Closing in on five months since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, the area is far from being rebuilt. Insurance claims are being processed, and the federal government has done the initial appropriations for recovery.

North Carolina Republicans have unveiled their initial attempt this year to boost recovery funding for Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding.

Before leaving the governor's office, Roy Cooper stated in media interviews that Republican state legislators passed a bill that "actually took money away from western North Carolina." WFAE's Marshall Terry and WRAL's Paul Specht fact-check Cooper's claim.