Cades Cove end of the Smokies hammered by storm

[SGT Rock]

I thought I would post this here in case anyone is planning to hit the Smokies this weekend:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/05/fast-moving-storms-trap-park-visitors-block-et/


TOWNSEND — A violent late-afternoon storm Thursday slammed hundreds of trees onto East Tennessee streets and houses, tossed boats like toys in a marina, knocked out power to more than 50,000 households and left visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park stranded and sometimes injured amid debris.Park rangers and other area emergency personnel summoned on a mutual aid basis were dealing with unconfirmed fatalities and people in medical distress, according to park spokeswoman Melissa Cobern. Some motorists were believed to be trapped in their vehicles by downed trees, but work crews were having a hard time getting deep into the park because of all the downed limbs.
Cades Cove, the sublime former settlement that annually draws millions of visitors, was among the most seriously impacted parts of the Smokies. Many cove visitors were still on vacation for the Fourth of July holiday.
Authorities late Thursday were trying to reach campers trapped at Abrams Creek Campground.
"We're calling all hands on deck," said Deputy Park Superintendent Kevin Fitzgerald, including staff as far away as North Carolina.
Fitzgerald estimated at least a dozen people suffered injuries in the park.
Authorities set up a command center in Townsend at a hamburger restaurant on state Road 73 near the Lazy Daze Campground. Rural/Metro ambulances were posted at the ready to deal with any injuries.
Travel into the park was blocked on the highway leading out of Townsend.
"The most important thing right now is to get crews safely in there to assess what's going on," he said.
Most likely they will be sorting this out for a few days if not longer. The local NBC station is reporting unconfirmed deaths in the area. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/225733/2/Campers-trapped-unconfirmed-fatalities-on-Blount-Co-trail

I was just up in this area over the past two days and just got out a few hours before this storm hit. There was no indication that it was coming.

[moytoy]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/557824_339828766094492_1303661036_n.jpgA down tree in a friends back yard in Maryville. I hope everyone around the area and on the trail is save.

[rmitchell]

WATE TV is reporting two fatalites, one motorcylist and one camper at Abrams Creek campground. Storm hit just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Winds of 70 mph.

I was working in Gatlinburg and left just before storm hit, but got caught in Sevierville. We needed the rain, but not the wind.
Hopefully any in the backcountry are OK.

[SGT Rock]

When I hiked out yesterday I was passed by two guys in their early 20's or late teens heading up toward Gregory Bald. I hope they fared OK.

[Marta]

I'm glad you made it out in time...Although it sounds as if you had no idea at the time that disaster was about to strike, and you were escaping it.

[canoe]

I was just up in this area over the past two days and just got out a few hours before this storm hit. There was no indication that it was coming.

same thing happend to me last week up in the SNP. kinda scary

[SGT Rock]

I'm glad you made it out in time...Although it sounds as if you had no idea at the time that disaster was about to strike, and you were escaping it.
I don't think anyone was. I checked the radio in the morning without any mention of it. When I got to the car I tuned in the local stations and no mention. I got home, cleaned up and watched the news without any call for it. We went into eat at a local restaurant and heard nothing on the radio on the way there. We walked out about 45 minutes later and it was like a hurricane had suddenly blown in without warning. I suspect the hikers and campers were even more shocked than we were.

[rmitchell]

I have been trying to find out if the damage was just in Cades Cove or if it hit further up the ridge.

The Sweat Crew is scheduled to be on the trail now (session #4, I think). I worked with them on session #1 and am a little concerned about their well being. Also thinking about anyone else in the backcountry.

The Crew does carry a park service radio, but that storm blew up with little to no warning. In Sevierville the high winds came before the rain.

[FeO]

Any more news? I was head there today.....

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[SGT Rock]

I just got this today:


Great Smoky Mountains National Park News Release


July 7, 2012 4:15 pm
Contact: Melissa Cobern, 865-436-1207


Cades Cove Opens: Park Continues to Clear Storm-Damaged Areas

Park officials announced late this afternoon that Cades Cave,
the Cades Cove Loop, Laurel Creek Road into Cades Cove and the Little River
Road from Elkmont to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area will reopen this
evening. The Cades Cove Campground will reopen this evening, as well.

Two days after a violent thunderstorm ripped through the west
end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, killing two and injuring
several others, crews are still assessing damage and clearing other roads.
In its wake, the storm left a line of destruction stretching from Metcalf
Bottoms, across Cades Cove, to Abrams Creek.

With the aid of heavy equipment, NPS personnel have been working
to clear the tangled mass of hundreds of downed trees, covering several
roads in the west end of the park. According to park spokesperson, Melissa
Cobern, “Crews are making excellent progress, but it has been a challenge
to get the work done.” Cobern is referring not only to the amount of work
to be done, but also the complexity. “Clearing one tree might bring down
several others at the same time,” she says.

Today, park staff also began a damage assessment of backcountry
trails in the area hit by the storm. Initial indications are that several
trails received significant damage, including the Chestnut Top Trail, of
which a two-mile section has essentially been lost. The magnitude of the
storm damage will most likely result in the closure of all or portions of
several backcountry trails in the area.

Other roads in the storm damaged remain closed, including the
Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend Wye, the Rich
Mountain Road, Parson’s Branch Road and the Abrams Creek access road. The
Abrams Creek Campground also remains closed. Assessment and clearing
efforts will continue through the weekend.

[oper8or]

SGT ROCK. I was up there in the middle of this stuff. I had both of my kids with me. We were hiking out when the storm hit. Ran our butts off dodging the trees. Helped out as much as we could.

On a different subject, do you go up to Abrams often? I'm planning another trip soon. I'll be hitting site 2 up there since sites 15 and 16 are closed on the Rabbit Creek Trail. Heck the only options in that area right now are sites 1, 2, and 17. Everything else is closed according to the GSMNP's site.

[SGT Rock]

Although that section of the Smokies is closest to where I live, I rarely go out there for some reason. I spent last night at Campsite 30 - nice night.