South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper visited Grandfather Mountain and Grandfather Mountain State Park in Avery County to emphasize the significance of Western North Carolina's tourism industry following Hurricane Helene. The Governor also assessed storm damage in Banner Elk, accompanied by Grammy-nominated country musician Eric Church.

“Today I visited beautiful Grandfather Mountain State Park in Avery County and traveled to Banner Elk to see areas that were damaged during Helene,” said Governor Cooper. “Tourism is a critical part of Western North Carolina’s economy, and there are still many wonderful spots in the region open and accepting visitors. I’m grateful for the work of our federal, state and local responders as well as partners like Eric Church who have given time and effort to help communities in need.”

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Governor Cooper with Eric Church, confirming that royalties from Church's song "Darkest Hour" will aid recovery efforts post-Hurricane Helene.

The DPS Task Force continues its efforts to locate unaccounted individuals, with seven people remaining on their list. Local law enforcement has taken over this responsibility.

Travel restrictions remain due to road damage; however, some areas are open for visitors, crucial for economic recovery. For travel updates, visit DriveNC.gov.

Over 1,700 Soldiers and Airmen from Joint Task Force-North Carolina are assisting with debris removal alongside local workers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assessing water facilities.

FEMA has disbursed approximately $195 million in Individual Assistance funds to disaster survivors. Nearly 239,000 individuals have registered for assistance, with over 8,600 benefiting from Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

More than 1,750 responders from various agencies are supporting recovery through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

Efforts continue to provide essentials using ground resources and air drops by the NC National Guard. For distribution site information, visit local emergency management websites or ncdps.gov/Helene.

Power outages affect around 2,200 customers out of an initial one million peak. Repairs continue as circuits are temporarily taken offline.

101 storm-related fatalities have been confirmed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner; numbers may rise as confirmations continue twice daily.

Donations can be made via nc.gov/donate to support local nonprofits involved in relief efforts. Volunteer opportunities are available at nc.gov/volunteernc.

For emotional support post-hurricane trauma or general inquiries related to resources or recovery assistance: contact Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or email IArecovery@ncdps.gov for specific recovery help information.