ASHEVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is touring Helene storm damage and recovery efforts on Monday with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Currently deployed in western North Carolina are 10 federal search and rescue teams with another nine on the way, according to FEMA. More than 900 personnel are actively supporting rescue efforts.
Cooper is expected to talk to news reporters after he finishes touring storm damage. WCNC Charlotte intends to bring you his comments as soon as they are available.
One FEMA team has started emergency medical treatment of patients at Mission Hospital in Asheville, according to FEMA. Another team is moving to Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine to support their emergency department. FEMA says they have provided 200 federal ambulances to the state.
FEMA has provided 40 Starlink satellite systems to help with first responder communications and additional satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration, according to FEMA. At their discretion, FEMA intends to offer each county's Emergency Operations Center one Starlink.
Families and people trying to reach loved ones are encouraged to call 211, 1-888-892-1162, or visit UnitedWayNC.org to fill out a request form.
FEMA says it has deployed 25 trailer-loads of meals and 60 trailers-loads of water to aid the state's response efforts. An AC-17 cargo plane full of food, water and other commodities has arrived in Asheville, according to FEMA. An additional 18 helicopters are on standby to help deliver additional commodities to affected areas.
A supply of generators is being moved from Charlotte to Asheville, according to FEMA. Another 30 generators are headed to the staging base in Mecklenburg.
There are 29 shelters open with over 1,000 occupants, according to FEMA.