Parks Rebound From Ice Storm

The three parks that were most affected by last month’s major ice storm – Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS, Buffalo NR and Mammoth Cave NP – have all made substantial progress in efforts to return to normal operations, but all report continuing closures and ongoing recovery operations. Here’s how things currently stand:

• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS – The park, which is scheduled to host a Lincoln bicentennial event this week, is slowly recovering from the storm. Electrical and telephone service have been restored and limited visitor services resumed last Friday. Visitors have access to the main parking lot, the visitor center, and the memorial building in the Birthplace Unit. The Knob Creek Unit, picnic area, all unpaved trails, and most park lawns will remain closed until debris is removed and safety considerations are addressed.  A regional incident assessment team traveled to the park last Friday to assess and document damage.
• Buffalo NR –  The ice storm left roads blocked and utilities out across Buffalo National River, which is located in northern Arkansas.  A Type 3 incident management team set up an incident command post at park headquarters and responded to the storm in conjunction with the Office of Emergency Management and the Forest Service. After insuring that all persons residing in park housing and in campgrounds were accounted for and safe, work began to clear roads and repair the radio repeaters upon which the park depends for communications. Many areas remain closed or access is restricted due to ice on north-facing slopes, downed utility lines, and fallen trees and branches. Most damage occurred at higher elevations, leaving the 135-mile-long river corridor in reasonably good condition. The CCC cabins and pavilion at Buffalo Point sustained significant damage from falling debris. Although the park is not officially closed, no services are currently available and it is uncertain at this time when they will be restored. Power has been restored to the park headquarters in Harrison. The Tyler Bend Visitor Center remains open in spite of the outages there. 
• Mammoth Cave – Recovery operations continue. Cave City Road reopened to the public on Friday afternoon along with Mammoth Cave Parkway, Brownsville Road, and Cedar Sink Road.  All regularly scheduled cave tours are again available, and all services have been restored to Mammoth Cave Hotel. Crews were to shift their focus to Green River Ferry Road-North this weekend, with the goal of opening it within next few days.