Helene Impacts and Recovery

Winter recreation is NOT authorized in sections closed for Hurricane Helene recovery. Visit the Road Status and Closures page to ensure you are not entering a section closed for Hurricane Helene.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida and then stormed across multiples states in the Southeast. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the storm devastated the park and local areas with up to 30 inches of rain in localized areas and peak sustained winds of up to 60 miles per hour. The heavy rain and wind resulted in significant damage along the Parkway, including thousands of downed trees and debris covering the motor road, damage to facilities and multiple landslides that resulted in weakened structural integrity and loss of road segments.

As of 2026, the Parkway is completing Phase 2 and Phase 3 of Helene recovery projects. All road related recovery projects are estimated for completion by the end of 2026. You can learn more about recovery projects on the Helene Recovery: At a Glance page.

Find up-to-date information on the impact Hurricane Helene had on the Parkway, including storm damage, recovery progress, and up-to-date status on road and facility closures and reopening information here.

 

 

Common Questions

Expand the panels below for answers to some of the common questions asked about the impacts of mudslides, wind and rain on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

When will the entire parkway reopen?

Target completion for all Helene Recovery roadway projects is the end of 2026. 

How can I stay up to date with the Parkway’s recovery and repair work?

To stay informed about the progress of our recovery efforts, visit the Helene Recovery Projects - At a Glance page on our website for more details on project updates, maps showing closures, and additional information and photos about storm recovery along the Parkway.

 

Parkway before and after storm debris clearing work

Left image
National Park Service staff complete initial assessment of fallen debris on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Credit: NPS

Right image
After clearing debris on October 30, 2024.
Credit: NPS / Jonathan Shafer

 

Near Mile Marker 390.4 on Blue Ridge Parkway

Left image
National Park Service staff start work to clear fallen trees on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Credit: NPS

Right image
Cleared portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Credit: NPS / Jonathan Shafer

 

 

 

Damaged Roadway Rebuilt at Milepost 401

Left image
Crews work to rebuild the roadway and slope near Ferrin Knob Tunnel #3 after Hurricane Helene.
Credit: NPS Photo

Right image
The completed and rebuilt road now open to visitors.
Credit: NPS Photo