Claim: “It has just come out that Democrats in Washington and the Democrat Governor’s Office of North Carolina (Roy Cooper) were blocking people and money from coming into North Carolina.” Trump said North Carolina Gov. Cooper, Democrats blocked aid. That’s not what their actions show https://www.politifact.com/factchec...said-north-carolina-gov-cooper-democrats-blo/ North Carolina’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, said Sept. 29 that 550 members of the state National Guard had deployed, 24 shelters had opened and more than 1,600 state transportation employees and contract crews were working to clear roads. Cooper signed a $273 million Helene relief package Oct. 9 and has also encouraged people to donate to the state’s disaster relief fund. A right-wing outlet published leaked emails from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina employees telling their colleagues not to travel to western NC to deliver donations or look at the devastation, citing the governor’s office. The company made this request because roads were impassable and rescue operations were in progress there. Former President Donald Trump has fueled a persistent and unproven narrative since Hurricane Helene struck the southeast: Democratic leaders have failed residents who faced the wrath of the hurricane that left more than 200 people dead. In the span of a week, Trump falsely said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp could not reach President Joe Biden, falsely said the feds were offering only $750 to people whose homes were washed away and falsely said the Federal Emergency Management Administration had used up its money for relief on migrants. Add another one involving North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to the list. "It has just come out that Democrats in Washington and the Democrat Governor’s Office of North Carolina (Roy Cooper) were blocking people and money from coming into North Carolina to help people in desperate need," Trump wrote Oct. 11 on Truth Social. "Biden knew about it, and so did Kamala! It’s all over the place – A HORRIBLE SITUATION. I will make it up to everyone when we take Office on January 20th. HOLD ON, I’M COMING!" Trump’s accusation follows a significant number of false claims on social media that said federal agencies had blocked supplies, confiscated donations and banned drones. Cooper rejected Trump’s claim that he blocked people from coming to help, writing on X: "This is a flat out lie. We’re working with all partners around the clock to get help to people. Trump’s lies and conspiracy theories have hurt the morale of first responders and people who lost everything, helped scam artists and put government and rescue workers in danger." We wondered what Trump meant about any alleged evidence that had "just come out," but his campaign did not respond to our request for evidence. We found a similar headline published Oct. 10 a right-wing outlet: "LEAKED EMAILS: Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Coordinated Directly with NC Democrat Gov to Stifle Aid to Western NC." The story and Trump’s statement distorted the facts. Falsehood stemmed from employee’s email The National File is a right-wing website created by Alex Jones, the owner of the conspiracy website InfoWars, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported. The National File’s Oct. 10 article discussed companywide emails from two Blue Cross Blue Shield in North Carolina employees with updates about the hurricane disaster and guidance about how to safely assist. A staff member’s Oct. 1 email said the flooding’s full impact was unfolding and that people urgently needed medical and hygiene supplies along with food, water and temporary shelter. "We are coordinating all disaster response efforts through the Governor’s office, and they have asked us to spread the following message: Please do NOT travel to western NC to deliver donations, volunteer spontaneously, bring home cooked meals, or view the devastation. The roads are impassable, and rescue and recovery operations are ongoing." The email also encouraged employees to make donations or volunteer with agencies designated to coordinate relief efforts. A different employee sent a Sept. 30 email that said "the urgent needs of these communities ignite a desire to help in all of us." "We are following the governor’s office’s coordination in a statewide response. Blue Cross NC is working with state, federal, local officials and our community partners across western NC counties to assess the needs of our communities and determine how we can best support them." Also on Sept. 30, the state’s Transportation Department discouraged all nonemergency travel to western North Carolina because hundreds of roads remained impassable there. Using those emails, the National File concluded that Blue Cross "intentionally worked to slow down the Helene response in western North Carolina." But the emails do not prove that. They show the company wanted to ensure that their employees didn’t drive on dangerous roads and offered them several ways to help victims. The article did not quote any government officials or nonprofits assisting with rescue or recovery. It is common for government officials to urge people to avoid damaged areas in the aftermath of a disaster amid rescue efforts. A Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina spokesperson provided a statement from the company that called the National File story "not only false, the entire premise is outrageous." "We are a North Carolina based not-for-profit that exists to serve our fellow North Carolinians — and that is exactly what we have done for the past two weeks," the statement said. "We are working with a wide range of relief organizations including the United Way, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross, and many others. It’s a shame that some choose to share this disinformation when so many North Carolinians are suffering." Blue Cross announced a $2.5 million donation to hurricane relief and said it has delivered more than 60,000 items — including water, diapers, wipes, and gloves — to western North Carolina since Oct. 4. Blue Cross is also supporting faith-based organizations who are providing direct aid. State and federal agencies responded to the hurricane Rescue and relief efforts were well underway by the time Blue Cross Blue Shield workers emailed guidance. In a Sept. 29 news release, Cooper announced: Power had been restored to more than 500,000 North Carolina customers. Five hundred fifty members of the North Carolina National Guard had deployed, along with more than 100 vehicles and 11 aircraft. Twenty-four