As Hurricane Irma Roars Across Florida, Recovery Continues At Virgin Islands National Park

As Hurricane Irma continued to pound her way north across Florida on Sunday, recovery efforts continued at Virgin Islands National Park and across the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In Florida, all the units of the National Park System were closed for the storm and the agency had no updates on impacts from the hurricane. 

At Virgin Islands National Park, efforts continued to assess damage at the national park and to provide assistance to those in need across St. John, from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. 

"We are in continuous communications with FEMA and Red Cross and relaying information and updates between (St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix) and in contact with responders on the ground in St. John via texts, satellite phones and HAM radio in conjunction with (St. Croix Emergency Office XTK)," the St. John Community Foundation reported Sunday afternoon. "Our priority continues to be communications, shelter and feeding."

Shelters continued to be set up on the island, and the Coast Guard and Department of Defense were sending medics and supplies.

"Shelter medical capabilities are limited. Please contact (St. John) Rescue and/or text 340-643-0019 for transport needs to clinic and off island. Med-Evac plans in place - we just need names, age and conditions of people needed to be evacuated," the community foundation said on its Facebook page. "Pregnant women, sick, elderly, first; list of tourists that need evac, too. Cruz Bay Family Practice is available for healthcare workers until otherwise informed."

Calls also went out to restaurants that could open their kitchens to provide food.

"Persons interested in helping Hurricane Irma disaster response in St. John can best support the relief effort by making a cash donation instead of sending donated goods and services. Cash donations to voluntary disaster relief organizations enables them to purchase exactly what is most needed - whereas donated items require voluntary agencies to spend money and considerable time for sorting, inventorying, warehousing, and distribution," the post said. "To make a donation to the Foundation for St. John IRMA relief efforts go to" this page. 

Elsewhere in the park system:

* Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia was closed at least until post-storm assessments could be made. Camping reservations at the park were canceled through September 20.

* Ocmulgee National Monument in northern Georgia was to close Monday. "Macon is expecting strong weather due to Hurricane Irma. As we are unsure how long the storm will last, we will wait to decide open/close status for Tuesday and beyond," the park posted on its Facebook page.

* Andersonville National Historic Site planned to be closed Monday, but was scheduled to reopen Tuesday morning. 

* Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park planned to close at noon Monday and remain closed Tuesday.

* Congaree National Park in South Carolina was closed for the immediate future.

"Based on recent and forecasted weather conditions and in the interest of visitor safety, the Blue Ridge Parkway is issuing a road advisory from Milepost 217 to Milepost 469, all areas south of the NC/VA state line, from Monday morning through Wednesday morning," Blue Ridge Parkway staff said. "Information related to the path of Hurricane Irma from the National Weather Service suggests preparedness for strong winds at higher elevations, and isolated flash flooding over the foothills and mountains of the Southern Blue Ridge.

"Park visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution and be aware of the potential for falling rocks and downed trees. As always, the Parkway requires driving with extra care due to its narrow road shoulders, steep grades, and numerous curves," the warning continued. "Park visitors must use caution, adhere to posted speed limits and be prepared to stop or turn around at closed gates or road debris during this storm event. In addition, the Parkway’s five North Carolina campgrounds, from Doughton Park at Milepost 239 to Mt. Pisgah at Milepost 408.8, will close by noon on Monday for a minimum 24-hour period."

Parks along North Carolina's Outer Banks weren't reporting any issues or advisories related to the hurricane, though a search was under way at Cape Hatteras National Seashore for a teen-age swimmer who disappeared Saturday evening "north of the jetties in Buxton."

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which anticipated getting rain and winds from the remnants of Irma, was closing campgrounds Sunday and urging backcountry permit holders to delay their trips.

"Wet and windy weather will expand into eastern Alabama, including Birmingham, southeastern North Carolina and the southern Appalachians on Monday into Tuesday. Lengthy power outages, flooding and major delays and disruptions are possible in these areas," warned the forecasters at Accuweather.

"Heavy rain is forecast to spread inland toward the southern Appalachians from Monday to Tuesday, potentially leading to extensive flooding due to the mountainous and hilly terrain of northeastern Georgia, western South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. There is concern for serious flooding problems across Georgia and the Carolinas from Irma," the company said in a release.