More sections of Blue Ridge Parkway reopen after Helene damage repairs, officials say
GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER. ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING. WELL, WE START WITH NEW POLL FINDINGS THAT SHOW HURRICANE HELENE FACTORS INTO A DEAD, EVEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA. 59% OF VOTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA WHO WERE POLLED SAY THEY THEIR FAMILIES OR THEIR CLOSE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE DAMAGE OF HURRICANE HELENE. 21% SAY THEY’VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF IMPACT. THE HURRICANES INFLUENCED VOTING INTENTIONS AS WELL. 20% SAY THEY’RE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE BECAUSE OF HELENE, AND ONLY 2% SAID THEY’RE LESS LIKELY TO CAST A BALLOT. THE POLL FOUND THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS A DEAD HEAT. 46% OF THE STATE’S REGISTERED VOTERS SUPPORTED REPUBLICAN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND 46% BACKED A DEMOCRAT AND VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS. THESE RESULTS ARE NEARLY UNCHANGED FROM A SEPTEMBER SURVEY BY THE ELON POLL. NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRAT ROY COOPER CAST HIS BALLOT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION YESTERDAY. GOVERNOR COOPER SPOKE ABOUT ONGOING HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS TO CNN AND RESPONDED TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S CLAIMS THAT FEMA ISN’T RESPONDING TO STORM VICTIMS. WELL, THIS WAS THE MOST DEVASTATING AND DEADLIEST STORM THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS EVER FACED. AND WHEN YOU HAVE WORKERS WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THEIR BEST, EVERY SINGLE DAY, THIS HURTS THEIR MORALE. IT IT SCARES PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT EITHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO THEM, OR NOT GOING TO HELP THEM AT ALL, SO THEY MAY NOT APPLY. THIS IS JUST A COMPLETE LIE. GOVERNOR COOPER SAYS THAT 1600 FEMA WORKERS ARE IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW, AND THEY’VE GOTTEN $100 MILLION FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. RIGHT NOW, NATIONWIDE, PATIENTS VISITING EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR DEHYDRATION AND NAUSEA ARE HALF AS LIKELY TO GET IV FLUIDS AS THEY WERE BEFORE HURRICANE HELENE. THE STORM CAUSED FLOODING AND DAMAGE AT A WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURING FACILITY THAT TYPICALLY PROVIDES ABOUT 60% OF IV FLUIDS TO HOSPITALS ACROSS THE U.S. THE DISRUPTIONS HAVE LED TO SEVERAL NEW SHORTAGES. TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON PATIENTS, OFFICIALS, AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THEY RECOMMEND DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO CONSERVE RESOURCES. THAT INCLUDES ORAL HYDRATION SUBSTITUTIONS SUCH AS GATORADE OR PEDIALYTE WHEN POSSIBLE. IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, PARTS OF THE BILTMORE ESTATE ARE PREPARING TO REOPEN THIS WEEKEND, BUT THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES AS RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM HURRICANE HELENE CONTINUE. OUR ISABELLE MARAK IS JOINING US LIVE FROM THE FRONT LAWN TO TELL US MORE. ISABELLE. ERIN. DESTINY. ONE CHANGE THE ENTRANCE TO BILTMORE IS STILL SUFFERING FROM EXTENSIVE FLOOD DAMAGE FROM HELENE, BUT BILTMORE SAYS THAT IT WILL BE OPEN AND READY TO WELCOME PEOPLE BACK THIS WEEKEND. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND. AND THAT ENTRANCE WILL ALSO BE OPEN. BUT THE WOODED AREAS HAVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AS WELL, SO THE TRAILS ARE CLOSED FOR THE TIME BEING. BILTMORE SAYS THE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CENTER WILL HAVE LIMITED GUIDED ACTIVITIES AS WELL. LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE A LITTLE BIT, THOUGH, CHRISTMAS AT BILTMORE BEGINS SATURDAY AND RUNS UNTIL JANUARY 5TH, 2025. THE CHRISTMAS TREE IS ARRIVING TODAY AND THE TEAM WILL DECORATE IT IN BILTMORE HOUSE WITH GARLANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ORNAMENTS. THERE ARE ALSO ADJUSTED