony Ernest Taylor - Mecklenburg County - 9/27/2024
Bruce Eugene Tipton - Madison County - 10/2/2024
Danny Van Huffman - Mecklenburg County - 10/11/2024
Michael Gordon Whitehouse - Mitchell County - 10/7/2024
Charlene Wilber - Avery County - 9/28/2024
Lucas Odhran Wisely - Yancey County - 10/1/2024
Felix Alexander Wisely - Yancey County - 10/1/2024
Evelyn Lorrine Wright - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Daniel Lunnie Wright - Buncombe County - 10/4/2024
Samira Jordan Zoobi - Buncombe County - 9/29/2024
Christopher John Zserai - Henderson County - 10/27/2024
North Carolina residents whose bodies were recovered in Tennessee were not included in the list and it is unclear how many of them were of Tennessee’s fatalities. A breakdown by county has been available, but yesterday was the first time the state released the names, counties, and dates. According to the NCDHHS website:
“There are 104 verified storm-related fatalities in North Carolina as of December 23, 2024 due to Hurricane Helene. Beginning December 19, 2024 NCDHHS will provide updates only when there are changes. The information is verified through official channels and is subject to change based on investigation.
It is important to note that only emergency responders tasked with supporting fatality management after the storm are qualified to move, document and transport decedents. Anyone else who encounters evidence of a person who has died, or a family who needs help with a loved one who has died, should call emergency services for assistance.”
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress Commentary
Why Did It Take 100 Days for NCDHHS to Release Helene’s Victim List?
NCDHHS took over 100 days to release the names of those who died during Hurricane Helene, raising serious questions about transparency and efficiency in crisis response.
Why the delay? Officials have cited the need to verify storm-related deaths, but that explanation falls flat when considering the urgency of providing closure to grieving families and the public. In the critical aftermath of a disaster, timely information isn’t just a bureaucratic formality—it’s a moral responsibility.
This prolonged silence points to deeper systemic issues: disorganized communication between agencies, outdated reporting processes, and a lack of prioritization for public accountability. While families waited for answers, trust in government response eroded.
Moving forward, North Carolina must adopt stricter timelines for reporting fatalities, improve interagency collaboration, and ensure public transparency. When lives are lost, clear communication is needed immediately. Anything less fails the communities officials are supposed to serve.
🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Do we have a count of how many people are still missing?
Is there a list somewhere of the people who are still missing? This list should be made public.