Governor says Matthew relief coming to Fair Bluff, but can’t say when

Gov. Roy Cooper addresses news organizations, and the public, in Fair Bluff Monday. (Deuce Niven, TLT)

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Help is coming “soon” to hundreds of Fair Bluff area residents displaced by Hurricane Matthew nearly two years ago, Gov. Roy Cooper said during a visit to the town Monday.

     Pressed repeatedly to be more specific during a news conference held inside a disaster recovery center opened just recently downtown, Gov. Cooper said state agencies are working “as hard as they can” to speed the process, but would not provide a timeframe.

     Gov. Cooper blamed the process of transferring administration of disaster relief programs from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Public Safety, a decision made before he took office, has slowed the process in North Carolina.

     Gov. Cooper also paid a visit to the new Fair Bluff Fire/Rescue Station, under construction on the east side of town, Monday afternoon.

     For more on this story see this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.