- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, January 16, 1992
- Date: Thurs, 16 Jan 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Thursday, January 16, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-1 - Assateague Island (Maryland/Virginia) - Follow-up on Storm Damage
The incident command team has completed damage assessments and produced a
preliminary list of tasks which must be completed to repair damage and
restore services in the park. The cost estimate is over $2 million.
Security, safety and salvage operations continue, but the primary focus is
on completion of tasks required to open a section of the Virginia district
by this coming weekend. [Telefax from Elaine Furbish, ASIS, 1/14]
92-6 - Biscayne (Florida) - Air Crash with Fatalities
A single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed just off Ragged Keys on the evening
of January 13th, killing the married couple who had rented the plane. The
aircraft was en route from Key Largo to Boca Raton when the pilot reported
that he was having mechanical problems. One body was found on the evening
of the 13th; the other was found in the aircraft by divers the following
morning. Agencies involved in the search and recovery were the park, the
Coast Guard and the Miami Metro-Dade police department. The incident is
under investigation. Names of the victims have not been released. [Telefax
from Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, 1/15]
92-7 - Yosemite (California) - Search and Rescue
On December 23rd, K.B., 25, and C.A., 44, both from the San
Francisco Bay area, left Yosemite Valley on a hike to the Tenaya Lake area.
They were scheduled to return to the valley on the 28th, but a major
snowstorm passed over the Sierra-Nevadas during that time and marooned the
hikers. The park received notification that they were overdue on the
afternoon of January 1st and a search was begun the following morning. The
party was spotted by observers in a helicopter just after noon on the 2nd.
Neither K.B. nor C.A. was injured, but their food supply was virtually
exhausted. The pair had been unable to traverse the deep snow, even with
snowshoes. [Frank Dean, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke,
RAD/WRO, 1/14]
92-8 - Steamtown (Pennsylvania) - Storm Damage
A severe thunderstorm with winds in excess of 70 mph struck the Scranton
area on the morning of January 14th, causing damage to utility lines and
historic structures at the park. The two second floor brick walls of the
unoccupied Stores building, which dates from around 1900, partially
collapsed, and the second floor support beams were damaged. An exterior
lighting structure and the flag pole at a nearby wooden sand tower were also
damaged, and there was scattered window and roof damage elsewhere in the
park. An assessment of the full extent of the storm's impact on the Stores
building and sand tower will be conducted in the near future. [CompuServe
message from Tracy Brant, RAD/MARO, 1/15]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at division program planning meeting, WASO (1/16).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at division program
planning meeting, WASO (1/16); Halainen at Servicewide uniform committee
meeting, Nashville, TN (1/13-1/17); Marriott at meeting with Forest Service
(1/12-1/15).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at division program planning meeting, WASO
(1/16); Spruill attending aircraft accident course, USC, Los Angeles, CA
(1/6-1/17).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: Branch of R&VP - 1/650
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655