Cooper: 98 in NC dead from Helene, estimated damage at $53 billion (2025)

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper gave an update on the numberof lives lost from Hurricane Helene and commended the spirit of western NorthCarolinians for their handling of the tragedy.

Speaking at a press conference to promote Saturday's'Concert for Carolina' benefit show in Charlotte, Cooper said 98 people havedied in North Carolina from Helene and state officials expect to learn of more deaths in the weeks ahead.Additionally, the expected financial hit has soared well past other catastrophichurricanes to hit the state at $53 billion.

"We send deepest condolences to their families and communities,"Cooper said. "Probably a little more than about 100,000 people have had damageto their homes. Thousands of businesses have been damaged that have not openedyet. We have estimated the financial damages of this storm at $53 billion.Putting that in perspective, that’s more than three times HurricaneFlorence that hit North Carolina in 2018 that caused $17 billion in damage."

On Thursday, the North Carolina legislature unanimouslyapproved a new $604 million relief bill. Cooper, who had proposed a $3.9billion aid package earlier in the week, signedthe bill on Friday.

North Carolina natives Luke Combs and Eric Church talked about the fabric of the region, which they plan to representin the show at Bank of America Stadium. Stories have emerged in recent weeks about the resolve of the region, which has been tested in the face of the deadliest and most devastating storm to hit North Carolina.

"The small communities that specifically make upwestern North Carolina are these strong, independent proud communities and I'vesaid many times that they’re the exact community that when the community nextdoor is in trouble, you can count on that community to come help you,"Church said. "In this situation there is no community next door. It’s allbeen destroyed. So what you’re seeing tonight is we are the community nextdoor, the people in this stadium are the community next door."

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was another organizerbehind the show.

"In a way, it was an easy ask, because we really wantedto do it," Tepper said. "I think it was just a monumental task. Itwas done really fast and everybody cooperated."

Tickets for the concert sold out in a matter of hours.Another benefit showis scheduled for Sunday at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleighwith OldCrow Medicine Show headlining.

"The thing that was really scary for me personally wasI didn't hear from anyone for a few days," Combs said. "That wasreally shocking. You're in the boat is 'is everybody OK, you don't know.Thankfully everybody in the area, I've now heard from."

Despite many counties in the western part of the state being declared disaster areas, the state's voter turnout has actually broken records in the early voting period.Nearly 31% of registered voters in those affected counties have already cast a ballot.

"These people are going to need help long aftertonight, long after next month and long after six months," Church said."So it's about how we can continue to put this up front to make peopleaware of what happened there and how to help the people."

Artists with North Carolina connections like James Taylor,Scotty McCreery and The Avett Brothers will also perform at Saturday'sshow.Alivestream link is available for $24.99 with an option for additionaldonations.

The $604 million passed by lawmakers would come from thestate's reserves. The bill, which was introduced Thursday morning, wouldallocate:

• $100 million for water and wastewater infrastructure repair loans
• $100 million for cash flow loans to local governments
• $75 million to match federal disaster relief funds
• $50 million to help local and state governments address “unmet needs” not covered by insurance.
• $50 million for repairs to damaged public school
• $50 million for bridge loans for small businesses.

In another sign of a return to normalcy on Saturday,Appalachian State will host its first home football game since Helene at KiddBrewer Stadium against Georgia State. In Buncombe County, many schools in the 22,000-student, 45-school district welcomed back students this week.

Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be placed at half-staff this weekend to mark one month since Hurricane Helene.

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