Nearly 200 miles of the historic Blue Ridge Parkway are reopening in the Appalachian Mountains

CityServe Disaster Relief member Shane Zoccole joins FOX Weather to share how CityServe International is helping provide emergency relief to those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and South Carolina.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A nearly 200-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia has reopened after damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

The National Park Service stated that the road from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in the southern part of the commonwealth is now open; However, the Parkway in North Carolina remains closed due to ongoing significant damage.

Wind gusts exceeding hurricane strength and 2 to 3 feet of rainfall caused trees to fall and mountainsides to give way due to the force of Mother Nature.

Although the hurricane made landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast, the worst damage occurred in the Tar Heel State, which suffered the most fatalities from the storm system.

More than 250 people in seven states died in the hurricane, making it the deadliest natural disaster in the U.S. since Hurricane Maria in 2017.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Blue Ridge Parkway teams, we are able to open nearly 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, an important and scenic route that embodies both the natural beauty and cultural heritage of our region plays an important role “We will play an important role in the local economy through tourism and community engagement,” Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout said in a statement. “As we celebrate this success, we also recognize that there is significant and, in some areas, long-term work to be done in North Carolina. We are committed to restoring all sections of the parkway to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for our visitors.”

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The Rangers said they plan to reopen about 40 more miles of the parkway in Southern Virginia in the next two weeks. However, there is currently no timeline for reopening more than 200 miles that run through North Carolina.

“The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remains closed along its entire length as crews continue emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene,” the NPS said.

Many roads, including Interstate 40 west of Asheville, were washed out during the torrential rains, leading to closures expected to last for months.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most visited places in the national park system and a popular destination for fall foliage lovers.

According to locals, many trees above 4,000 feet appear to be disheveled on the east and south sides of the mountains, likely dashing any hope of a picturesque season even if the areas were accessible.

Rangers warn visitors to use extreme caution when venturing off the park trail as assessment of many trails is ongoing.

Map of Blue Ridge Parkway closures

(FOX Weather)

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At the southern end of the parkway, rangers reported making significant progress in reopening some parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

According to the NPS, many trails and facilities in Tennessee are now open because the western portion of the more than half-million-acre site has experienced less impact.

Most trails and roads on the North Carolina side remain closed due to extensive tree damage, landslides and flooding.

The Rangers gave no indication of when the country's most visited park would reach full operating status.

In 2023, more than 13 million people visited the park and spent billions in local communities.