On Wednesday, nearly one week after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Joe Biden approved North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s request for active-duty military personnel and equipment to assist with recovery efforts.
“The active-duty military personnel are in addition to more than 1,000 North Carolina National Guard soldiers currently deployed who are surging food, water, supplies and conducting search and rescue operations. The NC National Guard has already performed more than 1,400 rescues and delivered more than 700,000 pounds in supplies,” a press release from Cooper’s office read.
“We are bolstering our massive relief and rescue effort in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and I am grateful for President Biden’s approval of our requests,” Cooper said.
“The North Carolina National Guard is already on the ground working with federal, state, non-profit and local emergency responders around the clock to save lives, deliver critical supplies, and restore communications and utilities,” he added.
Pres. Biden deploys 1,000 troops to help Western North Carolina after the region was devastated by Helene. @morganorwood reports. pic.twitter.com/WyhSUaFPeS
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 3, 2024
Per Cooper’s office:
President Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III have authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty military personnel to support the delivery of food, water and other critical aid to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The active-duty soldiers are part of an Infantry Battalion Task Force, formed from the XVII Airborne Corps to include members of the 82nd Airborne and other units stationed at Fort Liberty, NC. The task force includes a Forward Support Company with the necessary support structures (fuel, water, mechanics, etc.) to support stabilizing critical lifelines and essential services for communities in North Carolina. Soldiers are assembling and moving to the affected areas within the next 24 hours.
The death toll from Helene has risen to over 200 and hundreds remain missing.
WATCH:
Hundreds are still missing after Helene. See how people are stepping up to search for survivors in Asheville, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/WME7n7ziNZ
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 3, 2024
According to The Federalist CEO Sean Davis, Gov. Cooper still hasn’t written the order needed for the 1,000 troops to be deployed in North Carolina.
“According to a source in North Carolina, despite 1,000 troops being ready and authorized to respond in NC, FEMA Region 4 and Democrat NC Gov. Roy Cooper haven’t yet written up the mission orders that the troops need in order to be deployed. So those troops are just sitting around twiddling their thumbs,” Davis said.
“It’s been 7 days since Hurricane Helene made landfall. What on earth are you doing, @RoyCooperNC and @FEMA?” he added.
According to a source in North Carolina, despite 1,000 troops being ready and authorized to respond in NC, FEMA Region 4 and Democrat NC Gov. Roy Cooper haven’t yet written up the mission orders that the troops need in order to be deployed. So those troops are just sitting around…
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 3, 2024
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA doesn’t have enough funding to last through hurricane season.
And Kamala Harris announced a slap-in-the-face $750 to victims.
“I was able to independently confirm with a high ranking FEMA official that Gov. Cooper is impeding the deployment of military aid,” Dr. Ben Braddock claimed Wednesday.
I was able to independently confirm with a high ranking FEMA official that Gov. Cooper is impeding the deployment of military aid https://t.co/fsEMnFJXyU pic.twitter.com/b0H5YLYhm6
— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) October 3, 2024
“1,000 troops are sitting at Ft. Bragg waiting for the green light to go to Western NC. Yesterday the holdup was Gov. Cooper, today it’s the Department of Homeland Security,” Braddock said Thursday.
1,000 troops are sitting at Ft. Bragg waiting for the green light to go to Western NC. Yesterday the holdup was Gov. Cooper, today it’s the Department of Homeland Security. pic.twitter.com/uFVqLd8eiP
— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) October 3, 2024