At least two people in eastern Tennessee have died due to the recent devastation caused by Helene, officials said Sunday. One death was confirmed in Unicoi County and the other in Johnson County.
“We do expect this number to change,” spokesperson Myron Hughes of the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency said during a 5 p.m. news conference. Tennessee officials reported that 153 people were still unaccounted for in the state as of Sunday afternoon.
Many communities across eastern Tennessee were still underwater and coping with crumbled roads, unsteady bridges, and devastated utility systems. The remnants of Helene brought rivers to record levels and forced evacuations.
Local schools remained closed, including Carter County Schools which will likely be closed “for an indefinite period of time due to the ongoing disruptions,” count spokesperson Ivan Sanders said. In Elizabethton, Sycamore Shores Hospital had shut down but nearby hospitals were up and running, according to Sanders.
Cooper said the number of customers without power is down from more than 1 million to 464,000 on Sunday afternoon, and efforts are underway to restore cellphone service to the thousands without it.
Attempts to provide relief and make repairs are hindered by residents driving in areas impacted by the storm, state officials said at an afternoon news conference, urging people to stay home.
“Travel in western North Carolina remains limited and dangerous,” Cooper said, pointing out 280 roads are closed, including sections of I-40 and I-26. “Please stay off western North Carolina roads.”
The governor said Helene dropped 10 to 29 inches of rain on the mountains in parts of the state, resulting in life-threatening landslides and floods. That has prompted reports of up to 1,000 missing, and for some of their loved ones to go searching for them.
“I know there are a lot of people who are concerned about relatives and friends they cannot get in touch with,’’ Cooper said. “It’s one of the reasons we’re pushing so hard to get communications back up because we know a lot of these people are just simply out of communication and are OK.”
Residents in Asheville were scrambling for resources after widespread flooding and power outages caused gas and water shortages. Gas stations began to close on Sunday and businesses started to only accept cash, as many remain unable to process credit and debit purchases due to lack of power and spotty internet service.
In West Asheville, amid the distant clatter of chainsaws cutting through downed trees, a line gathered at BJ’s Food Mart for its 9 a.m. opening. When the cash-only gas station and market opened, screams across the street could be heard: “No gas! Cash only! No gas!”
In downtown, an hour-and-a-half-long line had formed at the Wells Fargo building ATM. Residents were piling in to get cash for groceries, water, and gas. Some were trying to get out of town and others just wanted enough cash for the coming days.
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