North Carolina Seeks $150 Million for Hurricane Helene Recovery

Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage across the southeastern United States, particularly in North Carolina, with schools and hospitals facing various recovery challenges. Education officials are assessing the extent of damage to schools, advocating for financial protections for employees and flexibility in school calendars to accommodate missed days. Meanwhile, Mission Health hospitals have remained operational, aided by 400 nurses and 40 physicians deployed from other states, providing care for over 1,800 patients since the hurricane. Governor Roy Cooper has toured affected areas, announcing $6 million in aid while noting ongoing needs for the school system and cell service. However, recovery efforts have been marred by allegations of mismanagement within FEMA, with whistleblowers claiming funds have been misallocated and first responders left idle. This situation underscores the complexity of providing timely and effective disaster response amid political and logistical challenges.