ASHEVILLE, NC — A hurricane victim struggling to keep his head above flood waters was relieved when he heard the sound of a rescue chopper overhead that brought him much-needed relief when it dropped a $750 government check.

The desperate man looked up, his eyes stinging from debris kicked up by the helicopter's roaring blades, and was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude as he snatched the fluttering $750 check out of the air.

"Finally!" he said. "Now I won't drown. I'll be able to — replace one of my couches, I guess."

The helicopter promptly departed, presumably to deliver checks to others in danger of drowning.

"Hey, wait! I can help you pass out checks!"

But it was too late; the government official was busy. He had more checks to pass out and little time to do it.

"It's a tough

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