Dozens still missing in North Carolina weeks after Helene

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.

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.

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.

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