Hurricane Helene: Forest Reopening and Update (10/15/2024)
Progress Toward Recovery After Hurricane Helene
As we enter the third week following Hurricane Helene, our community is beginning to shift from immediate rescue operations to the early stages of long-term recovery. While relief efforts will be ongoing for many weeks and months, some businesses are starting to reopen, and some individuals are gradually returning to work. We recognize that focusing on the trails may feel at odds with the emotional heaviness of our community when many are experiencing unfathomable losses. We also know that trails are necessary not only for the physical and mental health benefits they provide but also to support the recovery of North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy.
We anticipate that Pisgah National Forest will begin reopening by the end of this week. However, until that time, the forest remains closed to the public, with access granted only to organizations working under the County or other government agencies. These groups, in collaboration with the US Forest Service (USFS), are prioritizing the clearing of routes to establish emergency access points and restore access to critical infrastructure, such as the Hendersonville Reservoir. While some trails may also be cleared during these operations, many will not receive attention before the reopening. When the forest does reopen, the public will discover varying levels of impact to the trail system and everyone should proceed with extreme caution. We are incredibly grateful to the USFS, Transylvania County Search and Rescue, and other agencies who are working tirelessly to restore public access to the forest.
Individuals, along with volunteer organizations, including Pisgah Area SORBA, are not permitted to enter the forest until public access is restored. We will ask for your patience as we begin to assess trail conditions once the forest reopens. We will work diligently to clear and evaluate the trails and organize volunteer opportunities. We will also work to keep the public informed on which trails have been cleared and which have not yet been assessed. Individuals may also report additional trail conditions using our website.
Additionally, we want to remind those offering to assist with chainsaw work that, per USFS policy, only USDA-certified sawyers are allowed to perform this type of work in the forest. Pisgah Area SORBA has over 20 certified sawyers in our own volunteer team and have USDA-certified sawyers from fellow trail organizations ready to assist. Additionally, we are collaborating with McDowell Tech to offer certification courses for others wanting to become certified. More than 90 volunteers are ready and eager to participate in these upcoming courses.
Lastly, when the forest does reopen, we encourage non-local supporters to continue their incredible support from home or to prepare to be entirely self-sufficient. Resources in Western North Carolina, including housing and water, remain under significant strain, and many roads are still closed. Your patience and understanding will help our communities recover more effectively.
Finally, while specific volunteer opportunities are not yet available in the forest, our community has countless options for giving back. You can find many of those volunteer opportunities using this page.
