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Helene

Hurricane Helene

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene moved through the mountains of Western North Carolina resulting in one of the worst disasters in the area's recorded history. Heavy winds and rainfall had an unprecedented impact on the region, particularly impacting the communities in and around Pisgah National Forest. 

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Line of USFS Firefighters pass boxes of supplies from a trailer to pallet

US Forest Service Fire crews help unload relief supplies following Hurricane Helene. 

(USDA Forest Service photo )

Aftermath on the National Forests in North Carolina

Using satellite data, aerial surveying and on-the-ground assessments, our data found that Hurricane Helene cause moderate-to-catastrophic damage on more than 190,000 acres of National Forest land. 

Additional impacts included: 

  • 885 miles of roads severely impacted, with 30% of roadbeds completely destroyed
  • An estimated 48 road bridges damaged or destroyed
  • 43 major culverts in need of restoration
  • Approximately 850 miles of trails damaged, including 171 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
  • Nearly all recreation sites on the Pisgah National Forest received some level of damage, with several catastrophically damaged. 

In the months following the storm USDA Forest Service crew and partner organizations have made progress in clearing trails and reopening roads and recreation areas. Crews continue to work throughout the Pisgah National Forest. The public should use extra caution when visiting the area and be aware of current closure orders.

Volunteering 
Explore volunteer opportunities with our partners who are actively supporting recovery efforts in Pisgah National Forest. These dedicated organizations are assisting with storm-related assessments, cleanup, and fundraising. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and for the many individuals who have devoted their time, money, and resources to support our forests.


Organizations Accepting Volunteers:

•The Pisgah Conservancy
•FIND Outdoors
•Carolina Mountain Club
•Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah
•Carolina Climbers Coalition
•Trout Unlimited 
•Transylvania County Extension Master Gardeners
•Pisgah Area SORBA
•Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina 

 

Closures

Fuels Reduction

Visit nearly any place on the Pisgah National Forest these days, and you’ll witness an unfortunately common sight—lots of trees laying across the forest floor that were downed by Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains and up-to 106 mph winds. In some areas, however, the scene turns from bad to much, much worse. Piles of trees so high that they’re almost completely impassable. Since Helene, those trees have started to dry, creating an unprecedented level of fuel for wildfires and an unparalleled risk for communities bordering the forest. 

In 2025, the area experienced more wildfire activity than it had seen in a decade.  This dangerously high fuel load has hampered the ability of firefighters and first responders to combat wildfires. Downed trees in some of the more heavily impacted areas also blocked safe access for firefighters and effectively eliminated their ability to safely establish containment lines. 

Hear from our local forest service employees and partners here. 

Video URL

Recognizing the severity of this risk, the Forest Service made fuel reduction one of its top priorities in the aftermath of the storm. Forest Service experts from several disciplines surveyed the entire Helene impact zone, narrowing opportunities for salvage operations down to those areas where excessive fuels, when dry, posed a severe danger to communities, watershed health and critical infrastructure.

The Forest Service identified at-risk areas and locations that warranted hazardous fuel reductions after consulting with county emergency service providers, partner groups, tribes, and state and local governments. These locations were further evaluated to avoid sensitive habitats and mitigate potential impacts on natural resources. 

Initially, 11 areas were determined to be good candidates for the removal of downed timber to reduce fuel on the Pisgah National Forest, including near portions on the Appalachian Trail. As access across the forest improved and additional on-the-ground assessments could be carried out, the Forest Service quickly recognized a greater need beyond the initial 11 sites and began plans to extract hazardous debris from additional areas of the Pisgah. 

When the Forest Service works with private industry to salvage downed trees, teams of experts carefully chart how the timber will be removed in an effort to ensure healthy or even lightly damaged trees remain unharmed. These processes also help reduce erosion risks and set the stage for forest restoration once the downed trees are removed. 

Upcoming Fuel Reduction Operations

The Forest Service plans to continue its efforts to protect public safety by reducing fuels on two areas covering more than 1,000 acres in Mitchell County, North Carolina:

  1. Loggy Knob: About 700 acres located southwest of Iron Mountain Gap.
  2. Upper Poplar Creek: About 300 acres located south of Unaka Mountain in Tennessee
Loggy Knob and Upper Poplar Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Map
Loggy Knob and Upper Poplar Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project

You are welcome to learn more about these critical fuel reduction efforts and provide feedback. Forest Service staff will have a table at the upcoming Mitchell County Landscape Recovery & Preparedness Open House hosted by Blue Ridge RC&D, Saturday, February 21, at Bowman Middle School (410 S Mitchell Ave. Bakersville, NC 28705). 

Mitchell County Landscape Recovery & Preparedness Open House

In addition, you can provide feedback by email at SM.FS.R8ncsocom@usda.gov.

Additional fuel reduction projects could occur in heavily impacted areas across the Pisgah National Forest. 

 

Last updated June 11, 2026

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