Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue

Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller confirmed that 57 residents have died from the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Over 100,000 people remain without power in the county, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said in a press conference Tuesday.

Water and meals will continue to be provided at several distribution sites in the county. Neighboring counties have stepped in to help and are now receiving overflow 911 calls from Buncombe County, Pinder said.

There are "miles of complete devastation" in Buncombe County, said Scott Dean, with the responding National Urban Search and Rescue team.

Officials said there are 19 federal urban search and rescue teams on the ground in the state, working to get to those who cannot leave their homes and to provide assistance. Local police and fire departments are responding to more accessible areas to answer calls.

Buncombe County and state officials are also discussing deploying and using mobile morgues in the county, Pinder said.

Biltmore Village no longer has standing water, but roads remain blocked from the devastation, which will continue to make it difficult to respond and remove debris from the Asheville neighborhood, said Pinder.

Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, Buncombe County's medical director, said that the county is accepting donations of certain medications and providing primary health care to adults in need. The NC Board of Pharmacy is helping direct people to pharmacies currently open in the state.

Asheville Assistant City Manager Ben Woody reiterated that it would take weeks for water services to be fully restored in the city.

-ABC News' Victoria Arancio

There have been at least 38 deaths in North Carolina from Helene, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a briefing Wednesday afternoon, but he added he expects that number to grow.

Cooper spent Monday in western North Carolina and will be returning this afternoon, he said. First responders are continuing to rescue people and rush aid to the mountain communities.

More than 460,000 customers are without power down from a peak of more than a million, Cooper confirmed. There are more than 1,100 people being housed in 29 shelters and Cooper said he is still urging people to continue to stay off the roads.

"As heartbreaking as this damage has been, it’s encouraging to see the way people are working together," Cooper said. "I talked with a number of first responders and medical workers and volunteers who have left their won families to take care of our communities."

The National Guard currently have 800 guardsmen on duty with 275 vehicles. Almost 200,000 pounds of food and commodities were delivered out of the Asheville airport.

"I have committed to the governor that I will stay here until the event is stabilized and we will continue to bring in as many federal resources as needed, not just for the ongoing response, but as we move into recovery," Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said.

-ABC News' Alex Faul

Vice President and presidential nominee Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia on Wednesday to check out damage from Hurricane Helene, according to her office.

"Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene and receive an on-the-ground briefing about the continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state," according to a statement.

The statement did not say exactly where Harris will visit. President Joe Biden is set to visit North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday as well.

Harris' competitor in the presidential race, Donald Trump, visited Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday.

A public health emergency has been declared in South Carolina and Tennessee in the wake of Helene, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, following the same declarations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

"We will do all we can to help officials in South Carolina and Tennessee respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as with our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support."

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed about 200 personnel to assist local officials with the storm's impacts to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities, according to HHS.

The government's National Disaster Medical System has already deployed 29 trucks filled with equipment to help patients in health care facilities, many of which were totally knocked off the grid.