Death toll drops from Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County

The North Carolina county that is home to Asheville overcounted deaths caused by Helene by as many as 30, according to a statement Tuesday from its sheriff’s office and data from the state, significantly reducing the death toll from the historic storm.

Buncombe County officials, who previously reported 72 deaths, are now deferring to a state tally of 42 deaths for the county.

The county's number dates back to an Oct. 3 news release in which county officials reported that “72 lives have been lost due to Hurricane Helene,” repeating a number cited by Sheriff Quentin Miller at an earlier media briefing. But state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a number lower than that for the county. The number for Buncombe County included in the state's tally has stood at 42 since at least Oct. 10.

[bellat]

A woman on tic Toc she lives close to there and she said over 2000 died

[michaelmurphy]

Yet people I follow and his teams who were actually on the ground found over 260 bodies and that was weeks ago.

[patmcbride]

It has nothing to do with people trying to over dramatize or get more government aide, right?

[arianeyhammer]

I live in Asheville. I know first hand 15 people alone….42 people is a complete lie. Why is the Sherriff and media lying to the public. They really think we are stupid