BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. – As North Carolina grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the search for the missing continues. There have been 94 storm-related deaths reported in the state, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. 

What You Need To Know

  •  There have been 94 storm-related deaths in North Carolina, according to the state's count

  •  Nash County Deputy Jack Thorpe and his team of volunteer K-9 handlers with the North Carolina Troopers Association K-9 Unit have been helping recover the missing

  •  The K-9 unit helped recover at least 20 bodies in the first 10 days after the storm and plans to go back out and search after rehabbing their dogs 

  • If you'd like to donate to the K-9 team, click here

Nash County Sheriff's Deputy Jack Thorpe, who serves as the director of the North Carolina Troopers Association K-9 Unit responded with a team of volunteer K-9 handlers to Buncombe County a day after the storm struck.

Thorpe recalled witnessing unparalleled devastation in the Asheville area, especially around Swannanoa Road and Tunnel Road near the Best Buy and Lowe’s.

“It was kind of an Armageddon kind of thing. It was just everywhere,” he said. “No matter where we turned, we just kind of looked at each other and we looked around us… I've never seen anything like this in my life, and I’ve been doing this quite a long time and had K-9 for over 25 years.”

Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and New Jersey Task Force One, Thorpe's team focused on areas devastated by flooding.

"We had an adrenaline rush for 10 days that never died," he said.

Recognizing the psychological burden, Thorpe highlighted the importance of support services like the North Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program, known as LEAP, and encouraged fellow responders to seek help if needed.

“Those guys [LEAP] specialize and post critical incident seminars and counseling and things like that, and they do a great job,” he said. “I've had incidents before over my career where I've worked with them and they're great.”

Thorpe’s nonprofit, the North Carolina Troopers Association K9 Search and Recovery, has expanded its mission to include both human remains detection and live finds, proving essential in the ongoing Helene recovery efforts.

Despite facing challenges, including damaged equipment, Thorpe says the outpouring of support has been heartening.

While he works for the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Thorpe said his volunteer K-9 handlers selflessly dedicate their time and resources out of pocket to aid in the search for the missing.

“They're my heroes. And, you know, anything that I can do to help them cover some of the gas costs and everything else, I mean, I'll pay it out of my own pocket, but if people want to help us, we'll take it.”

Thorpe says people can make donations by clicking on this link. 

As the community begins to heal, Thorpe and his K-9 team plan to go back out to affected areas, driven by the hope of bringing loved ones back.

“We haven’t completely left there," he said. "Some of our dogs are rehabbing, and then we’ll go back." 

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