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.

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.

Gov. Josh Stein on Monday requested $1.07 billion in immediate funding to support recovery efforts in western North Carolina. Many volunteers assisting storm victims say the funding is urgently needed.