Blue Ridge Parkway

[SouthportFLRT]

Reports are that the entire Blue Ridge Parkway is currently closed due to Hurricane Helene. Weather station in Busick NC recorded 27.55 inches of rain in past 24 hours. Be careful wherever you happen to be. Mother Nature does not play well with others. Stay safe. In our area..Brunswick County NC we again received a so-called 1 in 1000 year rain event due to PTC #8. 20.41 inches of rain in 24 hours. Hell...in 2018 Hurricane Florence dumped over 30 inches from Florence...now dealing with untold number of roads and bridges either damaged or destroyed. Thankful that no loss of life occurred.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good report, be safe out there

 

[SouthportFLRT]

Thanks Jack....but I must correct myself. An 80 y.o. man unknowingly drove into deep water as he attempted to return home during PTC #8. His car and body discovered the next day. Turn around...don't drown.

 

[SouthportFLRT]

I have also seen upwards of 25 deaths. The one death I mentioned was in reference to Potential Tropical Cyclone #8. All loss of life in indeed unfortunate. Simply heed the warnings and evacuate as directed. Not all would have been spared....trees falling on houses...motor vehicle accidents, etc. No doubt the name Helene will be retired.

 

[SouthportFLRT]

Just an update.
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The primary scenic artery through the North Carolina mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain closed through the entire state indefinitely, the National Park Service reported Wednesday.


The closure effects the road from milepost 271 near the Great Smoky Mountains to 469 at the Virginia State Line. It comes right as the region – and road – typically sees a boom in usage as weather cools and the leaves change colors.

‘People lost their houses.’ Mudslides from Helene leave devastation in Watauga County
National parks officials said the closure will occur as crews continue their initial assessment of the damage from Hurricane Helene.

NPS has deployed its Eastern Incident Management Team, which brings specialized skills and resources to support the parkway with employee emergency needs, emergency stabilization of affected park resources, and damage assessments.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 99 National Park Service employees from 22 states and the District of Columbia are working with Parkway staff in the recovery efforts.


Small plane crashes while returning to Hickory from Helene-ravaged Avery County
There is no date for reopening any parts of the road.

Initially, two sections of the Parkway were closed ahead of the storm, but the full length was shut down on Saturday.