Gov. Cooper offers update on Helene rescue, recovery efforts

Gov. Roy Cooper provided an update on the emergency response and recovery from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

He began by noting the approval of a major disaster declaration for 25 North Carolina counties, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Tropical Storm Helene hits Western North Carolina

Editor's note: Hurricane Helene has already produced flash flooding and dangerous winds across the region, and it has come on the heels of heavy rains, downed trees, sporadic tornadoes and some minor flooding due to a separate system that entered the region from the west. Smoky Mountain News Staff will be out gathering photos and firsthand reports throughout Friday and beyond. This page will be updated with those pictures and stories as they come in from across our coverage area, but you can always find more on our Facebook, Instagram and X accounts.

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