South Raleigh News

Today, President Joe Biden and Governor Roy Cooper conducted an aerial survey of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. The visit was followed by a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center where President Biden announced the approval of 100% FEMA reimbursement for six months to support recovery efforts.

During the briefing, attended by top federal and state officials including United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, President Biden confirmed additional federal assistance. This includes active-duty military personnel deployment alongside over 1,000 North Carolina National Guard soldiers who are actively involved in search and rescue operations.

Governor Cooper emphasized the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene: "The damage caused by Hurricane Helene to Western North Carolina is immense," he stated. He expressed gratitude towards federal partners for their aid in response efforts.

Efforts to provide food, water, and essential supplies continue with FEMA delivering millions of meals and liters of water. Distribution points have been established across impacted counties to assist residents with necessities.

The storm has left approximately 408,000 customers without power as crews work to restore services. Search and rescue operations remain active with more than 1,600 personnel engaged. Over 500 people have been rescued along with numerous pets.

Road closures persist due to hazardous conditions, affecting around 450 roads. NCDOT is focused on reopening critical routes while urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Fifty-six fatalities have been confirmed so far due to the hurricane's impact. President Biden has declared a Major Disaster for 25 counties which allows access to Public Assistance and FEMA's Individual Assistance program.

In addressing the crisis, Biden remarked on bipartisan cooperation: "In a moment like this, we put politics aside... There are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans."