Fact-Checking Claims About Roy Cooper’s Whereabouts During Hurricane Helene
In the politically charged atmosphere leading up to the North Carolina Senate race, allegations have surfaced regarding former Governor Roy Cooper’s actions during the devastating Hurricane Helene. Critics have suggested that Cooper was absent from the state when the hurricane struck, but evidence tells a different story.
Roy Cooper, who served as North Carolina’s governor from 2017 to 2024, is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. His opponents include Republican Michael Whatley, Libertarian Shannon Bray, and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin.
During his governorship, Cooper was at the helm when Hurricane Helene caused approximately $60 billion in damages to North Carolina in September 2024. As Cooper pursues a Senate seat, claims have resurfaced alleging he was out of state during the hurricane—a claim previously debunked by PolitiFact in 2024.
President Donald Trump’s campaign account claimed in a Sept. 21 X post that Cooper was in New York during the hurricane, attending a New York Times ‘Climate Forward’ event. The claim was reiterated on Sept. 26 in another post.
Similarly, the National Republican Senatorial Committee echoed this claim on Sept. 23, asserting Cooper was promoting Green New Deal policies at a climate conference in New York City. An RNC email sent on Sept. 28 perpetuated the narrative that Cooper was at a climate gala rather than tending to the state’s needs during the storm.
However, these assertions do not align with the timeline of events. On Sept. 25, a day before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, Cooper was indeed in New York for a climate change conference. According to the governor’s office, he was back in North Carolina by 3 p.m. that same day, confirmed by his campaign to PolitiFact.
By Sept. 27, when the hurricane’s most severe impacts hit western North Carolina, Cooper was present in Raleigh, overseeing the state’s emergency response. No evidence suggests he left the state during this critical period.
Timeline of Events
- Sept. 24: Helene was classified as a Tropical Storm. Cooper initiated emergency powers and placed the State Emergency Operations Center on Enhanced Watch.
- Sept. 25: Helene became a Category 1 hurricane. Cooper declared a state of emergency, flew to New York for the climate event, and returned by afternoon.
- Sept. 26: Cooper conducted a morning briefing in Raleigh, warning of potential catastrophic flooding and activating National Guard members.
- Sept. 27: Helene made landfall in Florida and moved towards North Carolina. Cooper continued to lead response efforts from Raleigh, seeking federal disaster assistance.
Michael Whatley, Cooper’s Republican opponent, acknowledged the correct timing of Cooper’s trip to New York during a Sept. 25 campaign event, though he used it to criticize Cooper’s preparedness.
Despite reaching out, PolitiFact received no immediate comments from the White House, the RNC, or the political action committee linked to the Team Trump X account.
Our Ruling
The claim that Cooper was absent from North Carolina during Hurricane Helene’s landfall is inaccurate. He attended a climate conference in New York on Sept. 25, but returned the same day, well before the hurricane impacted North Carolina. The timeline of events and Cooper’s actions during the hurricane demonstrate his presence and leadership in the state. We rate the claims against him as False.
Original Story at www.wral.com