- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, August 28, 1992
- Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, August 28, 1992
Release: 0830 EDT
INCIDENTS
92-451 - Florida and Gulf Coast Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Andrew
Reports have now been received from all Gulf Coast areas affected by the
hurricane, and few have suffered any serious problems:
* Jean Lafitte - All employees have been accounted for and some returned to
work yesterday. Largely because of early actions and preparations by the
park's staff, only minor damage has occurred in the park:
- Chalmette Unit - Flooding continues, but is not threatening any
facilities. The unit was to reopen yesterday afternoon.
- Thibodaux Unit - Some water has leaked into the visitor center, but the
damage is minimal. Power is out, so the center remains closed.
- Lafayette Unit - Although the eye of the storm passed very close to this
area, it survived with no apparent damage. Trailers at the construction
site appear to be okay, and construction will resume immediately.
- Barataria Unit - Waters are still high and the unit will remain closed
until it can be inspected. The most significant damage in the park may
have occurred here. A land barrier separating Salvador Lake from the
unit's Barataria Marsh may have eroded to the point where it has breached.
If that has happened, the marsh will be threatened. An inspection will
be conducted tomorrow to assess damages. If major damage has occurred,
a request for immediate funding to remedy the problem will be forthcoming.
* Gulf Islands - The park reports that some overwash occurred on the
Mississippi District islands, that the mainland building and facilities for
the district are okay, and that the Horn Island pier suffered extensive
damage.
* Vicksburg - The park received about five inches of rain in the 24-hour
period ending late yesterday morning and experienced winds up to about 35
mph. The hurricane knocked down some trees, which forced the closure of the
park's tour road. Some low-lying areas have been flooded. The visitor
center was closed Wednesday afternoon, but reopened yesterday.
* Natchez - The site closed on Wednesday but opened today. One tree was
reported down. No flooding or structural damage occurred.
* Natchez Trace - All three southern districts are without power. Several
trees fell across the parkway; they are being cleared, and the parkway
remains open. Although several tornados were spotted in the area, none hit
any park buildings. There were many motor vehicle accidents on the parkway
during the storm.
* Everglades/Biscayne - As of yesterday morning, there were 82 people
committed to the overhead team working in the Everglades and Biscayne. The
ARM (all-risk management) team is now operating out of a building at park
headquarters. Efforts yesterday focused on contacting all employees who had
not yet been heard from. As of yesterday evening, all but one Big Cypress,
two Biscayne and 16 Everglades employees had been contacted. A 12-person
team has been going to residences in Homestead to reach most of them.
They've reached about 80% of the homes so far and will continue efforts to
reach the remainder. The team's objective today will be to salvage and
secure buildings and prevent further damage wherever possible.
Operations continue to be "severely hampered" by lack of phones and radios;
at present, the ARM team and employees from all three parks are
communicating over only one radio channel. The BIFC radio net should be up
today, however, and a satellite dish telephone system which was set up
yesterday should also be fully operational. Big Cypress has sent two 28-foot
travel trailers to Pine Island. Catering and shower units have been
ordered, and additional law enforcement personnel have been requested to
provide security. There are more than two dozen law enforcement rangers in
the park at present; they've been assigned to island and mainland facilities
at Biscayne and to Flamingo and the main entrance at Everglades. Critical
incident stress debriefing (CISD) teams were due in last night. An incident
information officer has also arrived.
Many NPS employees and friends of the Service have called to ask what they
can do to help people in the park.
- Personnel - Incident commander Rick Gale has expressly asked that
the many people who've offered to help hold on until the basic groundwork
for recovery operations has been laid. Although these efforts to
help are very much appreciated, there is no infrastructure to support
additional employees or volunteers, much less existing staff.
Additional help will be summoned as soon as possible. Until that time,
please stand by.
- Financial Aid - SERO has set up a relief fund to receive monetary
contributions for employees in Biscayne and Everglades. The regional
director has asked ENP&MA to set up a reserve account to meet these
employees' immediate needs. Eastern has set up an "Andrew Relief"
fund and has already donated funds to it. Individual employee
contributions and non-ENP&MA park donations may be sent to ENP&MA,
Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428.
