Governor surveys recovery efforts on Ocracoke

Published 6:43 pm Wednesday, September 25, 2019

OCRACOKE — On Monday, Governor Roy Cooper and members of his cabinet visited Ocracoke Island to survey recovery efforts following Hurricane Dorian’s landfall on Sept. 6.

“Ocracoke hurricane survivors have been through a lot, and they’re working hard to recover. I am pushing for federal assistance to help get resources where they are needed in addition to state resources we’re already providing,” said Gov. Cooper.

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan, Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks, Emergency Management Director Michael Sprayberry, Department of Transportation Chief Operating Officer Bobby Lewis and Army National Guard Brigadier General Todd Hunt joined Gov. Cooper on Ocracoke Island.

Gov. Cooper and cabinet members visited a temporary medical center and a volunteer fire department to thank volunteers for their efforts to mitigate Hurricane Dorian’s impacts and to care for those affected by the storm. They also stopped in Ocracoke’s Historic District to speak with individuals whose homes were damaged in the hurricane.

On Monday, Gov. Cooper said the state would continue to support county mosquito control efforts. Gov. Cooper also signed Executive Order 108 to authorize the North Carolina Department of Transportation to remove Hurricane-related debris from public rights-of-way.

In addition to these measures, Gov. Cooper has made formal requests for both federal Public Assistance and Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, now awaiting their approval.