National Park Service Initiates Blue Ridge Parkway Recovery After Hurricane Damage

The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners meeting on September 2, 2025, focused on significant updates regarding recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The meeting highlighted the allocation of over $230 million from the Great American Outdoors Act to support reconstruction projects in the area, particularly the road from Little Switzerland to Mount Mitchell.

Officials reported that the hurricane, which struck on September 27, 2024, caused extensive damage, including at least 57 landslides along the parkway. Visitor facilities, such as the Windville Falls visitor center, were lost, and various campgrounds and developed areas suffered severe impacts. The meeting underscored the urgency of these recovery efforts, with the first construction contracts awarded by December 2024, just months after the hurricane.

The National Park Service has secured funding through the American Relief Act to facilitate ongoing recovery projects. The meeting also noted that progress has been made, with openings to the north and south of the affected areas earlier this summer. Officials emphasized their commitment to restoring the parkway and preserving its natural beauty for future generations.

As recovery efforts continue, the community remains hopeful for the restoration of this vital natural resource, which plays a crucial role in the region's tourism and ecological health.