CANTON – Today, Governor Roy Cooper surveyed flood damage from Tropical Storm Fred, visiting the Town of Canton and the community of Cruso in Haywood County.

“People in western North Carolina were hit hard by Tropical Storm Fred and we’re committed to providing all of the available resources to get them the help they need,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Our prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by this storm.”  

Governor Cooper issued a State of Emergency Wednesday to activate the state’s emergency operations plan and waive transportation rules to help first responders and the agriculture industry. 

Executive Order 227 waives the size and weight requirements for vehicles carrying emergency relief supplies or services to assist with the restoration of utility services, debris removal and emergency relief efforts. The Order also helps farmers harvest and transport crops more quickly, by temporarily suspending weighing of vehicles used to transport livestock, poultry or crops ready to be harvested. 

Two deaths have been reported, and about 20 people remain unaccounted for in Haywood County. About 200 rescuers continued searching for the missing Thursday, in homes and buildings along the Pigeon River. More than 105 people and 23 pets have been rescued from floodwaters in western counties since Tuesday.

Damage assessments are underway in the affected counties. Those surveys will help determine the type of state or federal disaster assistance that can be provided for residents who suffered damages from the storm.

North Carolina Emergency Management deployed several swift water and urban search and rescue teams from across the state to Western North Carolina this week. National Guard and Highway Patrol helicopter crews assisted in aerial searches on Wednesday. More than 250 responders from across the state have been involved in the search and rescue effort.

Haywood, Buncombe, Jackson, McDowell, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey counties have declared local states of emergency. Utility crews are working to quickly restore power and communication services. Roughly 2,000 customers in the mountain region remained without power Thursday afternoon, down from more than 50,000 customers on Tuesday evening. Cell phone service is being restored and cut fiber communication lines have been repaired.