Hurricane Helene made landfall last Friday, leaving areas across the Southeastern United States destroyed or damaged due to flooding and severe wind. Many national parks felt the impact of the storm and are still assessing damages.
Helene made landfall in Florida’s “Big Bend” before making its way north through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Florida Parks
Following the passing of Hurricane Helene, visitors to the South Florida National Parks should exercise caution, as there may be unidentified hazards on land and in park waters. Marine waters are open in all locations, but parks are still assessing missing or damaged navigation aids. Closures or special conditions are available on each park’s website under Alerts.
Dry Tortugas National Park sustained impacts from storm surge. As conditions permit, staff will begin to assess damage and facilities. Garden and Loggerhead Keys are closed, including Fort Jefferson, the campground, main dock and visitor courtesy slips on Garden Key. Ferry and seaplane service will be suspended until Garden Key reopens. Vessels may continue to seek safe harbor within the one nautical mile anchoring zone around Garden Key, including Bird Key Harbor. No services are available.
Everglades National Park is open, but some services may be limited. Boaters should take precautions in park waters as there may be marine debris, derelict vessels and missing navigation aides.
Biscayne National Park is open for regular business. These areas include Convoy Point Grounds , Dante Fascell Visitor Center , Park Headquarters and Florida National Parks Association bookstore.
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is currently without full power and all water systems are currently down. The park, including all trails, facilities and campgrounds, remains closed until services can be restored.
There was no damage to park buildings, but most trails, including the boardwalk, are severely flooded and will likely remain under water for some time after the park reopens, according to NPS. When the flood waters recede, rangers will begin to repair the damage.
Additionally, there are many trees and debris blocking the primary road that leads to the park. While national park staff can work to remove trees on the roads inside the park, there is no timeline on when trees along roads outside of the park will be cleared.
Great Smoky Mountains
Although Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular autumn destination, park officials are asking visitors to reschedule their trips to the Smokies for their own safety & to reduce traffic in surrounding communities heavily impacted by the storm.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation advises that all travel in western North Carolina should be for emergencies only. Surrounding communities may have limited resources (gas, food, water) available to visitors at this time.
While parts of the national park are open, outdoor recreation is currently discouraged due to limited staffing and visitor safety concerns. The park has warned that emergency services are currently stretched thin and have already responded to several incidents (many unrelated to the storm) in the last several days.
The park is working to get all major park roads open to the public as soon as possible. Balsam, Cataloochee, Roaring Fork, and Greenbrier areas are closed. US 441, Foothills Pkwy East, Rich Mtn Road are closed.
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