The very evening the tornado struck Occoneechee State Park staff lent a hand clearing the main road into the park. When the park reopened just a month later, staff from many of our parks across the state had played a role making it happen.
In mid-May Break Interstate Park is operated jointly by Virginia and Kentucky so not completely one of our parks but we collaborate with them in many ways. Jenny O'Quinn from Breaks wrote:
As you probably know, our park was hit hard by a storm last week resulting in many broken and uprooted trees, broken power poles, and loss of power. You guys were wonderful and sent us some help from Grayson Highlands, and state parks. It was a great collaborative effort.
Right before the Media Day we had planned at Glade Spring, was devastated by a tornado. This was not another park but neighbors. People our park staff knew and cared for. We took a trip down to Glade Spring after the event along with some of the staff from Hungry Mother. We heard them talk about helping some of the residents. Some of the park staff had helped cover roofs and do emergency clean up, others were helping with meals and just moral support.
Virginia State Parks staff help out their family – our other state parks and the communities where they live and work.