President Donald Trump will make the first official visit of his second term to North Carolina Friday.

He will travel to the mountains, which were ravaged by Hurricane Helene in late September of last year, to assess ongoing recovery efforts.

Trump last visited the area in October during the campaign where he was critical of the government's handling of the situation under the Biden Administration.

That criticism continued in his inaugural address where the president said the "wonderful people of North Carolina" had been treated "so badly" and said "we can't let this happen." 

Trump's visit is a welcomed opportunity for those who have been helping rebuild after Helene.

Related article: Western N.C. residents hope Trump's visit means more Helene relief

When asked about the visit during a recent news conference, Gov. Josh Stein called it "very good news for the people of western North Carolina." Stein said at the time he was unsure of his schedule Friday, but hoped to be able to meet with Trump during the visit.

FEMA has continued to assist in recovery efforts throughout the western portion of the state, and recently granted Stein's request for an extension of the Transitional Shelter Assistance program offered by the agency. The program, originally scheduled to end in late March, now gives eligible North Carolinians an additional two months to find alternative housing, according to a post from Stein on X.

In the post, the new Democrat governor also pledged to work with the new administration to help displaced residents and continue work on recovery efforts throughout the region.

Helene moved through North Carolina on Sept. 27 after making landfall the day before in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm caused devastating floods, landslides and other damages across the western part of the state that, in some cases, literally wiped out entire cities and towns.

In total, the state said 104 people lost their lives during Helene.