The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, Gov. Roy Cooper's administration said Wednesday.

Experts have warned that state residents with private wells should boil or test their water before drinking it.

Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, miscounted the deaths during a period when communications were severely hampered by the storm, the sheriff’s office said.