Gov. Cooper Update on Tropical Storm Helene's Impact on NC

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper held a news conference Friday morning to update residents on the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. After making landfall as a major hurricane on Thursday night, Helene moved north, bringing severe weather to the Carolinas early Friday.

Cooper confirmed that two people have died due to the storm in the state, one in a weather-related car crash in Catawba County and another from a tree falling on a home in Charlotte.

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The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida around 11 PM Thursday. It was downgraded early Friday morning as it moved inland impacting the Carolinas.

Heavy rain and strong winds battered North Carolina, with the mountains and foothills experiencing the brunt of the storm. Flood warnings and watches remain in effect across the state, with significant flooding reported in the western regions.

As of 10:40 a.m., more than 1.2 million Duke Energy customers were without power, largely due to downed trees and power lines caused by the storm. Emergency management teams continue to monitor the situation as recovery efforts begin.