RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Thursday, October 19, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-321 - California Parks - Follow-up on Earthquake

The following is the text of the briefing prepared for the Secretary this
morning. It is based on current reports from Phil Ward and Capt. Clayton
Connor in RAD/WRO and Doug Erskine in BFM/Boise:

Overview

Shortly after the earthquake struck California on the night of October 17th,
the Washington Office began efforts to determine the impact the quake had on
parks in central California and to ascertain what equipment, services or
funding would be needed there. Although reports are still incomplete due to
difficulties in communicating with both parks and the regional office, which
is located in downtown San Francisco, it has been determined that no
National Park Service employees or visitors were killed or injured by the
quake and no major damage occurred in the parks.

The Federal interagency fire management community, including the National
Park Service, has committed pertinent fire resources to the relief effort.
The National Interagency Fire Coordinating Center (NIFCC) in Boise is
operating on a 24-hour basis and is prepared to fill resource orders
immediately. A Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MAC) has been established
in Sacramento. Fire overhead teams, qualified specialists, equipment and
supplies will be provided as needed.

All personnel in the United States Park Police contingent in San Francisco
are on 12-hour shifts; days off and leave have been cancelled. In addition
to routine patrol activities, they have increased patrols in the Fort Mason
area and are assisting the city's police department with traffic control in
the heavily damaged Marina District.

Western Regional Office

The Service's Western Regional Office is located in a building on 450 Golden
Gate Avenue in downtown San Francisco. The building was closed yesterday
and will remain closed until GSA can complete tests to assure that the
building is safe and habitable. It is unclear how much damage the building
suffered, but initial reports are that it was limited to falling plaster and
broken windows.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

At present, it appears that the only structures in the park which suffered
any damage were the converted warehouses on the three piers of Fort Mason
Center in the city's Marina District. The loading platforms around the
warehouses have dropped two to three inches, and there are cracks on the
outside of the building. The buildings are now closed pending a full
examination by a team of engineers from the Denver Service Center who are
due to arrive in the park at noon today. The headquarters building is also
closed due to a suspected gas leak and possible structural damage. The
Haslett Warehouse, an unreinforced brick structure which is presently
unoccupied, is also closed, but appears to be undamaged. Except for the
Fort Mason area, the park remains open to the public.

San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park

The park is just to the east of Fort Mason. It's central features are the
Hyde Street Pier and the ships moored alongside. The pier experienced some
movement during the quake, and has been closed pending inspection by the
engineers from Denver Service Center.

Pinnacles National Monument

The superintendent of Pinnacles, which is about 100 miles southeast of San
Francisco and the closest NPS unit to the quake's epicenter, reports that
the park is undamaged. The only direct impacts of the quake were electrical
outages and a leak in an LPG tank which was quickly shut off. The park is
providing water to local residents from its 50,000 gallon water storage
tank.

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

Playwright Eugene O'Neill's home, which is in Danville, about 40 miles east
of San Francisco, suffered minor damage. An existing crack in the house
widened slightly, but the building was otherwise free of damage. The non-
historic addition to the pool house will probably have to be torn down,
however.

John Muir House National Historic Site

The Muir house is in Martinez, 20 miles east of San Francisco. The effects
of the quake were limited to some inconsequential cracks in the house's
plaster walls. The Martinez Adobe House, which is on the park grounds, is
closed pending inspection.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER
SEAdog:     1/650 (Phone:343-6014; BAUD:2400)