by Jessie Johnson, ATC Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Hurricane Helene Update
Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction throughout the southeastern U.S. in September, resulting in damage to the A.T. and surrounding communities in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. In the first days after the storm, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) worked closely with public land managers, including the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS), to focus on the safety and essential needs of people and communities in the affected areas. Because of dangers from falling trees and debris, swift water, landslides, and rockslides, as well as severely damaged and impassable roads, the USFS closed sections of the A.T. in the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Nantahala, and Pisgah National Forests to ensure the safety of individuals and to ensure local emergency services were not further taxed. Additionally, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Grayson Highlands State Park were also closed.
In the days following the storm, land managers began assessing Trail conditions as soon as it was safe to do so. The ATC supported these efforts by assisting with assessments, as well as mobilizing clubs and certified sawyers to help with the initial clearing of roads and trails. The ATC also served as a central information hub, sharing, consolidating, and amplifying the vital messages on Trail conditions gleaned from these on-the-ground assessments, as well as updates on closures and openings.
By early December, all of the A.T. had re-opened except for sections of Trail from Bald Mountain Shelter to Doll Flats (NOBO miles 327.7 to 392.6) and the TN/VA line to Elk Garden/VA 600 (NOBO miles 467.3 to 495.2). Currently, the ATC continues to partner with land managers and A.T. maintaining clubs to help with Trail restoration efforts and to provide information on Trail conditions. This communication is vital because, even on open Trail sections, there are complex blowdowns, high water crossings, and lack of emergency services in nearby areas. The ATC continues to post up-to-date information on Trail conditions on its website to help hikers make informed decisions about visiting the Trail.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the ATC has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from volunteers eager to assist with Trail restoration efforts. By November, individuals from all A.T. clubs in affected areas were able to access open sections of the Trail to help assess damage and begin the work of clearing and repairing the Trail. The ATC’s volunteer team has been connecting volunteers with trail work opportunities by posting volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer Engagement Platform and encouraging individuals to subscribe to the Volunteer Opportunities Newsletter. Many clubs have seen a significant increase in volunteer participation, including numerous first-time volunteers.
In November, the ATC utilized A.T. Resiliency Funds to organize and deploy teams of certified volunteer sawyers from Virginia A.T. Clubs to clear blowdowns on the Trail near Damascus and Marion. Additionally, the ATC hired a professional arborist crew to clear severely impacted sections of Trail in Virginia that, at the time, was closed to volunteers and the public.
As climate change causes more extreme weather events in the Appalachian region, the ATC’s Stewardship Council has been addressing the importance of the A.T. landscape in mitigating the effects of a shifting climate in the areas surrounding the Trail, and this research continues in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The ATC continues to collaborate with its management partners and maintaining clubs to identify strategies to enhance the Trail’s resilience to climate change impacts, including blowdowns, flooding, and damaged treadway.
As recovery efforts continue, find additional Hurricane Helene updates here and information on the latest Trail conditions here.