NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Bypasses the Governor and Authorizes 24/7 Air Convoy for Helene Rescue Efforts

AP Photo/Chris Seward

North Carolina Lt. Governor and Republican candidate for Governor Mark Robinson is bypassing Governor Roy Cooper's lackluster efforts in spearheading the emergency response from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Robinson is using his own office's authority to institute 24/7 air convoys to rescue those stranded and bring essential supplies to the people of Western North Carolina.

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Gov. Cooper provides response updates largely from the comfort of his own home or office. Robinson is actually on the ground, coordinating the efforts.

Joe Biden told the people of North Carolina they had no more supplies for us.  

I called Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White & he said “that’s BS.” 

Franklin County has been running round the clock convoys on behalf of my office since Saturday night.  

Their deputies have not slept. 

Their leadership has helped deliver more for the state than I could have ever imagined.  

They will continue to serve as our central state supply center until Western North Carolina is completely self sustainable.  

When Joe Biden and the federal government failed to act, Sheriff White and his team took the bull by the horns.

On Tuesday, Gov. Cooper issued another daily update, even though on Friday, he was nowhere to be seen while Hurricane Helene did its worst.

Progress in recovery from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene is moving slowly but steadily, NC Gov. Roy Cooper said during an interdepartmental video news conference Tuesday.

The governor and state department heads gave updates on the state of Western North Carolina four days after Helene crippled the region, but he also wanted to praise the people in his state for their resilience.

"As heartbreaking as this damage has been, it's encouraging to see the way people are working together," Cooper said.

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This is no thanks to Cooper or the federal government. Many more lives would have been lost, and supply distribution hampered had it not been for the quick thinking and hands-on application of Mark Robinson. 

Folks, there's no way to surgarcoat it. The situation in Western North Carolina is becoming more dire by the hour. Residents are still without power and do not readily have access to food and water. I am urging Governor Roy Cooper to send in more help immediately. We need to deploy more National Guard personnel, and surge additional Search and Rescue teams.

Aside from resources from other state governors, the majority of the aircrafts mounting the rescue and supply delivery are private citizens and organizations like Paraclete, who are spending their own money and pulling from their own networks to give aid to Western North Carolina. Surrounding state leaders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey have not only called up their national guards, but are mobilizing, when the time is right, to help Western North Carolina rebuild.

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Robinson has been on the ground, using his authority to ensure people crying out for help are receiving the rescue and the resources they need.

Even while doing the gargantuan work of coordinating these efforts, Robinson has used his X social media account to communicate, issue alerts, and profusely thank those organizations and people who are providing support, stores, and most of all, saving the lives that can still be saved.

Mark Robinson is among those North Carolina heroes. Barring anything else going south, in my view, he can probably expect to cakewalk to the governor's mansion, all due to his leadership and action on behalf of the people of North Carolina.

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