By Karl Plume ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of western North Carolina residents remained without running water on Wednesday, six days after Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida and carved a destructive path through much of U.

Hurricane Helene claimed at least 166 lives, and over 1.2 million people across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia remain without power.

Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday signed an executive order to authorize the Minnesota National Guard to give emergency assistance to North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.