PHOTOS | Governor Cooper and FEMA Assess Hurricane Helene’s Damage in Western North Carolina

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828NewsNow) – Governor Roy Cooper, alongside FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and state officials, visited Western North Carolina today to assess the damage from Hurricane Helene and oversee ongoing response efforts. The group, which included NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, NCDPS Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, and NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley, conducted an aerial tour of the hardest-hit areas and met with local officials and volunteers.

“Hurricane Helene is bringing devastating impacts to Western North Carolina, and danger remains as rivers continue to rise and search and rescue teams do their work,” Cooper said during the visit. “We’ll continue to work with federal, state, non-profit, and local partners to get people the help they need as we respond to this crisis and begin the recovery process.

Federal, state, and local resources have been mobilized to provide emergency supplies, including food and water, to affected areas. Efforts are also underway to restore power and telecommunications in impacted communities. As emergency operations continue, recovery efforts are being coordinated with federal partners, including FEMA.

The Governor’s tour included a stop at Mission Hospital in Asheville, where administrators are grappling with the aftermath of the storm. “We know that we are providing safe care, good quality care, but we’re stretched,” said Greg Lowe, president of HCA Healthcare’s North Carolina division. With over 80 patients awaiting admission and three mobile morgues being brought in, the hospital is preparing for the worst.

Governor Cooper also visited local businesses supporting the community, such as Flour coffee and breakfast shop, which distributed over 300 biscuits to those in need. He ended his day at a water distribution site at Biltmore Church in Arden, where volunteers have helped thousands of residents.

“This has been an unprecedented storm that has hit Western North Carolina,” Cooper said at a press conference at Asheville Regional Airport. “It’s requiring an unprecedented response”.