The death toll rises in light of Helene's relief

(This article is being updated. Read our previous coverage here.)

Relief efforts continue in Asheville and western North Carolina, where a major disaster caused by Tropical Storm Helene has devastated communities, left roads impassable and thousands without power. There were only estimates of the extent of the destruction on Sunday evening; the full extent of the Helene devastation will probably only be known for some time.

Check back for live updates arriving throughout Monday.

How Helene influences the postal service and voting

Helene hit North Carolina just days after mail-in ballots were scheduled to go out to military voters and overseas voters, as well as anyone else who requested them.

The United States Postal Service in Asheville said in an automated message that Helene “could impact the processing, transportation and delivery of mail and packages. Please allow additional time for final delivery of your item.”

As of September 29, the USPS Service Alert website states: “All retail and delivery operations for facilities in the three-digit zip code areas 286, 287, 288 and 289 are temporarily suspended until further notice due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. “

For more information, including how to track your ballot, read Sarah Gleason’s story here.

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Tropical Storm Helene

North Carolina has received a federal major disaster declaration after Tropical Storm Helene struck western parts of the state last week.

More than 430,000 people in North Carolina were still without power late Sunday after the deadly storm destroyed homes, trapped residents, triggered landslides and inundated communities in raging floodwaters.

Was your home damaged by floods and landslides caused by Helene? Samantha Neely shares details about applying for FEMA assistance in North Carolina in this story.

5 additional deaths were reported in Buncombe County

Five others died as a result of Tropical Storm Helene’s historic flooding of Buncombe County communities, Sheriff Quentin Miller said during a 10 a.m. news conference Monday. The district has now reported 35 deaths in connection with Helene.

In western North Carolina, at least 41 deaths were attributed to the storm between Buncombe, Henderson and Macon counties.

– Will Hofmann

FEMA leader visits North Carolina

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is expected to assess Helene’s damage in North Carolina on Monday, according to a new press release updating the Biden-Harris administration’s response efforts.

On Sunday evening, Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefed President Joe Biden on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia.

As of Sunday, more than 3,300 federal employees were on duty supporting relief efforts in the affected states. Notable in the Carolinas:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving generators and additional power generation equipment to the hardest-hit areas of North and South Carolina as flooding recedes and debris removal is permitted.

FEMA is transporting dozens of trailers of food and water to North Carolina to help the state set up care and distribution sites.

According to the press release, Biden plans to travel to affected communities this week.

Asheville City Schools will remain closed all week

Asheville City Schools has announced that schools will remain closed to students and staff Monday through Friday from September 30th to October 30th. 4, due to the ongoing impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. In the parking lot of Asheville Middle School at 211 S. French Broad Ave. Free WiFi and a charging station have been set up.

Some commercial flights are resuming at Asheville Regional Airport

Asheville Regional Airport announced Monday, Sept. 30, that American, Allegiant, Delta and United have resumed some flights.

Travelers are advised to check with airlines for detailed flight information as the airport website is not updated.

Fuel shortages are impacting ground transportation services such as taxis, Uber and Lyft, which could negatively impact availability.

For those who parked at the airport overnight, none of the parking lots were flooded with customer cars, airport spokeswoman Tina Kinsey said in an update Monday morning.

Visit the Asheville Airport Facebook page for updates.

—Will Hofmann and Aaron Nelsen

One death was reported in Macon County

One death has been attributed to Tropical Storm Helene in Macon County, Macon County Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe wrote in a Sept. 29 news release.

Currently, utility restoration has “significantly improved” in the Franklin area, but will “improve much more slowly” in the Highland area, Cabe wrote. Roads to Franklin and Highlands are open, but residents and motorists are advised to stay off the roads “unless absolutely necessary.”

– Will Hofmann

HELENE IN NORTH CAROLINA:North Carolina town comes together after Helene wreaks havoc: ‘This is what we do’

The death toll at Helene, North Carolina is likely to rise

Reports came in Sunday that 30 people had died in Buncombe County and another five in Henderson County. But these initial numbers are likely to rise as the full extent of the tragedy becomes clearer.

“Without more phone and internet access, we cannot release these names without being absolutely certain that we have given this information to their loved ones,” Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said. “We are heartbroken by this news and we ask people to give our community the space and time to grieve this incredible loss.”

Read more about the ongoing relief effort in this story by Keith Sharon, Jacob Biba, Will Hofmann, Sarah Honosky and Iris Seaton.

A guide to shelters, food distribution sites and more in Asheville

From shelters to school closures to water sources to curfew updates, Citizen Times has put together a guide to where to find essentials and other information in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. You can find that here.

Western NC school, college closings

Although information about school closures in Western North Carolina is still sparse, several schools and universities have now issued warnings in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

In this story, Iris Seaton looks at what we know so far about school closures.

Asheville Dream Center sets up distribution location

The Asheville Dream Center brought supplies to the Asheville Mall on Sept. 29, becoming what is believed to be the first mass relief distribution site in the city. The nonprofit is the local arm of the nonprofit national outreach ministry Dream Center. The nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission was the first to answer its call to distribute supplies in the city, said Michelle Coleman, executive director of the Asheville Dream Center.

The death toll rises in light of Helene’s relief

How Helene influences the postal service and voting

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