Missed in North Carolina: The Search Goes On After Hurricane Helene

Weeks after Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, 92 people are still missing. Officials from the state's emergency management, National Guard, and others gave an update at a press conference. Governor Roy Cooper warned that the number of missing could change as more information comes in. The storm caused a lot of damage in the western part of the state, especially in mountainous areas not used to such weather. It left cities and towns cut off from help due to flooding and landslides. Sadly, 118 people died in North Carolina, making up almost half of the total deaths across multiple states. A serious issue is the spread of misinformation online about disaster relief. This has made it harder for aid workers to do their jobs and even put them in danger. Some reports say armed groups have threatened workers. Governor Cooper said this misinformation is causing confusion and hurting both survivors and aid workers. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell agreed, saying it's sad to see hatred toward federal responders. FEMA has made changes to protect workers but is still focused on helping people. There are over 2,000 federal workers in North Carolina, and misinformation won't stop their mission.