RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration said Wednesday.
The state budget office generated the preliminary figure for direct or indirect damages and potential investments to prevent similar destruction in future storms.
Cooper told reporters the state’s previous record for storm damage was $17 billion from Hurricane Florence, which struck eastern North Carolina in 2018.
“It is no exaggeration to describe Helene as the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina,” Cooper said while unveiling his request to the General
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