Remains of Hurricane Helene victim found nearly 2 years later, sheriff’s office says

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene, human remains found recently in East Tennessee have been identified as one of the last missing victims.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said human remains found Saturday afternoon were identified as Nancy Tucker. Tucker was the last person missing in Washington County from Hurricane Helene.

The remains were found in the Jackson Island area of the Nolichucky River. They were taken to the medical examiner at the William Jenkins Forensics Center at East Tennessee State University for positive identification.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sept. 26, 2024, and caused catastrophic flooding throughout the southern Appalachians.

With more than 248 reported deaths, Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the continental U.S. since Katrina.

Helene caused more than $78.7 billion in damages and destroyed more than 100,000 homes in the South.

Areas in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia were completely gutted, and nearly two years later, communities along its devastating path are still recovering.