Hurricane Helene - Clearing Storm Damage from the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida and then stormed across multiples states in the Southeast. It impacted the Blue Ridge Parkway on September 27, 2024 as a post-tropical cyclone. Its arrival in western North Carolina followed several days of saturating rain to the region. The storm devastated the area with up to 30 inches of rain in localized areas and peak sustained winds of up to 60 miles per hour. This heavy rain and wind resulted in significant damage to parts of the parkway and some areas remain closed. The section of the parkway passing through North Carolina was more affected than the section of the parkway passing through Virginia.

Hurricane Helene triggered multiple landslides across the parkway’s roads, several of which resulted in weakened structural integrity and loss of road segments. Some parkway facilities were also damaged by the winds and falling trees. The parkway’s roads were covered in thousands of downed trees and tree debris that needed to be cleared before work crews could begin assessing the damage.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a critical artery for community connectivity and tourism and is an important part of the community identity. The National Park Service deployed over 500 emergency support staff with support from several other agencies, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), to work on assessing the damage, removing debris from the road, and begin work on restoring critical community access along the Parkway.

 

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.

 

Parkway before and after storm debris clearing work

Several people wearing brightly colored clothing stand among fallen trees and other debris on a road. Several people wearing brightly colored clothing stand among fallen trees and other debris on a road.

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

Tress lie across a road with several national park service staff in bright clothing standing nearby Tress lie across a road with several national park service staff in bright clothing standing nearby

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

 
 
 

News Releases about Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

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    Last updated: December 13, 2024

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