RALEIGH, NC (WBTW) – Six months after Hurricane Florence made landfall in the state, North Carolina continues to recover.
“Hurricane Florence was a devastating storm that swamped homes, businesses, farms, schools and entire communities,” said Gov. Roy Cooper in a press release. “But the devastation was quickly followed by amazing acts of bravery and kindness from first responders, volunteers, and neighbors helping neighbors, and impressive cooperation among local, state and federal partners to get help to those in need.”
“People hit hard by Florence are determined to recover and we’re determined to rebuild North Carolina stronger and smarter,” Gov. Cooper added.
Gov. Cooper traveled to Craven and Jones Counties in eastern NC on Monday to check on the progress of recovery efforts.
Hurricane Florence was the state’s wettest storm on record, according to the press release. The storm dropped more than eight trillion gallons of water and some areas received nearly 35 inches of rain.
In the state, 44 people died from the storm, the release also said. About 5,214 people and 1,067 animals were rescued and evacuated by first responders.
NC suffered an estimated $17 billion in damages from the storm and about $1.2 billion in state and federal help has been approved for the state.
Gov. Cooper created the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency following the storm “to lead the state’s efforts to rebuild smarter and stronger the wake of Hurricane Florence.”
“State crews worked to reopen 2,500 roads and bridges closed due to the storm, completing repairs at nearly 3,600 locations identified by the NC Department of Transportation, with a cost of $122.9 million to date,” said a fact sheet provided by the Office of the Governor. “Only six roads and bridges remain closed due to the storm because permanent repairs require extensive planning.”
To full fact sheet can be read here.
