At least 600 people are missing after storms from Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding in western North Carolina, washing away businesses, roads and homes, according to officials.
Communities in the North Carolina mountains lost power, communication services and a way out due to blocked, broken and flooded roads. Families in North Carolina are desperate to reach their friends and loved ones.
Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin E. Miller confirmed 35 people in Buncombe County died in connection with Helene. County officials said they have received 11,000 requests from people trying to get in touch with loved ones.
Over the weekend, Buncombe County officials said at least 600 people were still missing. Most people cannot be reached because of spotty service.
“Our goal is to try and get more volunteers to help knock on doors to those who need it,” Buncombe County officials said.
There are several ways to request assistance with a missing person.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
The public may call 211 to report a missing person or to request a welfare check.
"Please note that 211 is not an emergency processing resource and any emergencies should be routed to 911," NCDPS said.
Click here for more resources from NCDPS.
The Red Cross may be able to help connect with a missing person if the person meets the following criteria, according to the National Guard:
- They are elderly, have a functional or access need, suffer from a medical or mental condition, or has difficulty understanding English
- They are a member of the military community
- They lived in the same home as you prior to the disaster or you have been in contact with them within the past year
- Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), select disaster and provide as much detail as you can to assist in potentially locating your missing loved one
The National Guard recommends contacting local emergency officials for well-checks, since they will be the ones performing them. Other ways to get in touch with loved ones, according to recommendations from the National Guard, are:
- Sending a text message, which may go through when phone calls cannot
- Check your loved one’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), as they may have already gone online to tell their story
- Send an email
- Call friends and relatives who may have already been in contact with your loved one
- Call people and places where your loved one is well-known; neighbors, employer, school, place of worship, senior center, social club/center, union, or fraternal organization
Click here for more help with finding a loved one with the help of American Red Cross.
Related article: Recovering from Helene: Shelters, resources and closings