CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance will be available to the state to supplement response efforts during emergency conditions beginning Sept. 24 and continuing. Biden's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on North Carolina residents.
The storm is already deadly in Charlotte, as one person was killed and another seriously injured when a tree fell on a home early Friday. Firefighters confirmed children in the home weren't hurt during the incident.
Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm at 5 a.m. Friday, but the impacts will remain significant for the Carolinas with heavy rain, damaging winds and life-threatening flooding in many areas.
Helene's impacts have been felt statewide with heavy rain, high winds and flooding across the region. Over 1 million people are currently without power due to the storm. A mandatory evacuation was issued for Mountain Island Lake in western Mecklenburg County due to rising floodwaters.