U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner of Virginia and Thom Tillis of North Carolina led colleagues in sending a letter to congressional leadership requesting that any supplemental appropriations bill responding to recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Helene include substantial funding for the agencies that manage public lands.
The effects of Hurricane Helene impacted the Virginia Creeper Trail. The lawmakers hope that public lands managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS) will be afforded the same funding.
“When Hurricane Helene brought torrential rainfall and severe winds through our states in late September, catastrophic flooding resulted in hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage,” the lawmakers wrote. “Homes, businesses, and livelihoods were devastated as many communities were left without power, potable water, and cell service – some remain without these critical resources to this day. While thousands of our constituents are beginning to rebuild their lives, many of these communities are simultaneously contending with the fallout that large segments of federally owned public lands that anchor these local economies are closed, not fully opened, or are simply inaccessible to visitors due to Hurricane Helene’s destruction.”
The letter was also signed by Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ted Budd of North Carolina, and U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith of Virginia and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.
“Public lands are critical economic engines for many of our communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. For example, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited national park in the U.S. which spans 469 miles through Southwest Virginia and North Carolina, serves as the primary driver of economic activity for many of the communities in Helene’s path. In 2023, the Parkway saw over 16.7 million visitors who spent nearly $1.4 billion in surrounding communities. Visitor spending connected to the Parkway supports over 19,000 jobs in communities throughout Virginia and North Carolina and results in a cumulative economic impact of $1.8 billion to local economies. Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to the Blue Ridge Parkway that has resulted in indefinite closures of large segments of the roadway and many trails and historical sites. Substantial federal funding is needed for the Parkway to rebuild its infrastructure to support the millions of visitors the park hosts each year, which supports dozens of Appalachian communities.”
Warner has been vocal about the need for federal resources to support recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. In November, he welcomed the Biden administration’s request for disaster relief funding, but highlighted the need for additional funding for public lands like the Creeper Trail in Southwest Virginia. Immediately after Hurricane Helene, Warner, Kaine and Griffith urged President Joe Biden to declare both an Emergency Declaration and an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia, which opened various avenues for financial and physical assistance to help the region recover. Warner and Tillis, as well as Kaine, also joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for a bipartisan appropriations package to meet the needs of Virginians and the millions of Americans affected by the storm.
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Rebecca Barnabi
