Two years later: Helene recovery questions remain

WCAB News investigation: Then-Governor Cooper's climate conference trip, conflicting death tolls and recovery questions

Two years after Hurricane Helene, federal and state records report different fatality figures as western North Carolina continues rebuilding. WCAB News examines former Gov. Roy Cooper's emergency preparations, disaster leadership, and the financial consequences of recovery.

By Annie Dance | WCAB News

RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — Two years after Hurricane Helene impacted western North Carolina, former Gov. Roy Cooper's decision to attend a climate conference in New York City as the storm approached is drawing renewed attention to his administration's emergency preparations and disaster recovery efforts.

Cooper, a Democrat who served as governor from 2017 through 2024 and is now running for the U.S. Senate, attended The New York Times Climate Forward conference Sept. 25, 2024, two days before Helene brought catastrophic flooding to western North Carolina.

He faces three opponents on the ballot, including Republican Michael Whatley.

The storm's death toll remains a point of discrepancy in official records.

What Cooper did before Helene

North Carolina Emergency Management placed the State Emergency Operations Center on enhanced watch Sept. 24, 2024, as forecasts warned of dangerous flooding and damaging winds.

Cooper declared a statewide emergency at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25, authorizing additional emergency resources. State officials deployed swift-water rescue teams, National Guard personnel, and emergency management specialists before Helene arrived.

"Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area," Cooper said in the Sept. 25 announcement.

Later that day, Cooper attended the conference, where he discussed North Carolina's clean energy economy and FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. He said, in part, "Buyouts are better."

He made the comment after knowing that another hurricane would impact the state, public records show. The then-governor returned to North Carolina that day and participated in a public storm briefing Sept. 26.

"Helene is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for Central and particularly Western North Carolina," Cooper said.

Helene made landfall in Florida that evening. Its remnants brought catastrophic flooding, landslides, and destructive winds to western North Carolina on Sept. 27.

Federal and state death tolls differ

A Jan. 14, 2025, report published by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard documented the work of its 171st Fatality Search and Recovery Team following Helene.

The team deployed to Asheville from Oct. 3-14, 2024, working alongside the FBI, federal disaster mortuary teams, and medical examiner offices.

According to the report, the team "processed 79 of the 140 deceased people documented in the Asheville area" during the recovery operation.

North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services, however, reported 107 verified storm-related fatalities statewide as of June 17, 2025.

The state figure includes four deaths in Rutherford County, two in McDowell County, and 42 in Buncombe County.

The state said its figures are verified through official channels and remain subject to change based on continuing investigations.

The federal military report does not explain whether all 140 deceased people were subsequently classified as storm-related fatalities by North Carolina's medical examiner system.

Who coordinated the recovery?

On Sept. 27, Cooper requested a federal major disaster declaration and designated North Carolina Emergency Management Director William Ray as the state coordinating officer responsible for working with FEMA.

However, North Carolina did not appoint a separate, dedicated disaster recovery coordinator, despite a longstanding FEMA recommendation.

Ray subsequently confirmed that no individual had been appointed to that position, saying state officials "decided to take a different approach."

The distinction involves the state's immediate disaster response and its longer-term recovery operations, which require coordination among federal agencies, state officials, local governments, contractors, and property owners.

After taking office in January 2025, Gov. Josh Stein established a new recovery leadership structure for western North Carolina, known as GROW NC, the governor's recovery office for western NC.

Rutherford County's financial burden

WCAB News has documented the continuing financial consequences of Helene for Rutherford County.

At the Sept. 8, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting, Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Paula Roach said the county had carried approximately $35 million in storm-related expenses while awaiting reimbursement.

A $17 million reimbursement arrived in February, but fewer than $6 million remained outstanding as of September.

Roach estimated the extended reimbursement process cost Rutherford County approximately $1.6 million in lost interest income because local funds were tied up in disaster expenses.

The county's recovery model required it to pay contractors and seek reimbursement for eligible expenses. Lake Lure and Chimney Rock used direct federal assistance for certain major recovery operations, allowing the federal government to perform work through FEMA mission assignments.

Those different approaches affected how local governments financed recovery operations. The reimbursement process has continued under multiple state and federal administrations.

For Rutherford County and the Hickory Nut Gorge, recovery continues through federal reimbursement programs, infrastructure reconstruction, and efforts to reduce the risks of future flooding.

The second anniversary of Hurricane Helene is on Sept. 27.