Governor Roy Cooper said Tuesday that 92 people are still missing in North Carolina, which was hard hit by Hurricane Helene. Roy Cooper stated Tuesday.
Cooper stated that the number will fluctuate as more reports are received and others are resolved.
Officials have confirmed that 95 people died in North Carolina. Overall, the death toll in the Southeast is now over 230.
The governor stated that North Carolina is still facing “a dangerous and persistent flow of misinformation about recovery efforts”.
Cooper stated, “When people claim that help will not be coming to Western North Carolina – which is untrue and a lie – the people on the ground who are helping feel demoralized.”
Cooper warned, “Stop spreading this stuff.” Whatever your goal, you hurt those who are in need of help in western North Carolina. The safety of government workers and volunteers, including FEMA remains a priority.
The Governor said that he has directed the Department of Public Safety of the state to “coordinate the law enforcement assistance needed by FEMA and any other responders to ensure their safety and security so they can continue to provide the desperately needed help to the people.”
Authorities said that a man from Bostic in North Carolina was arrested this weekend for allegedly threatening workers of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Cooper stated that FEMA Administrator Deanne Critswell had made the decision “to stop canvassing for a brief time during the weekend” in certain areas.
He said, “We don’t wish for such things to occur.” We don’t know the number of people who will not apply to FEMA due to misinformation that FEMA would take their property or other wild allegations.
Criswell stated, “Overnight, out of an excess of caution, we changed our operational procedures to keep FEMA staff safe. None of these changes affected ongoing search and recovery or other life-safety operations.”
Criswell stated that it was “heartbreaking” to see hatred or words directed at federal responders, who were here to assist people during this time of crisis.
She said, “We’re not going anywhere.” “Misinformation won’t deter us from our goal.”
Chris Kavanaugh is the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and Chair of the U.S.
He said: “We are investigating the threats, and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens or intimidates FEMA workers.”
Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said that all but four of North Carolina’s 400+ early voting locations will be open on Thursday despite the extensive damage caused by Helene.
She said that the four early voting locations no longer operating are all located in Buncombe County. The hard-hit county plans to operate ten sites instead of 14 as originally planned.
Brinson Bell acknowledged that voting in the 25 counties most affected by the storm “may look different” if there is no electricity or plumbing. She said the state was still working on determining how many polling sites will be operational before Election Day.
Brinson Bell stated that she anticipates a majority of North Carolinians will cast their votes in person early, similar to previous election years where more than 60% used early in-person voting.
Brinson Bell refuted misinformation that recovery efforts were partisan. He noted the bipartisan State Election Board unanimously adopted recent electoral measures.
Brinson Bell said: “We’ve heard allegations that we handle this situation partisanly, but that is simply untrue.”
She also condemned threats made against election officials and condemned the “vitriol” that is directed at them on social media.
Brinson Bell said: “When you do this, you’re threatening someone – your former English instructor, your former basketball coach, your former Scoutmaster, or the person you pass at the grocery store.” Brinson Bell said, “Focus your attention on voting and making sure that your fellow citizens are out to vote. Stop the threats and rhetoric. These are people doing their jobs to serve you so you can cast your votes.”
