How much damage did Helene cause to North Carolina National Forests?
FOR NEWS TO GO. WE’VE GOT A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE START WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS. WE’VE BEEN FOLLOWING IN GREENVILLE THIS MORNING. YEAH, THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW FROM SKY FOUR AT WOODRUFF ROAD NEAR THE ROCKY SLOPE ROAD. A PORTION OF THAT ROAD ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE CLOSED ALL DAY. THIS IS WOODRUFF ROAD. GREENVILLE WATER OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT A 16 INCH WATER MAIN BREAK IS TO BLAME. THIS HAPPENED ON WOODRUFF ROAD NEAR ROCKY SLOPE ROAD. SKY4 HAS BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT FOR US, AND ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT IT’S IN BETWEEN THAT LAURENS ROAD AND THEN ROPER MOUNTAIN ROAD AREA. IT’S JUST A SMALL STRETCH EASTBOUND ON WOODRUFF ROAD, BUT STILL, IF YOU’RE TRAVELING THAT WAY, THAT’S ONE OF THOSE AREAS YOU’LL WANT TO AVOID FOR THE DAY. OFFICIALS SAY THE ENTIRE EASTBOUND LANE IS CLOSED FOR THE DAY, AND THE MEDIAN, TOO, WHILE THOSE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. SO DEFINITELY IF YOU ARE HEADED OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING, ALLOW YOURSELF SOME EXTRA TIME. ABSOLUTELY. WE’VE LEARNED THE DEATH OF AN EIGHT MONTH OLD OVER THE SUMMER WAS FROM COMPLICATIONS OF A NEAR DROWNING. THE CORONER’S OFFICE SAYS THE INFANT’S DEATH HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS AN ACCIDENT. HIS MOTHER, LINDA LAWSON, IS ACCUSED OF LEAVING HER THEN EIGHT MONTH OLD BOY UNATTENDED FOR AN EXTENDED TIME IN A BATHTUB. THE CORONER SAYS THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL ON JUNE 20TH AND DIED ON JULY 24TH. AT THE TIME, DEPUTIES CHARGED LAWSON WITH HOMICIDE BY CHILD ABUSE. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. BREAKING COMMITMENT 2024 NEWS GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER SAYS THE STATE HAS BEEN TARGETED BY ELECTION DISINFORMATION AND ALLEGED VOTER FRAUD. HE REFERENCED A VIRAL VIDEO THAT EMERGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA YESTERDAY. THE ORIGINAL VIDEO HAS MORE THAN HALF A MILLION VIEWS AND SHOWS A HAITIAN IMMIGRANT CLAIMING HE VOTED SEVERAL TIMES FOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS. RAFFENSPERGER CALLED THE VIDEO FAKE. HE SAYS HE’S WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO IDENTIFY ITS ORIGIN. WELL, TOMORROW, BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WILL MAKE THEIR SECOND CAMPAIGN STOP IN NORTH CAROLINA. THIS WEEK. AND DONALD TRUMP WILL BE STARTING HIS DAY. SPEAKING TO SUPPORTERS IN GASTONIA. THEN HE WILL HEAD TO GREENSBORO FOR A RALLY AT FIRST HORIZON COLISEUM. DOORS WILL OPEN AT 3 P.M. TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER REMARKS AROUND 730. AND HARRIS IS SET TO VISIT CHARLOTTE AT THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THAT EVENT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY DISCLOSED, BUT IT WILL RUN FROM FIVE UNTIL NINE. HER CAMPAIGN SAYS ACTRESS KERRY WASHINGTON AND ROCK N ROLLER JON BON JOVI ARE AMONG THE STARS WHO WILL JOIN HER AT THAT RALLY. AND SOME DEADLINES TO REMEMBER IN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU CAN VOTE EARLY IN PERSON UNTIL TOMORROW AT 3 P.M. SOUTH CAROLINA. THE DEADLINE TO VOTE EARLY IN PERSON IS TOMORROW AT SIX. AND IN GEORGIA, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY. 649 IS YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH. A LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE MAKING THEIR FINAL PUSH TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE. THAT’S RIGHT. TANIKA PENIX IS JOINING US LIVE RIGHT NOW WITH THEIR MESSAGE THIS MORNING. TANIQUA. WELL, GOOD MORNING, DESTINEE AND AARON. THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NC, NWA ARE TELLING PEOPLE THIS IS NOT THE ELECTION CYCLE TO SIT OUT ON AS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION. THEY SAY IT DOESN’T. THEY DON’T ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE, BUT THEY DO FIGHT FOR ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. AND ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT’S COME UP A LOT IS WOMEN’S, RIGHT. THEY REMIND PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. FOR NOW REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE TANIQUA PENNIX WYFF NEWS FOUR TANIQUA. THANK YOU. NATIONAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH STARTS TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND. THERE’S A WAY YOU CAN SPREAD AWARENESS. THAT’S RIGHT. ISABELLE BEL ERIC IS JOINING US LIVE FROM FLUOR FIELD WITH THE DETAILS THIS MORNING. ISABELLE ERIN DESTINEE, A STATISTIC FOR YOU THIS MORNING. MORE THAN 6 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S OR ANOTHER FORM OF DEMENTIA. SO JOIN US. THIS WEEKEND IN THE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S, WHICH WILL HAPPEN HERE AT FLUOR FIELD. THAT IS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD. THE GATES WILL OPEN AT TWO IN THE OPENING CEREMONY. WILL START AT 245. THE WALK WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THE CEREMONY. PLUS, OUR VERY OWN JANE ROBELOT WILL BE THE EMCEE AT THE WALK, BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE. I’M ISABELLE MARAK FOR WYFF NEWS FOUR. WELL THANK YOU ISABELLE. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY FRIDAY 650 WE’VE GOT TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S AND IN THE 60S FEELS PRETTY GOOD. 55 IN SPARTANBURG, 53 IN PICKENS. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. 58 IN FRANKLIN AND 61 IN CULLOWHEE, WHERE WE ARE GETTING SOME OF THOSE SPOTTY SHOWERS. ASHEVILLE AS WELL, BACK INTO CASHIERS HEADING INTO THE LAKE LURE AREA ALONG I-40. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE SOME OF THIS RAINFALL AS THE LEADING EDGE OF A COOL FRONT PUSHES THROUGH. AS WE TAKE A LOOK ACROSS THE UPSTATE. CLOUDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND YOU MAY RUN INTO A VERY STRAY SHOWER OR TWO LATER TODAY ACROSS THE UPSTATE. BUT FOR MOST OF US, IT’S AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL FALL WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, A SLOW CLEARING LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR THE MOUNTAINS. STILL GOING TO BE A MILD DAY, BUT SLIGHTLY COOLER TOMORROW AND A LOT COOLER BY SUNDAY. A LOT MORE DETAILS ON THAT PART OF YOUR FORECAST. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR-DAY PLUS. IN FACT, FOR THE WEEKEND AND BEYOND. I’LL HAVE THAT FOR YOU IN ABOUT 6 OR 7 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. FIRST, LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE, GET A CHECK ON THOSE ROADS. DESTINY CHANCE PARELLA. WE ARE GETTING TO THAT BREAKING TRAFFIC NEWS RIGHT NOW. THIS MORNING, TAKING A LIVE EXCLUSIVE LOOK FROM SKY FOUR, THERE’S A CRASH REPORTED ON I-85 AT HIGHWAY 276, WHERE THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC IS CLOSED. THERE IT APPEARS TO BE MOVING A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWDOWN. YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE CARS THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THAT CRASH. SO IF YOU ARE HEADED IN THIS DIRECTION, NORTHBOUND LANE AGAIN, I-85 AT HIGHWAY 276, BE SURE TO LEAVE OUT THE DOOR EXTRA EARLY. ALSO, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE TRAVEL TIMES FOR YOU. I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY SHOULD TAKE YOU 12 MINUTES. AIRPORT ON WOODRUFF ROAD SEVEN MINUTES. FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN 13. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHTER NEWS THIS MORNING? SHOP SMALL, GET SOME FRESH AIR OR SOLVE A WHODUNNIT BROUGHT TO LIFE ON STAGE. ALL SOUND FUN? HERE’S STEPHANIE TROTTER WITH WHAT’S NEW FOR YOU THIS WEEK. WE’RE STARTING IN WALHALLA TODAY, WHERE THERE’S A NEW DESTINATION FOR SHOPPERS DOWNTOWN SUNNIES VILLAGE MARKET RECENTLY OPENED. IT’S TWO DOORS DOWN FROM ITS SISTER COMPANY, SUNNY AND MERCANTILE. THE OWNERS DESCRIBE IT AS A BOUTIQUE MARKET FEATURING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS. EVEN A BARBER ALL IN ONE SPOT. IF SHOPPING IS NOT YOUR THING AND YOU WANT TO GET OUTDOORS, HOW ABOUT THE EVERYTHING OUTDOOR FEST? THE EVENT IS RETURNING TO THE HISTORIC HOPKINS FARM IN SIMPSONVILLE AFTER BECOMING A NEW NONPROFIT, CREATING AWARENESS FOR THE CAROLINA OUTDOORS AND HEALTHY LIVING. SOME OF THE NEW EVENTS THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO 70 VENDORS, WILL BE A ROCK CLIMBING WALL AND THE SKY HOUNDS, A DISC DOG TOURNAMENT. AND IT’S A MYSTERY IN GREENWOOD. CLUE IS OPENING AT THE GREENWOOD COMMUNITY THEATER ON MAIN STREET. MISS SCARLET, COLONEL MUSTARD, ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS WILL BE THERE FROM THE POPULAR BOARD GAME AND MOVIE. THE HISTORICAL FARCE WILL RUN THROUGH NOVEMBER THE THIRD. INDOOR FUN AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. JUST SOME
How much damage did Helene cause to North Carolina National Forests?
