North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said Tuesday that at least 92 individuals are still missing after Hurricane Helene swept through the state nearly three weeks ago.
In a press conference with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cooper said the National Guard is continuing its search-and-rescue efforts.
Cooper said the Department of Public Safety formed a state task force to determine who is still unaccounted for.
“I want to caution that this is not a definitive count because the task force is continuing its work,” Cooper said. “The number will continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and others are resolved.”
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, he said, many people called to notify the state of friends or family they could not get in touch with. Once cell service was returned to many areas, those people did not follow up with the state if they gained communication with their loved ones.
“This storm brought historic rains and damage to one of the most beautiful regions of our state,” Cooper said. “The road to recovery will be long and we will be with western North Carolina every step of the way.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida in late September.
There have been at least 118 deaths in North Carolina related to the storm, accounting for nearly half of the total 243 killed across multiple states, NBC News reported.
The mountainous region in North Carolina was underprepared for the historic flooding, given that it is so far inland.
In the aftermath of the storm, misinformation spread about FEMA’s resources for the state, and officials say it’s making it more difficult to help those in need.
Cooper thanked the federal government for its help in the recovery and search processes after the storm. He urged people spreading false information to stop because it “breeds confusion” for survivors and response workers.
