Damage to the Smokies Costly

Campgrounds, roads and trails damaged by the 106 mile per hour winds in mid October on the Tennessee side of the National Park is expected to cost over half a million dollars.

Officials have submitted a request to the National Park Service for storm damage relief totaling $350,000 and extra labor costs are expected to be an additional $200,000.

Fire fighters and clean up crews removing debris and clearing trails have been asked to work through Christmas to re-open some of the 24 trails currently closed to horseback riders.

Park officials have about six more weeks to complete most of the repairs until the winter weather arrives and they say that several trails will remain closed until next spring.