Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens After Hurricane Helene: A Mixed Bag of Recovery and Concerns

Tejal Somvanshi Tejal Somvansh i

[{"selector":"#anim-37aa460c-126c-4651-93a5-c7b5284cb24d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.16162%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-754afd9b-1f17-466b-9736-0bbff8f0b653","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-523c7324-df61-442d-a5eb-a48864ad89eb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76e6e546-6d10-4d60-b9e0-287e21c4d452","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7a8a4b9-9e53-444b-96b8-935a973355c2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Ridge Parkway, the US most visited park is set to reopen on 11th October. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-29433438-b618-49c4-b2f7-25a25c6f9de0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.16162%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8af0a87f-18d0-478b-9153-22478e8a3247","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54d11c63-2014-4825-be72-4f117aeceba1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19211bf2-d605-45e4-bbfa-98a4f377464b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf7ed4b6-47ce-4ef2-a3b4-fe23e39dfb75 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The park is reopening in Phases, with the initial phase starting on October 10th for a soft opening, followed by the formal reopening on October 11th. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-4042b3d1-100c-4a19-bbe1-6c69cf831836","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47dddc2a-5b2d-4487-ac14-1256806255f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-daaa842e-f0f4-45df-a382-2835e44d284a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-282c3cf0-63c9-4e28-97d0-076141957341 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The first phase will cover milepost 1 to milepost 198, with the section from milepost 198 to 217 at the North Carolina state line planned to reopen the following week. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-022b91df-b0e1-4c7f-80dd-c808fc4a7ada","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34fe6d56-f8a6-42ac-9fef-69260051b64e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(11.211227857396322%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The reopening of the park is expected to have a positive economic impact on the small businesses in the community, who were hit hard its closure, due to hurricane helene. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-f8595167-4b6a-465c-be68-c6a517240eff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-baf8f74a-0dc5-4343-a77c-f10bd578f201","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0b63b45-3b89-4acf-97ab-f11d8aa484a1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a018c5da-6026-4e46-917c-87eee043e7a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dd1ca3c-8e26-4385-b22b-e0bb7d7baf6e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.029339307731333%, 16.8104534756731%) scale(1.3378378378378377)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Visitors are advised to exercise caution as trail assessments have not been completed in all areas. Additionally, some areas may have reduced services due to staffing shortages. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-8872921e-b8c0-46fd-a116-dc9628e76c59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14b15435-8a5c-408b-b67c-d5f124029c7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-458c56ea-0368-42eb-b76f-f87edeaf230d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-217d32ab-68a3-4da6-b2e5-f2efc110a70d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8dcb52bb-7701-4704-8d57-79585a5a495d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The reopening is the result of extensive recovery efforts involving Blue Ridge Parkway staff and (NPS) employees from 32 states and the District of Columbia. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-88f1d10f-2448-4f92-8d42-00e75fa116c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-caed4364-97ff-427b-b83a-83eb54aaf2c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-162e8172-6b2a-456b-94b0-eec7c0d2b172","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd96fa33-258f-43b8-9a55-9d1783b6748c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae5dd970-d847-41b1-95a8-7ee4e4ed4ec4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Its shows the resilient power against the hurricane and other natural disasters. The parkway has faced closures due to natural disasters before, but the damage from Hurricane Helene appears to be more extensive than previous incidents. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-044c31f4-d4c2-4c3c-be54-ff104999dcec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b52f071-5155-41a2-86ba-19ae3bc93b59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-376fa856-9957-4f84-b8a4-54dbea612a61","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17274997-49c7-436c-b3e8-1cd50bc3dccb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be5a1074-7b7e-4eb2-bf01-c43483cabc72 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Climate change has done extensive damage to US national parks. According to Dr. Patrick Gonzalez, Principal Climate Change Scientist for the National Park Service, human-caused climate change has exposed US national parks to more severe increases in heat and aridity than the country as a whole, causing widespread impacts on ecosystems and resources. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

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Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens After Hurricane Helene: A Mixed Bag of Recovery and Concerns

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