Updated: 4:20 PM EDT Nov 1, 2024
On Friday, the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA Forest Service) released the preliminary data of the ecological impacts Tropical Storm Helene had on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Morning Headlines)Using information sourced from satellite data, aerial surveying and on-the-ground assessments, the USDA Forest Service said they found that Helene caused moderate to catastrophic damage to more than 187,000 acres of both forests, which is roughly 20 percent of the total acreage of the forests. Of the damaged area, 117,000 acres of vegetation were lost.Officials said the bulk of the damage occurred on the Pisgah National Forest, particularly in areas within Yancey, Mitchell, McDowell and Avery counties.The Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts, which are two of the three districts on the Pisgah, remain closed while response to Helene continues.With the loss of a such a large portion of the ecosystem in the area, officials said this can cause several negative effects including: the threat of wildfire due to increased fuel levels, loss of vital wildlife habitat, impacts on watershed health and the higher potential for invasive species to thrive. “Immediately after the storm, we focused our efforts on helping first responders and emergency personnel gain access to isolated communities and critical infrastructure,” said forest supervisor James Melonas. “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.”Nearly 900 miles of Forest Service managed roads and an estimated 800 miles worth of trails have been damaged by the storm. The Forest Service said it is anticipated that this number will increase as roadways are cleared and further assessments are completed.“Our crews are hard at work clearing debris from roads and recreation areas, but we have many areas of the forest that we simply have no means to access right now. We need the public to continue staying off all closed portions of the forest until we can finish clean-up efforts and complete assessments,” said Melonas. “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.”RELATED STORIES:
On Friday, the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA Forest Service) released the preliminary data of the ecological impacts Tropical Storm Helene had on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina.
(Video above: WYFF News 4 Morning Headlines)
Using information sourced from satellite data, aerial surveying and on-the-ground assessments, the USDA Forest Service said they found that Helene caused moderate to catastrophic damage to more than 187,000 acres of both forests, which is roughly 20 percent of the total acreage of the forests. Of the damaged area, 117,000 acres of vegetation were lost.
Officials said the bulk of the damage occurred on the Pisgah National Forest, particularly in areas within Yancey, Mitchell, McDowell and Avery counties.
The Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts, which are two of the three districts on the Pisgah, remain closed while response to Helene continues.
With the loss of a such a large portion of the ecosystem in the area, officials said this can cause several negative effects including: the threat of wildfire due to increased fuel levels, loss of vital wildlife habitat, impacts on watershed health and the higher potential for invasive species to thrive.
“Immediately after the storm, we focused our efforts on helping first responders and emergency personnel gain access to isolated communities and critical infrastructure,” said forest supervisor James Melonas. “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.”
Nearly 900 miles of Forest Service managed roads and an estimated 800 miles worth of trails have been damaged by the storm. The Forest Service said it is anticipated that this number will increase as roadways are cleared and further assessments are completed.
“Our crews are hard at work clearing debris from roads and recreation areas, but we have many areas of the forest that we simply have no means to access right now. We need the public to continue staying off all closed portions of the forest until we can finish clean-up efforts and complete assessments,” said Melonas. “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.”
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