ASHEVILLE – As the North Carolina Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner nears a final death count after Tropical Storm Helene — with examinations completed on everyone found deceased as of Oct. 21 — a previous tally by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office seems to be a significant overcount.
While search and rescue efforts continue throughout Western North Carolina, all storm-related deaths found since Helene swept through the area Sept. 27 have been examined and accounted for in the state’s count of 95 deaths, spokesperson Kelly Haight confirmed Oct. 21.
However, Haight cautioned that number could still increase…