PISGAH FOREST, N.C. — A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service found Hurricane Helene brought serious damage to more than 187,000 acres of forests in western North Carolina.
Helene "caused moderate to catastrophic damage" to both Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina, causing 117,000 acres of vegetation loss.
The bulk of that damage happened in areas of Yancey, Mitchell, McDowell and Avery counties in the Pisgah National Forest. USDA Forest Service officials said the damages can strengthen the risk of wildfires due to increased fuel levels, and a loss of necessary habitats for wildlife.
“Immediately after the storm, we focused our efforts on helping first responders and emergency personnel gain access to isolated communities and critical infrastructure,” forest supervisor James Melonas said. “But now that we’ve had an opportunity to evaluate the best data available, we can begin to piece together a clearer picture of the sheer scale of the damage to our National Forest land. This is a recovery that will be measured in years."
Forest Service crews are continuing to remove debris and downed trees that are blocking impacted roads as they work to improve access through the forests. The public is asked to continue to stay off any closed portion of the forest while clean-up efforts and assessments are underway.
“Everyone in western North Carolina is passionate about our public lands, and by working with our community of partners, from local and state agencies to nonprofits, we will soon begin mapping our path toward long-term recovery," Melonas said.