Governor Cooper joins Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Western NC to survey storm damage

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Governor Roy Cooper joined United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Western North Carolina Thursday for a briefing on recovery efforts with federal officials and view damaged areas in Asheville and Canton.

The Governor and Secretary Buttigieg also visited a damaged section of I-40.

“Today I spent time on the ground in Asheville, Canton and at a damaged portion of I-40, helping federal, state and local recovery efforts to open up roadways and help communities recover,” said Governor Cooper. “I’m grateful for the efforts of Secretary Buttigieg and the Biden-Harris Administration to provide critical federal funding and resources to Western North Carolina as we recover from this storm.”

In Asheville, the Governor and Secretary Buttigieg received a storm recovery briefing from federal officials and then joined Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer for a briefing on the River Arts District, which sustained significant damage from Helene. In Canton, the Governor and Secretary Buttigieg joined Mayor Zeb Smathers for a walking tour of damaged areas in the town.

Lastly, the group traveled to a damaged I-40 site near the North Carolina-Tennessee border where they received a briefing from federal and state transportation officials regarding ongoing efforts to reopen the interstate with the help of federal funding.