Update: North Carolina County Revokes Initial Death Toll for Hurricane Helene, Reduces Number by 30%
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina county that is home to Asheville, Buncombe County, has overcounted deaths caused by Hurricane Helene by as many as 30, according to a statement Tuesday from its sheriff’s office and data from the state.
New Fatality Count Following Reevaluation
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 October 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.
State’s Tally Remains Lower
However, state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a lower number for the county. The number for Buncombe County included in the state’s tally has stood at 42 since at least October 10.
Reasons for the Discrepancy
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged in a statement that the number of deaths in the county was lower than the number it provided. The statement, attributed to Public Information Officer Christina Esmay, cited factors ranging from updated causes of death to communication challenges after the storm knocked out cell service and electricity in multiple mountain counties.
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“In the early aftermath of Hurricane Helene, all deaths were being classified as storm-related and from Buncombe County. However, as the days progressed, BCSO was able to identify who had passed away due to the hurricane, who was in fact from Buncombe County, and who passed away from other causes,” the statement said. “Compounded with the lack of consistent communication, due to widespread outages, the Buncombe County fatality number that was initially provided to Sheriff Miller has decreased.”
Conclusion
The revised death toll in Buncombe County is a significant reduction, and the discrepancy highlights the challenges faced in accurately reporting fatality numbers in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. The update also underscores the importance of official investigations and verification processes to ensure accurate statistics.
FAQs
Q: Why did Buncombe County initially report a higher number of deaths than the state?
A: The county’s initial number was based on an earlier statement by Sheriff Quentin Miller, which was later revised to align with the state’s tally of 42 deaths.
Q: How did the county arrive at its initial number of 72 deaths?
A: The county’s statement did not provide additional information on how it arrived at its initial tally, and spokesman Matt Marshall said any other questions about how deaths were investigated and counted should be sent to state officials.
Q: Will the state’s number change if more information becomes available?
A: State Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Kelly Haight Connor said all examinations are complete for storm-related deaths, but she did not rule out additions if other cases emerge.
