BREAKING NEWS: WILDFIRE ERUPTS IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.
Most of the park was far enough west of Helene’s path to escape with only minor flooding, but its extreme eastern region – Cataloochee, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek – was inundated. Record-setting rains tore out trails and roads and damaged historic buildings, leading the park to close these areas until further notice.
The worst damage unfolded in Cataloochee, a secluded valley in Haywood County, North Carolina, that is home to historic buildings showcasing the region’s pre-park history and one of the park’s two main elk herds. A U.S. Geological Survey gauge on Cataloochee Creek located 3.6 miles north of Cataloochee Campground shows that the creek, which usually flows about two feet deep alongside the road, spiked to 9.5 feet Sept. 27. That’s more than 17 inches higher than the previous record of 8.08 feet, set in 1963, said Matt Kulp, the park’s supervisory
Leave a Reply