Miles SmithThe Federal Highway Administration is making $43.1 million immediately available to help national parks and forests affected by Hurricane Helene repair critical transportation infrastructure.
Approximately $18.1 million will be used by the U.S. Forest Service to re-open and re-establish the roads and bridges in the national forests of North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Another $25 million will be distributed to the National Park Service for emergency repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
Planned repairs include restoring the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, one of the most visited national parks in the nation. According to a National Park Service report, in 2023 over 16.7 million visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway spent $1.4 billion, supporting more than 19,000 jobs in North Carolina and Virginia, creating a cumulative benefit to the local economy of over $1.8 billion.
The funding is being provided via a quick release process for use by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.
“The damage caused by Hurricane Helene’s heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding is so extensive that emergency vehicles and utility crews cannot make their way into the national forests and national parks to make essential repairs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The emergency funding we’re sending will help the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service make repairs to vital transportation networks in four impacted states where roads are currently impassable and reopen these roadways as quickly as possible.”
In late September, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rainfall, flooding and strong winds, severely damaging roads in southeastern national forests and parks.
Areas throughout the region experienced significant landslides and destruction, making it difficult for emergency vehicles and utility crews to travel into and within these lands to make essential repairs.
Emergency Relief funding awards include:
- $25 million to the National Park Service for emergency repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
- $6.4 million for emergency repairs in George Washington and Jefferson national forests in Virginia
- $5.25 million for emergency repairs in Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee
- $5.1 million for emergency repairs in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests in North Carolina
- $1.25 million in emergency repairs in Francis Marion and Sumter national forests in South Carolina
Emergency relief funds help the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service take on critical eligible repair work that includes removing downed trees, making temporary roadway repairs, stabilizing landslides and removing overhead hazards and other debris from roadways and bridges to provide safe travel along various routes.
Additional funds to repair the damage across these four states, currently estimated to be more than $1 billion, will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.
Photo courtesy NCDOTcommunications
