South Raleigh News

Recovery efforts are underway in Western North Carolina as local, state, and federal agencies work together to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Governor Roy Cooper emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach: “In the aftermath of this storm, we are using every local, state and federal resource available to help western North Carolina.” He highlighted the need for coordinated support for effective rebuilding.

Governor Cooper issued an emergency Executive Order that increases weekly unemployment benefits from $350 to $600 for those impacted by the hurricane. This order remains in effect during the State of Emergency or until rescinded.

The North Carolina National Guard has deployed over 3,600 Soldiers and Airmen to assist in relief efforts. Joint Task Force-North Carolina includes personnel from 12 states and several military units working alongside civilian entities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating water systems in affected areas.

FEMA has disbursed over $114 million in Individual Assistance funds to disaster survivors, with approximately 193,000 people registered for aid. Over 5,300 individuals have utilized FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Approximately 1,400 FEMA staff members are present in the state to provide support.

More than 1,600 responders from various agencies have conducted missions under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Efforts include public health services and search operations with specialized teams.

Officials warn against misinformation about Hurricane Helene on social media platforms. The NC Emergency Management has created a webpage dedicated to fact-checking rumors related to the storm.

Approximately 7,500 customers remain without power across Western North Carolina due to outages that peaked at over one million. Restoration efforts continue with fluctuating outage numbers as repairs proceed.

Road conditions vary with some closures due to damage while others accommodate essential traffic only. Visitors are encouraged to check road status via DriveNC.gov before traveling.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner reports ninety-five confirmed fatalities linked to the storm; this number may rise as more information becomes available.

Donations can be made through the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund at nc.gov/donate while volunteer opportunities are listed at nc.gov/volunteernc. For mental health support following trauma from the hurricane, individuals can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline or reach out through various other channels provided by state resources.

For further information or assistance related inquiries post-storm impact, residents can access resources via ncdps.gov/helene or contact specific departments directly through provided communication channels.