Ninety-two people remain missing in North Carolina weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the western part of the state, Governor Roy Cooper confirmed on Tuesday.
In a news conference, Cooper cautioned that the number could change as the state’s task force continues its search and rescue operations.
“I want to caution that this is not a definitive count, because the task force is continuing its work,” Cooper said.
The hurricane has claimed the lives of 95 people in North Carolina alone, with over 220 fatalities reported in total, including those in Florida, where Helene initially made landfall.
The storm unleashed catastrophic rainfall, destroying towns and washing away homes and bridges in North Carolina’s mountainous regions.
Governor Cooper also addressed the spread of misinformation surrounding the disaster, which has hindered recovery efforts.
He warned that false rumors “breed confusion and demoralize storm survivors and response workers alike,” urging the public to stop spreading such misinformation.
“If you’re participating in spreading this stuff, stop it,” Cooper said, stating the damage these conspiracy theories are causing to relief efforts in the state.
Misinformation about land confiscation, aid distribution, and weather manipulation has proliferated online, leading to distrust of relief workers.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has had to adapt its operations in North Carolina, even temporarily withdrawing from one county due to threats spurred by these rumors.
Last Saturday, a man in Rutherford County was arrested after allegedly threatening relief workers and being found with firearms.
Rescue operations have been particularly difficult due to the rugged terrain of western North Carolina, with the popular tourist city of Asheville temporarily cut off by flooding.
Helene’s impact, with more than six months’ worth of rain falling in days, has left many areas in ruin.
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