North Carolina unites in remembrance and rebuilding after Helene
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Governor Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to half-staff from sunriseon Saturday, Oct. 26,to sunsetonSunday, Oct. 27, to honor the 98 North Carolinians who lost their lives and mark the one-month anniversary since Hurricane Helene.
Helene struck the Western North Carolina region on Sept. 26, dumping an estimated 11 to 31 inches of rain in less than two days, triggering catastrophic flooding and more throughout the region.
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The storm devastated hundreds of communities, damaging tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the affected WNC counties.
"Today, we remember those who lost their lives to this terrible and powerful storm, and we mourn with their loved ones," Gov. Cooper said."Hurricane Helene has forever changed lives, communities, and our entire state. The losses are heartbreaking, but the determination to rebuild western North Carolina is even stronger, and we must continue to work together to recover."
Following the disaster, the affected counties of WNC have seen an outpouring of help, from local volunteers to others traveling from the other side of the country to aid in recovery efforts.
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Additional outside help includes members of the National Guard, Army soldiers and airmen, FEMA staff, the Army Corp of Engineers, responders and more.
WNC has also seen governmental response since the storm.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 allocates $250 million to state agencies and local governments for post-disaster assistance, with a recently approved second part allocating an additional $604 million to the act to aid relief efforts.
"Western North Carolina needs significant investments to recover fully from the worst storm our state has ever seen," Gov. Cooper said. "Legislators have taken a small step here and should follow it with a more comprehensive package to help families, businesses and communities build back stronger."
