It had been 48 hours since the winds and rains from Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina and Sam Perkins still had ... caused the Swannanoa River to overflow its banks and flood McDowell and other counties across the region.

The Southeast grappled Sunday with rising death tolls, a lack of vital supplies in isolated, flood-stricken areas, and the widespread loss of homes and property while the devastating toll of Hurricane Helene became more clear and officials warned of a lengthy and difficult rebuild.

Officials warned that rebuilding from the widespread loss of homes and property would be lengthy and difficult.