National Park System units along the East Coast were closing down Wednesday in advance of a potent winter storm, known in some circles as a "bomb cyclone," expected to batter the coast through Thursday with gale-force winds, freezing rains, and possibly a foot or more of snow in some parks.

In the fall, animals and birds prepare for winter. Bears eat constantly to fatten up before they slow down. Many birds are already on their migration path. Elk and other ungulates are preparing for the mating ritual, the rut. Take a look -- or stop and listen -- in many national parks this fall and you'll catch a glimpse of this autumnal spectacular.

Leaking water mains, power outages, a collapsed 40-foot section of the moat wall surrounding historic Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, and a debris-filled waterfront at Cumberland Island National Seashore were just some of the problems National Park Service crews were dealing with Saturday as they worked to clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

A fund has been set up to help National Park Service employees in the Caribbean and Florida who sustained losses from Hurricane Irma, as well as those impacted by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.