It has been one year since Hurricane Helene struck the western North Carolina mountains, affecting the region’s environment and historic sites. The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) reports that all 18 of its western N.C. sites have now partially or fully reopened.
DNCR Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell said in a statement that the anniversary marks the destruction caused by the hurricane and the work done to reopen key locations. The storm damaged parks, uprooted trees, and destroyed roads, trails, and bridges, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in costs.
More than 150 State Parks employees assisted with emergency response, law enforcement, and support for local communities. South Mountains State Park reopened on April 10; Chimney Rock State Park on June 27; and Mount Mitchell State Park on Monday last week.
Historic sites such as the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Vance Birthplace, and Town Creek Indian Mound also sustained damage but reopened by the end of 2024. At the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort, artifacts were moved and operations temporarily relocated.
Libraries in the region provided essential services, and the State Library of North Carolina issued over $348,000 in grants to support recovery efforts. The North Carolina Arts Council created a disaster relief fund of nearly $1 million for artists and nonprofit arts organizations. The N.C. Natural Heritage Program and the N.C. Land and Water Fund began restoration and protection projects for biodiversity.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources continues work to preserve the state’s natural and cultural resources. The North Carolina Awards will be held in Asheville on Nov. 13, with proceeds supporting ongoing restoration projects.
