During a briefing in Asheville on Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper said the essential-only travel ban in the western portion of the state after Helene has been lifted but asked drivers to use caution and plan for slowdowns. Cooper said it would cost about $5 billion to repair transportation infrastructure.
The governor said the storm is blamed for 125 deaths in the state and that 26 people are still unaccounted for. Twenty-eight school districts that closed during Helene have reopened, and seven more are waiting to open.
