Dozens still missing in North Carolina weeks after Helene

Oct 16

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., provided an update during the week of Oct. 13, on the ongoing recovery efforts in North Carolina following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Cooper announced that 81 people remained missing across the state.

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Initially, a task force was formed to locate 92 unaccounted-for individuals. That number fluctuated, but Cooper recently revised it down to 81. The governor expressed gratitude to the teams involved in the search efforts and shared updates of broader relief initiatives.

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As of this week, 77,000 people had applied for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and $99 million in relief funds had already be distributed. FEMA was also providing temporary housing for nearly 2,000 people displaced by the storm.

Cooper also addressed growing concerns about misinformation surrounding the recovery efforts. He made a public appeal to stop the spread of false information.

In his remarks, Cooper also criticized Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, R-N.C., the Republican gubernatorial candidate, for allegedly contributing to disinformation campaigns related to the recovery.

Cooper’s comments came as safety threats against FEMA workers escalated.

Over the weekend, a man in Rutherford County was arrested for allegedly threatening to harm FEMA personnel. The suspect, who had several firearms, was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court later this week.

Despite the challenges, Gov. Cooper remained optimistic about the recovery process in the coastal state.

Tags: FEMA, hurricane, Hurricane Helene, Mark Robinson, natural disaster, North Carolina, Roy Cooper, Severe Weather

[Karah Rucker]

WE’RE GETTING AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING RECOVERY EFFORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATION LEFT BY HURRICANE HELENE.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR ROY COOPER SHAREDTHAT 81 PEOPLE REMAIN MISSING IN THE STATE..

INITIALLY, A TASK FORCE HAD BEEN FORMED TO FIND 92 UNACCOUNTED INDIVIDUALS, BUT THAT NUMBER HAS SINCE FLUCTUATED, WITH COOPER REVISING IT DOWN TO 81..

THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH EFFORTS AND GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE BROADER RELIEF EFFORTS.

77-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR RELIEF THROUGH FEMA, WITH 99-MILLION-DOLLARS ALREADY DISTRIBUTED.

FEMA IS ALSO PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR NEARLY TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE DISPLACED BY THE STORM.

HOWEVER, COOPER ADDRESSED GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING AROUND THE RECOVERY EFFORTS.

HE MADE AN URGENT PLEA, CALLING FOR AN END TO THE FALSE INFORMATION THAT’S HINDERING AID.

Gov. Cooper

“PEOPLE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE…WE DON’T WANT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO HAPPEN”

Karah Rucker

THE GOVERNOR DIDN’T HOLD BACK IN HIS COMMENTS ABOUT POLITICAL DYNAMICS AT PLAY EITHER.

COOPER SPECIFICALLY CRITICIZED LT. GOV. MARK ROBINSON, THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, FOR ALLEGEDLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS.

BEYOND THE MISINFORMATION, THERE HAVE BEEN TROUBLING DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING SAFETY THREATS AGAINST FEMA WORKERS.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, A MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO HARM FEMAPERSONNEL.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE MAN ARMED WITH SEVERAL FIREARMS, MADE THREATS AGAINST WORKERS IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY. HE HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL AND HEADS TO COURT LATER THIS WEEK.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THE GOVERNOR REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S RECOVERY.

FOR SAN, I’M KARAH RUCKER AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THESE EFFORTS CLOSELY–FOR MORE DOWNLOAD OUR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP