Situation at North Carolina Outward Bound School related to Tropical Storm Helene – UPDATED 10/1/24, [12:00 P.M.:]

North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS), like most of Western North Carolina (WNC), was impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Chief among the impacts was significant damage along the Pisgah National Forest Service access roads to and from NCOBS’s Table Rock base camp, making these roads impassable. Conditions in the area have also resulted in the cancellation of several incoming student groups to NCOBS Cedar Rock and Table Rock base camps.

As of 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1st, the 31 high school students and adult administrators who were unable to depart the base camp as scheduled on Friday were on their way home. They left the Table Rock base camp Tuesday morning, reached a major road at approximately 11:30 a.m., and are currently expected to reach Morganton, N.C. via van transfer by early afternoon. At that point, they will transfer to a motor coach for their trip back north to Philadelphia. 

The high school group remained at the base camp due to road damage and a shelter-in-place order by local emergency officials. Prior to their departure, the students had access to heat, showers, ample food supplies and water, and activities provided by NCOBS staff, and were able to speak with their families once communications were restored.

NCOBS and Pisgah National Forest Service staff worked to clear roads that access the Table Rock site to facilitate the group’s departure. 

Approximately 20 staff members and ten adults from a semester-long course remain at Table Rock, which has power, communications and ample food and water.

There are approximately 15 staff members at the Cedar Rock base camp, which is operating under generator power, has connectivity, and has ample food and water. Cedar Rock also currently has limited vehicle access.

NCOBS has cancelled several upcoming courses. The School’s staff is reaching out to enrolled NCOBS students to inform them of the situation.

The NCOBS base at Sunset Island in Florida sustained flooding but no significant structural damage. This base camp operates during the winter and spring months; no students or staff were at the base during the storm.