An Asheville, North Carolina, resident sounded the alarm as his community battles the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, describing the “apocalyptic weekend” as the death toll continues to rise while millions are left without power and water.

“It was an incredibly apocalyptic weekend for all of us here,” said Gregory Harrison of Asheville. “Almost no gas. There is almost no cell phone reception. There is limited electricity. There is limited food. There are people trying to find drinking water to feed their families, to have water for their children.”

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Officials in Asheville are still trying to rescue residents trapped by historic weekend flooding that left many without access to electricity, running water and cell phones.

On Sunday morning, the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) deployed more than 500 soldiers and airmen and more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, including lift and emergency aircraft and flood response vehicles.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, North Carolina on September 28, 2024. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Big Bend, Florida, on Thursday evening with winds of up to 140 miles per hour and storm surge that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images))

The NCNG reported that it completed 16 air missions, rescuing 119 citizens and 11 pets. It said 41 people were rescued north of 41 in the largest single mission Asheville in Bumcombe County.

“Our Air Force moved more than 34,000 pounds of cargo, including food, water and medical supplies for distribution. “In the last 48 hours, we have had personnel and air forces from Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, Iowa, Florida, South Carolina and Pennsylvania,” the NCNG post continued.

Buncombe County Communications Director Lillian Govus urged people in surrounding areas to avoid coming to affected communities to maximize search and rescue efforts.

“Right now we need people who don’t come here,” Govus told Lawrence Jones. “We are still in an active search and rescue phase. We now have active flooding. As you said, all it will take is a little rain and we will have more landslides and more mudslides.”

“One of our highways, I-40, the main highway that runs from Asheville to the beach, is closed because the top of a mountain actually slid down and covered the entire highway,” she continued. “We have a small, narrow path and it is only for our emergency vehicles.”

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Govus said her community was unrecognizable after the deadly storm.

“I live out in Black Mountain. What is there now looks nothing like the community I lived in before,” Govus said. “Houses are completely destroyed. Power lines are destroyed. The masts are broken in the middle and hanging down in other places.”

“Houses are completely washed away. We don’t have running water and that’s a really big health crisis for us right now,” she continued.

Appalachian State University student Laci Hentschel said she is among the lucky residents who have power, water and cell service, but said she knows people who lost everything after Helene's devastation.

“Fortunately, my apartment was one of those where we are better off, so we have electricity, water and Wi-Fi,” Hentschel told Todd Piro on “Fox & Friends First” on Monday. “However, the water is still undrinkable, but unfortunately it's really sad to see all my fellow climbers… their homes not coping so well in all this weather.”

“I know people who have lost everything they have and are now trying to get back on their feet,” she continued. “It's really sad to see all this, but I'm glad our community can come together and lift each other up and do what we can for each other in this time of need.”

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Another Asheville resident, who owns an art studio that was fortunately spared, said she moved to North Carolina after Hurricane Ian in hopes of avoiding another catastrophic storm.

“I came from Florida after Hurricane Ian. I thought this was the area to be safe and this is not safe,” she said. “They said this…could happen, but it was hard to believe,” she continued.

On Sunday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, ret Public Health Emergency (PHE) for North Carolina to address the health impacts of Hurricane Helene.

The public health emergency declarations followed President Biden's emergency declarations for Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Public health emergency declarations give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' health care providers and suppliers more flexibility to meet the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.