Only one person is still missing from the wreckage of Hurricane Helen in Asheville, North Carolina, Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb told The Hill.
Authorities believe the person is deceased and are not releasing his identity out of respect for his family.
Law enforcement spent months combing flooded areas and searching for the injured and dead.
At one point, search records showed more than 500 people missing, but hundreds more were found by disaster relief efforts.
Police said one of the biggest challenges to overcome is the lack of electricity, which has cut off phone lines and restricted internet access.
Despite the obstacles, neighbors and police continued to search door-to-door in an effort to rescue local residents.
Their success came amid a large-scale project to rebuild local communities.
hurricane helen 60 miles destroyed Part of the line is managed by Norfolk Southern, which is working with CSX Freight Transportation Co. to repair the damaged railroad.
Their goal is to resume train service through Tennessee and into North Carolina in March.
