South Raleigh News

Gov. Roy Cooper visited Western North Carolina Oct. 1 to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. He was accompanied by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, NCDPS Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, and NCDOT Chief Operating Officer Chris Peoples. The governor's itinerary included stops at food and supply distribution centers in Marion and Black Mountain, where he expressed gratitude to volunteers and spoke with residents affected by the storm.

“I’m grateful for the efforts and sacrifices of the emergency personnel and volunteers who have given their time and resources to help people in western North Carolina who need it,” Cooper said. “As we continue to recover from this storm, we’ll continue to work with partners at state, federal, local and non-profit levels to deliver resources and assistance to affected communities.”

State, federal, and local agencies are collaborating to provide essential resources such as food, water, and critical supplies to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Efforts are also underway to restore access and telecommunications in damaged communities. While emergency response remains a priority, recovery services are being expanded through partnerships across various levels of government.

Hurricane Helene struck the Southeastern U.S. from Sept. 24 to 27. The storm reached Category 4 status with winds up to 140 mph, making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Sept. 27. The storm brought heavy rains and powerful winds to western North Carolina, causing widespread flooding and damage across the state.