After packing up 30 tons of equipment, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue team VA-TF1 headed off for Florida to meet Helene last week. Hurricane Helene gained strength to Category 4 (out of possible 5) wreaking havoc on the houses and people of the sunshine state.

The individual members of VA-TF1 might be at home watching the storm on the television news, but when the phone rings, "it is get up and go," said John Morrison, the team's spokesperson.

There are a total of 220 members and dogs on the team but for this effort for Helene, 80 people and four dogs were sent. The team also consists of doctors and engineers. How long they stay and what the conditions are going to be like are things they don't know but typically it's about two weeks, Morrison said. The county officials behind the effort work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, familiarly known as FEMA.

The storm was still in the Gulf of Mexico stewing before heading inland on Friday, Sept. 27. The path on the weather forecasts showed it going inland instead of up the coast but it's never a sure thing. According to a National Weather Service report mid-day on Friday, “HELENE is forecast to move inland, heading northwestward to the Ohio Valley, and slowly weaken by Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain will develop over parts of the Southern Appalachians and southern Mid-Atlantic.

Around the same time, four members of the swift water rescue team from the City of Fairfax responded to the Floyd County, Va. area in anticipation of heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Helene. They have been 

evacuating residents, completing welfare checks, and conducting damage assessments along the New River in southwestern Virginia.

On Sunday, Sept. 29, the team was mopping up after the storm fizzed out in the Midwest, but it had left much damage in Florida where the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue team was located. They kept in touch through social media and as of “Update #6,” on Sunday morning, “all VA-TF1 team members are safe and well in Orlando,” the report said.

Next up is named Kirk, predicted at 90% chance of becoming a cyclone within 7 days, but whether it or other storms could pose a problem for particular areas on land still remains to be seen. 

Virginia Parks, Natural Area Preserves Closed Due to Storm

Nine Virginia State Parks and four natural area preserves are closed or partially closed following significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene. These closures will allow for thorough assessments and necessary repairs to the affected areas. All dates are subject to change. 

Virginia State Parks 

* Grayson Highlands: Closed through Oct. 14. 

* Hungry Mother: Closed through Oct. 14. 

* Natural Tunnel: Closed. Will reopen on Oct. 3. 

* New River Trail: Closed until further notice. All campgrounds are closed through Feb. 28, 2025. 

* Seven Bends: The park (both access points) is closed until further notice.  

* Claytor Lake: All boat ramps inside the marina and other public boat ramps on the lake are closed due to excessive debris. Swimming and launching kayaks and other small watercraft are not allowed. 

* Clinch River: Riverside Trail at the Sugar Hill Unit and the day-use cartop boat launches at Artrip, Carbo and Old Castlewood in Russell County are closed until further notice. 

* James River: The Green Hill picnic area, Branch Pond Road and Branch Pond Campground are closed until Oct. 4. 

* Powhatan: River Launch Rd., Launch A and the primitive/canoe-in campground are closed until further notice. All trails are closed to bikes and horses until further notice. 

Natural Area Preserves 

* The Channels: Closed. 

* Pinnacle: Closed.  

* Buffalo Mountain: Closed through Oct. 14. 

* Cleveland Barrens: Closed beyond Tank Hollow Falls. 

For guest safety as well as the safety of DCR staff and emergency response workers, visitors should not attempt to access any parks, preserves or areas that are closed.  

Virginia State Parks will contact guests with overnight reservations impacted by these closures. Visitors with questions about trail conditions, special events and educational programs should check the park’s webpage for more information at virginiastateparks.gov/find-a-park. To learn more, see dcr.virginia.gov/closures.