How to help people affected by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas
Both North and South Carolina have been reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene, since it hit last Thursday and left a trail of devastation, including widespread flooding, in its wake.
NBC affiliate WCNC of Charlotte, North Carolina has partnered with the American Red Cross to gather donations to help those most in need — contributions can be made at this link. More than $7,000 has been raised so far.
WCNC has also partnered with Operation Airdrop, a voluntary group that distributes supplies after natural disasters. The group intends to send much-needed food, drink and practical goods to mountain communities, including via Asheville Regional Airport.
Hundreds missing and dozens dead in aftermath of Helene
Searches are ongoing this morning for hundreds of missing people across southeastern states this morning, with at least 88 confirmed fatalities across six states, according to a list maintained by NBC News.
At least 30 people have died in a single county in Asheville, North Carolina, the site of disastrous flooding, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said at a news conference yesterday.
Earlier in the day, some 1,000 people there were unaccounted for, although this dropped to below 600 by 4 p.m. ET, he said, with a new figure due this morning.
At least 153 people are missing and two have died due to severe weather flooding in northeast Tennessee, the state’s emergency management agency said in a briefing last night. A new hotline has been established to report any missing person: 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).
Up-to-date numbers are hard to obtain due to the size, speed and complexity of recovery efforts.
Kamala Harris pauses election campaigning to return to Washington
Vice President Kamala Harris is pausing campaigning to return to Washington and receive briefings on the federal response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
The Democratic presidential nominee is flying from Las Vegas and canceling a number of planned campaign stops, a White House spokesperson said this morning.
“Upon arrival, she will travel to FEMA Headquarters where she will be briefed on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene and the Federal actions being taken to support emergency response and recovery,” the spokesperson said.
Harris will also visit affected communities, “as soon as it is possible without disrupting emergency response operations.”
More than 2 million customers without power across Southeast
There is no let-up in Helene’s devastating impact on energy infrastructure: More than 2 million power are without power this morning as of 3.30 a.m. ET, from Florida to Ohio, according PowerOutage.us.
South Carolina is the worst affected with 755,000 energy customers in the dark, followed by 582,000 in Georgia and 458,000 in North Carolina.
Ohio is the most northerly affected state, with 32,000 customers out.
Operations suspended at multiple USPS facilities due to weather
Operations at a number of U.S. Postal Service facilities, including those tasked with delivering and accepting mail, are down around the country due to the weather.
Some states hit hard by Helene, like North Carolina and Georgia, reported dozens of locations with suspended operations.
Customers check whether their state has any disruptions on the USPS website.
Families try to find those unaccounted following floods in Tennessee
Reporting from ERWIN, Tennessee
In hard-hit eastern Tennessee, flooding swallowed up entire neighborhoods. Tonight dozens of people unaccounted for and their loved ones are desperate for any news. NBC News’ Priscilla Thompson reports.
Trump to visit Georgia today
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will visit hard-hit Valdosta, Georgia, today, his campaign said.
The former president will be briefed on the damage in the state, where at least 17 people have died in the storm. He will also assist with relief and deliver remarks, the campaign said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be touring storm damage in Augusta and won’t be present at Trump’s stop, according to an aide for Kemp.
Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have indicated they plan to travel to impacted areas once they can do so without disrupting emergency operations, according to White House officials.
More rain still possible across parts of Central Appalachians
The leftovers of once-Hurricane Helene combined with a mild rain front could dump additional rain on parts of Central Appalachians, federal forecasters said.
Between 1 to 2 inches of rain, with up to 5 inches in some areas, could fall from West Virginia into northwest Virginia and far western Maryland, according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
“There’s moisture on the east side of [the front] being funneled into the area, but also a localized feature causing a focus of rain,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jeremy Geiger of the Baltimore/Washington office in Sterling, Virginia.
The rain is expected to move out of the already-saturated area after Tuesday or Wednesday.
Residents tour flooded neighborhood in kayaks after Hurricane Helene
Residents in Hendersonville, North Carolina, toured their neighborhood in kayaks after Hurricane Helene flooded the area. The storm is expected to dissipate, but heavy rain and flash flooding remain threats for parts of the Appalachians.