Gov. Cooper and the head of FEMA address recovery efforts in western North Carolina

Governor Roy Cooper and other officials including the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gave a press briefing at Asheville Regional Airport Monday.

The leaders outlined the number of people working to provide aid in the region, spoke about opening roads, efforts to reach communities, and the fact that there are still search and rescue operations occurring. 

When asked about the timeline for getting water back in some of the hardest-hit areas, Governor Cooper said more than 50 water systems were affected, and some are coming back as the power returns.

“We have engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who are here working with civil engineers and others to make sure that we are doing everything we can to get water back on all over western North Carolina," he said. "But we don't have a specific timeline on Asheville, Buncombe [County] right now."

In response to rumors surrounding aid, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the misinformation is demoralizing and hurting those who need assistance by dissuading them from applying. 

“I've heard rumors that if you take our $750 and don't pay it back, we're going to take your home — absolutely false," she said. "The $750 gets you money to help with your medicine or the food you lost in your refrigerator, and then we're going to give additional money for the repairs to your homes and the items that were lost.”

Governor Cooper spent the afternoon traveling to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock to assess damage and relief operations.