The says there have been 70 verified storm-related deaths in the state from Helene, less than the total previously reported for Buncombe County alone.

State officials released the updated number broken down by county in a press release on Oct. 5, 2024.

1 Ashe

3 Avery

30 Buncombe

1 Burke

1 Catawba

2 Cleveland

1 Gaston

7 Henderson

1 Macon

4 Madison

1 McDowell

1 Mecklenburg

1 Polk

3 Rutherford

2 Watauga

1 Yadkin

10 Yancey

During a . In a statement posted on Facebook Friday, the sheriff clarified that the number of deaths reported may fluctuate because of ongoing recovery efforts, complexities identifying victims, and determining whether deaths are storm-related or not. Miller also said his department asked for assistance from other agencies to obtain a more accurate number.

"We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate this complex process," Miller said, in part.

The state's report gave some indication about the ways individuals died, including 17 drownings, 11 deaths in landslides and six wind/tree trauma deaths. Twenty-one deaths were listed under unknown circumstances.

NCDHHS said the department is aware there are additional reports of deaths, and it's working to verify that they are storm-related deaths.

"Life-saving activities will always take priority, and we will continue to work to update this information as appropriately as possible," the news release said, in part.

NCDHHS provided the following additional information about the state's Helene-related deaths:

A female of unknown age was reported in Henderson County on 9/27/24 after being recovered from debris filled water.

A male of unknown age was reported in Yancey County on 10/4/24 after being recovered from debris rubble after his home washed away.

A female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County on 10/4/24 after being recovered from debris rubble.

A female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County on 10/4/24 after floodwaters receded.

A female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County on 10/4/24, no additional details at this time

An unidentified individual was reported to be recovered in Buncombe County on 10/4/24 after being taken by a landslide and floodwaters.

A 63 year old male was reported in Rutherford County on 10/3/24 after being crushed by a tree.

A female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County on 10/3/24 after being recovered from floodwaters.

A female of unknown age was reported in McDowell County on 10/3/24 after being recovered from a collapsed house.

A female of unknown age was reported in Madison County on 10/3/24 after being recovered from the Ivy River.

A 73 year old male was recovered in Buncombe County on 10/2/24, found in debris on riverbank.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was reported in Madison County on 10/2/24, no additional details at this time.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was reported in Rutherford County on 10/2/24, after being recovered from the Lake Lure area.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was reported to be recovered in Madison County on 10/2/24, no additional details at this time.

A female was recovered on 9/29/24 in Yancey County from an area impacted by flooding and mudslide.

Two unidentified individuals were reported to be recovered in Yancey County, no additional details at this time.

A male of unknown age was reported to be recovered in Yancey County, no additional details at this time.

A 77 year old male was reported to be recovered in Yance County, no additional details at this time.

A 71 year old female was reported to have died in Yancey County on 9/27/24, no additional details at this time.

A male of unknown age was reported to have died in Yancey County on 9/27/24, no additional details at this time.

A female of unknown age was reported recovered in Avery County.

A male of unknown age was reported recovered in Avery County.

A 58 year old male was reported as recovered in Avery County and may be been involved in a house collapse.

A 64 year old male was reported recovered in Buncombe on 9/30/24.

A male of unknown age was reported recovered in Buncombe County on 10/1/24 he was found in muddy debris next to Swannanoa River.

A 67 year old female died in her home in Polk county on 9/27/24 when the house was crushed in a landslide.

An 89 year old female was recovered in Henderson County on 9/30/24 amidst her home’s debris that had been swept away in floodwaters.

A male was recovered in Buncombe County on 10/1/24 after drowning, he was recovered from Echo Lake.

An 84 year old female was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 as a result of lack of basic necessities.

A 72 year old female was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 as a result of lack of basic necessities.

A 65 year old female was recovered and reported in Watauga County on 9/30/24 after drowning.

A 36 year old female was recovered and reported in Watauga County on 09/27/2024 after her house slide down an embankment.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/30/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A 69 year old male was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/30/24 died by unknown circumstances.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/30/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A 7 year old male was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/30/24 after drowning.

A 65 year old male was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/30/24 after drowning.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after drowning.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Yancey County on 9/29/24 after drowning.

A 71 year old male was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after drowning.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after drowning.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after drowning.

A 48 year old female was recovered and reported in Yancey County on 9/29/24 after drowning after escaping her motor vehicle.

A 51 year old male was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 after being involved in a landslide.

A 66 year old female died in Gaston County on 9/29/24 when struck cleaning up fallen tree/debris.

A 60 year old female was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was overcome with flood waters.

A 50 year old female was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was overcome with flood waters.

A 60 year old male was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was overcome with flood waters.

A 63 male died in Buncombe County on 9/27/24 died by unknown circumstances.

A 63 male died in Buncombe County on 9/28/24 died by unknown circumstances.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) died in Buncombe County on 9/27/24 by unknown circumstances.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) died in Buncombe County on 9/27/24 by unknown circumstances.

A male (age not confirmed at this time) died in Henderson County on 9/28/24 by drowning and was found when waters receded.

A 52 year old male died in Burke County on 9/27/24 when the truck he was driving struck a tree that had fallen earlier across the road.

A 72 year old female died in Ashe County on 9/27/24 after drowning in the floodwaters after escaping her vehicle that was swept away in floodwaters.

A 75 year old male died in Macon County and was recovered on 9/28/24 after his truck drove into a flooded road.

A 40 year old male died in Rutherford County on 9/27/24 when a tree crushed him in his home.

A 72 year old male died in Cleveland County on 9/27/24 when a tree fell down and struck him.

A female (age not confirmed at this time) died in Cleveland County on 9/27/24 when she was struck by a falling tree while out on a walk.

A 57 year old male died in Yadkin County on 9/27/24 when the vehicle he was driving was struck by a large tree that fell across the roadway from the opposite side of the highway.

A 37 year old female died in Madison County on 9/27/24 when she was evacuating her home due to rising flood waters and her car was swept away by floodwaters a short distance from her home.

A 62 year old male died in Mecklenburg County on 9/27/24 when a tree fell on his home in the early morning hours.

A 4 year old female died in Catawba County on 9/26/24 when the vehicle that she was involved in a 2 vehicle crash on a closed, flooded road.