North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said Tuesday that at least 92 people are still missing after Hurricane Helen hit the state nearly three weeks ago.
in press conference Cooper told the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the National Guard is continuing search and rescue operations.
Cooper said the Department of Public Safety has set up a state task force to identify those still missing.
“I would like to note that this is not a definitive number as the task force continues to work,” Cooper said. “This number will continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and others are resolved.”
He said many people called immediately after the storm to let them know about friends and family they couldn't reach. When cell phone service was restored in many areas, those people did not defer to the state even though they were able to communicate with their loved ones.
“This storm brought historic rainfall and damage to one of the state's most beautiful areas,” Cooper said. “The road to recovery is long, but we will stand with Western North Carolina every step of the way.”
Hurricane Helen made landfall in Florida in late September.
At least 118 people have died in connection with the storm in North Carolina, accounting for nearly half of the 243 total deaths across states. NBC News reported.
Due to its inland location, North Carolina's mountainous regions were poorly prepared for historic flooding.
In the storm's aftermath, misinformation about FEMA resources for the state has spread, which officials say makes it even harder to help people in need.
Mr. Cooper thanked the federal government for its assistance in the post-storm recovery and search process. He called on those spreading misinformation to stop as it “causes confusion” to survivors and response workers.