HOURS FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE ESTATE, AND YOU CAN FIND THOSE ON BILTMORE’S WEBSITE. BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN ASHEVILLE. I’M ISABELLE MARAK FOR WIFE NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU. ISABELLE. IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, A WOMAN IS NOW BEHIND BARS AFTER A DEADLY CRASH. OFFICIALS SAY THAT CRASH HAPPENED JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT SUNDAY ON TRADE STREET IN GREER. THE CORONER SAYS 40 YEAR OLD KENNETH WILLIAMS DIED AT THE SCENE. POLICE SAY THEY CHARGED AMY HOLCOMB WITH FELONY DUI, RESULTING IN DEATH. AND SHE’S BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND. WELL, SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL ALAN WILSON IS ALLOCATING MILLIONS IN GRANTS TO HELP UPSTATE CRIME VICTIMS. THE $26 MILLION IN GRANTS ARE GOING TO STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND NONPROFIT GROUPS, WHICH WILL HELP VICTIMS IN ANDERSON, CHEROKEE, GREENVILLE, GREENWOOD, LAURENS, PICKENS AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES. SEVERAL OTHER SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES ARE PART OF THE GRANTS TO HELP PEOPLE GO HAVE THEIR WORST DAY OR THEIR WORST NUMBER OF DAYS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. AND THEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REVICTIMIZE THEM BECAUSE IT IS A SCARY PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO GO THROUGH. AND THAT IS WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS, AND TO DO WHAT WE DO. THIS WELL, THE STATE’S PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL FORMALLY APPROVED THE GRANTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THE PROJECTS BEGAN ON OCTOBER FIRST. THE GREENVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY IS EXPANDING. THAT’S RIGHT. THE ORGANIZATION IS ACTUALLY CALLING IT A PROJECT THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE ANIMAL CARE IN THE UPSTATE. PHOENIX IS JOINING US LIVE NOW WITH MORE DETAILS. TANIQUA. WELL, GOOD MORNING, DESTINEE AND AARON. THE NEW BUILDING WILL ACTUALLY BE LOCATED RIGHT AROUND THE SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL, AND IT WILL BE AN EXPANSION OF THIS BUILDING HERE AT 300 AIRPORT ROAD. NOW, THE HUMANE SOCIETY SAYS THEY WILL ABILITY TO DO SURGERY WILL INCREASE BY 50%. THERE WILL BE A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THERE WILL ALSO BE ADDITIONAL SPACE TO HOUSE 100 MORE ANIMALS. NOW GTS, GTS SAYS THE EXPANSION COULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS EACH YEAR. AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AT WYFF4.COM. REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE, TANIQUA, PENNIX WYFF NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU TANIQUA. LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING THAT WHEN IT OPENS. HEY, 61 DEGREES IN PICKENS. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. 62 IN CLEMSON AND IN ANDERSON, 59 IN GAFFNEY. AND IN RUTHERFORDTON. SO FEELS A BIT LIKE FALL THIS MORNING. BUT WE’RE BACK TO MORE SPRING LIKE TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON. HEY, IT’S ALSO A BIT WARMER OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAN IT IS YESTERDAY. AT THIS TIME, NINE DEGREES WARMER IN PICKENS AND IN SPARTANBURG AND IN GAFFNEY, 12 DEGREES WARMER IN UNION. WE’VE GOT SOME SPRINKLES OUT THERE, SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS. THESE WILL COME AND GO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. BUT FOR MOST OF US WE’RE GOING TO STAY DRY ALL DAY EVEN THIS MORNING. BUT EVERYONE GETS BACK TO SOME SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES GOING BACK INTO THE UPPER SECONDS FOR GREENVILLE IN THE UPSTATE. WE’RE GOING BACK INTO THE LOWER 70S FOR ASHEVILLE AND THE MOUNTAINS. LUNCHTIME. PRETTY NICE FOR LUNCH OUTDOORS. IF YOU LIVE ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND THEN TEMPERATURES WARM UP A BIT MORE HEADING INTO LATER THIS AFTERNOON. STILL TRACKING A COOL DOWN HEADING OUR WAY THIS WEEKEND. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WITH YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS. I’LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THAT IN ABOUT 6 OR 7 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE, GET A CHECK ON THOSE ROADS. DESTINY. HEY, BRO. LET’S GET TO THAT BREAKING TRAFFIC NEWS RIGHT NOW AT 651. THIS MORNING. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK. I-85 SOUTH NEAR HIGHWAY 29 NEAR WELLFORD. WE’RE REPORTING A CRASH AT MILE MARKER 67. THE LEFT LANE IS BLOCKED THERE. SO IF YOU ARE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION AGAIN. I-85 SOUTHBOUND AT MILE MARKER 67. LEAVE OUT THE DOOR. EXTRA EARLY THIS MORNING SO YOU CAN ALLOW YOURSELF SOME TIME TO GET AROUND THIS ACCIDENT. WE’RE CHECKING OUR TRAVEL TIMES RIGHT NOW AS WELL. I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY SHOULD TAKE YOU 12 MINUTES. AIRPORT ON WOODRUFF ROAD YOU’RE LOOKING AT A SEVEN MINUTE DRIVE IN FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN. 14 MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE STORIES WHERE THE VIDEO SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. AN ALABAMA COUPLE’S HOME SECURITY CAMERA JUST CAPTURED THE MOMENT A BEAR STOOD UP ON ITS HIND LEGS TO ROLL THEIR TRASH CAN OUT TOWARD, BUT NOT QUITE TO, THE ROAD. YOU’RE ALMOST THERE, THOUGH, BUDDY. SARALAND RESIDENTS BRYCE AND BRIANNA HOVEN SHARED THIS VIDEO THAT SHOWED THE BEAR STANDING ON ITS BACK LEGS, JUST PUSHING AND PULLING IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE IN KIND OF A HUMAN LIKE MANNER. THE COUPLE SAID THE BEAR MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT TO THE TRASH THE NEXT MORNING, BUT THE ANIMAL STUMBLED OVER A LADDER AND A LAWN CHAIR. I KNOW THAT FEELING. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S LIKE, SHOCKING OR FLATTERING. MAYBE BOTH. BUT THE WINNER OF THIS BATTLE IS JAKEEM. OKAY. JAKEEM FORTSON OF ELBERTON, GEORGIA, WHO IS MOVING ON TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS OF NBC’S THE VOICE. HE WON HIS BATTLE LAST NIGHT AGAINST ANOTHER CONTESTANT ON TEAM REBA. THE PAIR TEAMED UP ON STEVE WINWOOD’S HIGHER LOVE. THE JUDGES PRAISED THE 13 YEAR OLD’S PERFORMANCE AND THE MATURITY OF HIS VOICE. YOU CAN WATCH THE VOICE MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHTS RIGHT HERE ON WYFF4.COM. THE NEW YORK YANKEES DODGED A SWEEP LAST NIGHT IN THE BRONX BY BEATING THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS, 11 FOUR, IN GAME FOUR OF THE WORLD SERIES. NEW YORK SCORED ONLY SEVEN RUNS IN THE FIRST THREE GAMES COMBINED, BEFORE AN 11 RUN OUTBURST. SHORTSTOP ANTHONY VOLPE HIT A GRAND SLAM IN THE THIRD INNING TO GIVE THE YANKEES A FIVE TWO LEAD. GAME FIVE IS TODAY AT YANKEE STADIUM. TODAY, ON HALLOWEEN EVE, THE COUNTRY WILL CELEBRATE ONE OF THE HOLIDAY’S MOST SIGNATURE AND WORST CANDIES. IT’S NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAY. I’M JUST KIDDING. THAT’S MY OPINION. BUT THE SWEET TREAT FIRST DEBUTED IN THE LATE 1880S. OUR PRODUCER, ELLIS PUT THIS IN FOR ME BECAUSE SHE KNOWS MY LOVE FOR CANDY CORN. THE CREATOR, GEORGE RENNINGER, INITIALLY MADE IT TO RESEMBLE CORN KERNELS. BACK THEN, THE CANDY’S COLORS FEATURED YELLOW, ORANGE, AND WHITE. CANDY CORN EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT STILL TASTES PRETTY BAD. IT DOES. I’M GLAD WE AGREE ON THAT. IT’S JUST NOT GOOD. CANDY, I’M SORRY IF I’M OF
Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina continue to reopen after the entire statewide stretch of road closed due to damage from Helene.(Above video is the Wednesday morning headlines for Oct. 30, 2024.)The National Park Service said Wednesday that crews have restored access to nearly 55 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway from: Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including: Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8. All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution). Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including: All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution). Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker. Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. until November 11, 2024. The section from milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two open sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslide that impacted the roadway during Hurricane Helene. All along the Parkway, areas are closed as crews continue work to clear widespread debris, remove hazard trees, and install hardened closures around road sections that will require lengthy reconstruction. The NPS expects the Devil’s Courthouse closure to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented. “The Parkway is an important travel corridor for our surrounding communities and a treasured recreation destination,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “Opening these additional miles of the Parkway in North Carolina is an important step forward, but much work remains. We ask that visitors stay out of the Devil’s Courthouse area and all other closed sections, even on foot, for their own safety. Any public use behind closed gates, including hiking and biking, puts workers and visitors at risk.”Due to the severity of the storm, conditions on park roads and trails are still evolving and are expected to continue to change over the next weeks and months. Visitors should anticipate changing conditions and share their travel plans with others in advance. The NPS has not yet completed trail assessments and caution is encouraged for trail users who may experience hazards resulting from landslides, downed or leaning trees, wash-outs, and other damage. Exercise caution while visiting open areas, including trails. Current known conditions and updates about the Parkway are online at www.nps.gov/blri and the park’s social media platforms at @BlueRidgeNPS (Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram).
Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina continue to reopen after the entire statewide stretch of road closed due to damage from Helene.
(Above video is the Wednesday morning headlines for Oct. 30, 2024.)
The National Park Service said Wednesday that crews have restored access to nearly 55 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway from:
- Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:
- Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.
- All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
- Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:
- All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
- Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.
- Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. until November 11, 2024.
The section from milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two open sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslide that impacted the roadway during Hurricane Helene.
All along the Parkway, areas are closed as crews continue work to clear widespread debris, remove hazard trees, and install hardened closures around road sections that will require lengthy reconstruction.
The NPS expects the Devil’s Courthouse closure to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented.
“The Parkway is an important travel corridor for our surrounding communities and a treasured recreation destination,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “Opening these additional miles of the Parkway in North Carolina is an important step forward, but much work remains. We ask that visitors stay out of the Devil’s Courthouse area and all other closed sections, even on foot, for their own safety. Any public use behind closed gates, including hiking and biking, puts workers and visitors at risk.”
Due to the severity of the storm, conditions on park roads and trails are still evolving and are expected to continue to change over the next weeks and months.
Visitors should anticipate changing conditions and share their travel plans with others in advance.
The NPS has not yet completed trail assessments and caution is encouraged for trail users who may experience hazards resulting from landslides, downed or leaning trees, wash-outs, and other damage.
Exercise caution while visiting open areas, including trails. Current known conditions and updates about the Parkway are online at www.nps.gov/blri and the park’s social media platforms at @BlueRidgeNPS (Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram).
