Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – First responders aren’t the only ones from our area helping with hurricane relief efforts in the South.
More than 20 National Park Service employees from the D.C. metro area have been dispatched to south Florida to help with recovery efforts at around 15 parks that were damaged during Hurricane Irma. NPS Spokesperson Mike Litterest is among them. He said they are helping their colleagues affected by the storm, doing damage assessment at parks to figure out what the long-term requirements are to repair and re-build them, and emergency stabilization like re-opening roads.
Damage includes downed trees and water damage from storm surge.
In places like the Everglades National Park, he said there could be an impact on the natural environment in the aftermath of Irma.
“Unfortunately this is not unlike what we’ve seen before. Some of the parks that were impacted by Irma are the very same parks we were dealing with in the aftermath of Matthew,” Litterest said.
Some parks could open later this week.
The group, which includes more than 300 NPS employees from around the country, is watching Hurricane Maria’s path and is ready to deal with any damage it leaves.
Meanwhile Virginia Task Force 1 from Fairfax County remains in the south helping hurricane victims. The FEMA certified search and rescue team helped out in St. Martin and St. Thomas after Hurricane Irma and is now preparing to lend a hand in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
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