National Forests in North Carolina to close Nantahala and Pisgah campgrounds and offices ahead of Hurricane Florence

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National Forests in North Carolina 160A Zillicoa St. Asheville, N.C. 28801  Web: www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc Nantahala Ranger District Asheville, NC, September 12, 2018 - The U.S. Forest Service, Forest Supervisor, having closely tracked the forecast models of Hurricane Florence, has decided to close down all campgrounds and recreation sites, day use or overnight, in the Nantahala and the Pisgah National Forests by Thursday September 13 at noon. This will include the temporary suspension of creating reservations on www.recreation.gov. Cancelled reservations, for this timeframe, will be refunded by the reservation service. The Forest Service will close all seasonal gates, to ensure no one has the opportunity to get trapped behind gates. We strongly request that, due to expected wind and rainfall, the public not use trails or general forest areas. Emergency response times will be multiplied if an incident or medical emergency were to occur. The health, safety, and well-being of the public and visitors to our National Forests is of our number one priority. Sites will be evaluated for health and safety and reopened as conditions allow following the storm passage. The following campgrounds will remain closed until further notice: Nantahala National Forest Ammons Branch Camp Apple Tree Group Campground Balsam Lake Lodge Bear Creek Hunt Camp Bristol Fields Campground Cable Cove Campground Cheoah Point Campground Fires Creek Campground Hanging Dog Campground Horse Cove Campground Jackrabbit Campground Kimsey Creek Campground Lake Santeetlah Campsites Rattler Ford Campground Standing Indian Campground Swan Cabin Tsali Campground Van Hook Glade Campground Wine Springs Horse Camp Pisgah National Forest Black Mountain Campground Briar Bottom Group Campground Brown Mountain Campsites Carolina Hemlocks Campground Cove Creek Group Campground Curtis Creek Campground Davidson River Campground Deep Creek Hunt Camp Harmon Den Campground Kuykendall Group Campground Lake Powhatan Campground Mortimer Campground North Mills River Campground Rocky Bluff Campground Sunburst Campground Wash Creek Group Campground White Pines Group Campground Wolf Ford Horse Camp Follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nfsnc) or Twitter (twitter.com/NFsNCarolina) for more news and features.

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