shelters had opened to up to 942 victims State search and rescue teams have conducted hundreds of rescues. More than 1,600 North Carolina Department of Transportation employees and contract crews were working to clear and reopen roads. The federal government had granted Cooper’s request for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration, helping 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. That same day, Cooper’s office encouraged people to donate to the state’s disaster relief fund, which the United Way of North Carolina manages. By Oct. 1, more volunteers and rescue teams were on the ground and in the air in western North Carolina. Cooper was on the ground that day, too, surveying damage. That day, 35 National Guard helicopters were engaged in response missions, including Chinooks for delivering essential supplies and Blackhawks and Lakotas for rescue and recovery efforts, said Jody Donaldson, North Carolina Department of Public Safety communications officer. "Moreover, we're supported by a large fleet of FEMA air assets, providing comprehensive aerial coverage to aid in the ongoing response and recovery efforts," Donaldson told PolitiFact on Oct. 1 in response to a different inquiry. Cooper signed a $273 million Helene relief package Oct. 10, a day after the GOP-led state Legislature passed it unanimously. The package includes money for public schools, the state Board of Elections and regional governments in storm-affected counties and helps the state match federal government relief money. The federal response has been robust. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said as of Oct. 11, federal disaster assistance for survivors of Hurricane Helene In North Carolina included: More than $71.7 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 52,000 households. Search-and-rescue personnel had rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors. More than 1,600 families are in a transitional shelter program. Biden declared a federal disaster in North Carolina on Sept. 28, which then made federal funding available. Biden approved a 100% federal cost-share for North Carolina and other states to help those states’ response efforts. The U.S. Transportation Department said Oct. 5 that it was giving $100 million to North Carolina to repair roads. The majority of western North Carolina counties voted for Trump in 2020. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., said that while FEMA’s response "has had its shortfalls" the federal government has not prevented supplies or donations or rescue efforts from reaching western North Carolina. Our ruling Trump said, "It has just come out that Democrats in Washington and the Democrat Governor’s Office of North Carolina (Roy Cooper) were blocking people and money from coming into North Carolina." There is room for legitimate discussion about the pace and scope of the government response, and how it could be improved. However, it is entirely different to claim Democrats, including the state’s governor, were "blocking" assistance. In our search for anything that might support Trump’s statement, we found an article from a right-wing website that misconstrued internal emails from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. The employees cited Cooper’s office and urged colleagues who wanted to help after the storm not to travel to the state’s western region, as roads were impassable there and rescue operations were underway. Those emails did not show Cooper blocking aid; they explained how workers could donate. It is ridiculous to tell hurricane victims that their top state leader and politicians in the federal government were blocking aid. We rate this statement Pants on Fire!
The MAGA misinformation about FEMA is driving armed militias and other right-wing nutcases to threaten FEMA responders -- as well as menace other federal and state employees. Of course, this is slowing down the response to the victims of the storm. Some FEMA operations paused in North Carolina after reports National Guard troops saw ‘armed militia’ threatening them https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/14/us/fema-helene-north-carolina-reported-threats/index.html
An interesting article about the NCHART Helicopter unit rescuing hundreds of people in the North Carolina mountains. Includes pictures and video of rescues. "NCHART, or Helo-Aquatic Search & Rescue, is a highly-specialized collaboration between the N.C. National Guard, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, N.C. Emergency Management and local first responders, including firefighters and EMS." Hundreds rescued in western NC by highly-specialized helicopter teams When Hurricane Helene brought deadly flooding to western North Carolina, NCHART was among the rescue helicopter teams that responded. https://www.wral.com/story/hundreds...highly-specialized-helicopter-teams/21677543/
This video shows Fort Mill, N.C. directly after the storm and Fort Mill now. Tremendous progress has been made in a period of three weeks. To give you some concept of the progress in our N.C. mountains. Nearly every city (Asheville, Boone, etc.) has water service and electricity restored. Only 90 roads are currently closed (one of them being I-40 in the mountains near the Tennessee border). There are under 10,000 customers without electricity remaining (mainly in very rural locations that require road restoration first). The universities (App State, etc.) have resumed classes except for Western Carolina which is resuming classes on October 21st. All the county K-12 school systems have resumed classes (some in alternate buildings). The primary need now appears to have changed from food & water to being warm clothing, blankets, boots, gloves, and other gear. This is reflected in the changes to the requested donations locally that are being driven up to the mountains. Many people have lost all the clothing they had when their homes flooded. The combination of federal, state, local, power company, military and private / charity resources have all pitched in and coordinated to make this rapid progress possible. Of course, there is more to do, many people have lost their homes and need temporary shelter for upcoming months which FEMA has been coordinating. The re-building of some roads will take many months. The residents in the mountains know that people across our state will continue to help -- as well that the federal, state, and local government resources will continue to be there to support their recovery. The recovery is not going to be easy, nor immediate -- but it will be done as rapidly as possible with proper focus and determination.
