Want to help with flood relief? We have a list of resources where you can donate or volunteer.
The National Park Service has reopened more sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
Nearly 55 miles the Blue Ridge Parkway have been reopened from:
- Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:
- Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.
- All trails and trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
- Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, N.C., near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:
- All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
- Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.
- Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until November 11, 2024.
The Virginia portion has already reopened. The North Carolina section from milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two open sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslide that impacted the roadway during Hurricane Helene. All along the parkway, areas are closed as crews continue work to clear widespread debris, remove hazard trees, and install hardened closures around road sections that will require lengthy reconstruction. The NPS expects the Devil’s Courthouse closure to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented, the parkway said in a statement.
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Mountain Lake Lodge owner donates $50,000 to flood relief
The foundation that owns Mountain Lake Lodge is donating $50,000 to help Giles County with flood relief.
The lodge is owned by the Mary Moody Northen Endowment of Galveston, Texas. “Our board members, Bill Rider, Robert Moody, Jr., and Laura Protz know what it’s like to live through a hurricane and its aftermath,” said Endowment Executive Director Betty Massey in a statement. “They’ve experienced storms from Alicia to Harvey to Ike, and wanted to do something significant to help Giles County recover, especially with funds from the foundation Mrs. Northen established.”
While the lodge on Salt Pond Mountain sustained damage, Helene’s impact was most severe in the New River Valley below, where the river crested at its second highest point in history.
The storm displaced 48 people in Giles County, said County Administrator Chris McKlarney.
“The storm displaced 48 Giles County families, whose homes were completely destroyed. Most got out with only the clothes on their backs.” McKlarney said.
“We are in the process of placing these families in permanent housing and supplying the most basic necessities,” he said in a statement. “The Endowment’s generosity will help rebuild their lives by providing resources to cover housing costs, buy food and clothing, and provide their children with school supplies. All we can say is thank you.”