Just one of the many reports coming out of the North Carolina mountains reflecting the actual reality.
Progress being made in the North Carolina mountains. Biltmore Estate, located near Asheville, is one of the primary tourist attractions in our state. The main house on the estate was not damaged; however there was lots of other damage across the estate including roads and other estate attractions. It is going to re-open on November 2nd -- which is great news. Biltmore Estate to reopen Nov. 2, 5 weeks after Helene Helene hit on Sept. 27, bringing record-breaking rainfall amounts and unprecedented devastation to western North Carolina. Biltmore closed shortly after impact. https://www.wral.com/story/biltmore-estate-to-reopen-nov-2-5-weeks-after-helene/21680451/
Tremendous progress has been made in the North Carolina mountains over the past three weeks. Non-essential travel allowed again in western NC, 780 roads reopen, Cooper says Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday toured one of Asheville's community cares sites, which offer hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging stations, water, meals, portable toilets and more. https://www.wral.com/story/non-esse...ern-nc-780-roads-reopen-cooper-says/21682561/ Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday shared an update on Hurricane Helene's impact in western North Carolina. The governor's update came after he toured one of Asheville's community cares sites, which offer hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging stations, water, meals, portable toilets and more. Cooper said it would cost about $5 billion to repairs transportation infrastructure. There are two community care sites in Asheville at 980 Brevard Road and 85 Tunnel Road. The sites are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Hurricane Helene is blamed for the deaths of at least 125 people in North Carolina, most in Buncombe County, which is home to Asheville. There are 26 people still unaccounted for, according to Cooper. PowerOutage.us, which tracks most of the electric providers in North Carolina, lists 5,250 customers without power in the state compared to close to more than 1 million when Helene hit western North Carolina in the last week of September. The state Department of Transportation has reopened 789 of the 1,200 roads that were closed due to Helene, utilizing 2,000 employees and 900 pieces of heavy equipment, Cooper said during Monday's news conference. Transportation officials said the essential-only travel ban in the western portion of the state has been lifted but asked drivers to use caution and plan for slowdowns. Twenty-eight school districts that closed during Helene have reopened, and seven more are waiting to open, Cooper said. Cooper called Helene's disaster response the "fastest and largest integration" of military soldiers in North Carolina, with 3,100 soldiers and airmen from 12 states responding in western N.C. The soldiers have logged 1,200 flight hours, rescuing 746 people, according to the N.C. National Guard. According to the governor, with 1,400 staff on the ground, FEMA has approved 206,000 people for assistance with $130 million in aid distributed. Additionally, 6,000 people are currently using FEMA's hotel program for temporary housing. Cooper called Helene the "deadliest and most devastating" storm in North Carolina's history. He said the Small Business Administration has registered 5,000 businesses asking for assistance. "It's critical that western N.C. fully recover" and be made more resilient, the governor said Monday. State agencies also provided updates. According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), only one 911 center in the area impacted by Helene is using alternate routing due to damaged infrastructure and 94% of communication capabilities are restored in western North Carolina. The DPS said 25 portable water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory, and 224 wastewater treatment facilities in affected areas are back in normal operation. Water service has returned to many communities in Asheville, but the city is under a boil advisory for any water used for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth. The water is suitable for laundry, showering and flushing toilets. The governor urged people to apply for federal aid if needed and to stop spreading misinformation and lies about disaster response. Former President Donald Trump also toured the damage on Monday in western North Carolina. Trump criticized FEMA's response to western North Carolina. "I think its a disgrace what happened with FEMA," Trump said. "Their rescue effort was nonexistent." Cooper, who spoke before Trump at a separate news conference on Monday, only addressed the former president's visit briefly. "I'm asking that he not share lies or misinformation while he is here," Cooper said. When asked, Cooper told reporters in western North Carolina he is not planning to see Trump on Monday; he said he has been focusing on storm recovery, not politics. Apply for FEMA aid FEMA can help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Homeowners and renters in most western North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can apply. Here are several ways to apply: Go to DisasterAssistance.gov Use the FEMA App Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. Here's a list of what you'll need to apply: A current phone number where you can be contacted Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying Your Social Security number A general list of damage and losses Banking information if you choose direct deposit If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name