ENP&MA parks that want to make a contribution from this year's
percentage donation or an advance from next year's donation must
notify George Minnucci by memo or fax (215-832-0242) of the year and
amount. These funds will be made available to employees by wire
transfer immediately upon receipt. Questions regarding these procedures
should be directed to Pat Stanek in SERO (404-331-3527) or Richard
Jamgochian at ENP&MA (215-832-0555).
- Notes of Support - As noted yesterday, you can send either general
messages of support to the park staff or personal notes to employees via
the park office in Everglades City. The mailing address: Everglades NP,
PO Box 120, Everglades City, FL 33929.
- Goods and Supplies - We are working with the ARM team and park to
identify supplies (clothing, equipment, etc.) which are needed by
park employees. That list and a UPS mailing address will be available
through the morning report on Monday.
[Rick Gale, Bill Gabbert, and Jan Patrick, ARM Team, EVER/BISC; Darlene
Koontz, EVER; Bill Springer and Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; Bonnie Winslow,
RAD/SWRO; 8/27]
92-457 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Search; Two Fatalities
On the morning of August 17th, W.J., 24, and M.E., 26,
were to meet up with a friend either at the park's backcountry office or
somewhere along the Hermit Rapids trail for a three-day backpacking trip
through the canyon. The pair failed to show up at either rendezvous, so
their friend hiked out alone. When they both failed to show up at work the
following Monday morning, August 24th, they were reported missing. Their
car was found in the park at the bypass lot on Village Loop Drive the next
day, and an air and ground search was subsequently begun. During the
search, it was learned that the couple had been seen by other hikers on the
Tonto trail near Monument Creek on August 18th. On August 26th, searchers
found clothing and personal articles along the Tonto trail and in the Horn
Creek area, and the bodies of the two hikers were found later that afternoon
in the Horn Creek drainage. Technical climbing techniques were required to
recover the bodies. It's not known at present whether the deaths were due
to a fall or to heat. [Ken Phillips, CR, GRCA, 8/27]
92-458 - Coronado (Arizona) - Drug Seizures
A joint narcotics interdiction operation in the park involving personnel
from the park, Forest Service, Arizona DPS and Arizona National Guard has
resulted in two significant marijuana seizures. On August 24th, 1,073
pounds of marijuana and two vehicles were seized on Forest Service lands on
the park's west side. The day after, ranger Curt Dimmick spotted a vehicle
at a suspected narcotic pickup site in the park that he recognized from a
previous smuggling case. He stopped the vehicle, a 1988 Dodge pickup, and
found that the driver was operating under a suspended license and that the
passenger was wanted on an outstanding local warrant. The two were arrested
and taken to a local jail. A search of the spot where the truck was first
seen led to the discovery of 282 pounds of marijuana about 150 feet from a
park road. A Customs dog was brought in to check the area and the vehicle;
it detected a strong marijuana scent emanating from the pickup, which was
seized. The park will seek to gain permanent possession of the truck.
92-459 - Big Bend (Texas) - Trespass Livestock
On August 25th, rangers and Department of Agriculture APHIS agents rounded
up eight head of trespass horses near San Vicente Crossing on the border
with Mexico. The owner tried to take them back from the APHIS agents, but
rangers intervened. Although the owner made a number of threats, they were
not specific enough to warrant an arrest. The livestock may be recovered
after they have been tested for disease and fines and impoundment fees have
been paid. Ever since the park was created, Mexican owners have allowed
their livestock to trespass in the park all along the border and have even
driven livestock into the park for grazing. Significant resource damages
have resulted. Six horses were impounded in a roundup in this area two
months ago, but livestock owners continue the practice even though they
cannot afford to recover impounded animals. [Roger Moder, ACR, BIBE, 8/26]
92-460 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Rescue
Early on the afternoon of August 19th, rangers responded to a report that a
14-year-old girl had seriously injured herself while whitewater rafting in
the lower gorge of the New River. Due to the location of the incident,
land-based rangers were able to quickly respond, while at the same time
requesting a helicopter for evacuation. Rangers were on scene in 40 minutes
and began EMS treatment and evacuation. Other rangers assisted in getting
local ALS personnel on scene and established a landing zone for the
helicopter. At one point during the evacuation, EMS personnel had to
administer artificial respiration to the victim. She was taken to a waiting
park vehicle, transported out of the gorge to a helicopter, then flown to a
nearby trauma center, where she's now reported to be in stable condition.
[Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 8/20]
92-461 - Gulf Islands (Florida/Mississippi) - Drowning
R.L., 44, of Mobile, Alabama, was SCUBA diving with family and
friends off the Fort Pickens jetty on the morning of August 22nd when he
disappeared. His fellow divers immediately called for assistance from the
Coast Guard and park rangers, and a search for R.L. was begun. He was
found unconscious in about 15 feet of water and was brought to shore.
Responding EMS personnel were unable to revive him. Rangers learned that
this was R.L.'s first dive following the receipt of his diving certificate
about two weeks ago. He was accompanied by his diving instructor and
nephews at the time of the accident. The medical examiner's report
indicates death by drowning. [Skip Prange, Acting CR, GUIS, 8/25]
92-462 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Emergency Aircraft Landing
Just before sunset on Monday, August 24th, the pilot of a tour plane
operated by Air Grand Canyon called the tower at Grand Canyon Airport to
report that the plane had lost power and that he was going to attempt an
emergency landing on the North Rim. The pilot successfully landed the
Cessna 207 on the Point Imperial fire road west of the North Rim developed
area. There were no injuries to the six passengers or the pilot. The
plane's occupants were evacuated from the scene by park personnel. The
plane remains at the site of the landing. No determination has yet been
made on how it will be removed. [Barb Brutvan, GRCA, 8/25]
92-463 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue
Late on the evening of August 22nd, two nine-year-old twin girls and an
eight-year-old boy were playing in Wahweap Creek near Bigwater when a flash
flood occurred. One the twins, S.S., and the boy were caught in the
water and swept downstream. The boy was able to get to shore; he and the
remaining twin went home and played Nintendo, as they were afraid to tell
their mothers what had happened. The mother of the twins inquired about the
missing child after "counting heads" and realizing that one of her ten
children was missing. Rangers and Kane County deputies responded and a
helicopter was dispatched to search the area from the air. Many local
volunteers also showed up at various points of the wash to search for the
girl. S.S. was found by one of her older brothers, who swam across the
wash to search for her. She was in good physical condition. The two were
spotted from the helicopter and flown to the incident command post, where
the girl was examined and released to her mother. During the search, one of
the volunteers also became a victim. W.D. of Bigwater was using the
winch on the front of his truck as a safety line when an eroded bank gave
away and he was washed down the river. He was found shivering and clinging
to a bush about 300 yards downstream. An NPS employee pulled him to shore.
Although the incident occurred just outside the park, the initial call came
in as being within Glen Canyon. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/27]
92-464 - Western Pacific Areas - Impending Typhoon
Staff at War in the Pacific report that they are anticipating the arrival of
a typhoon, which was expected to pass directly over Guam yesterday morning.
Winds of from 70 to 85 mph are expected. American Memorial on Saipan may
also be affected by the typhoon. [Rose Manibusan, CR, WAPA, 8/27]
92-465 - Fire Island (New York) - Rescue
C.M., 20, sustained a severe laceration to his upper right arm when
he was struck by his surfboard's skeg while surfing in park waters on the
afternoon of August 22nd. Visitors who witnessed the incident summoned
rangers, who in turn requested EMS assistance. In the interim, a doctor who
was visiting the park attended to C.M.. A Suffolk County PD helicopter
evacuated C.M. within 15 minutes of the incident's occurrence and took him
to a local hospital. [Robert Ditolla, RLES, RAD/NCRO, 8/27]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level IV
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 8/27 8/28 Status
CA CDF Shasta-Trin. RU Fountain 64,000 64,000 CN 8/28
State Kern County Middle Ridge 2,500 3,800 CN 8/29
USFS Inyo NF Rainbow - T1 8,375 8,645 CN 8/28
ID BLM Boise Dist. Foothills -
T1 (2 teams)
T2 (1 team) 257,600 257,600 CN 9/6
USFS Payette NF Warm Springs - T1 6,300 6,300 CN 8/28
Camp Creek - T2 2,100 2,100 CN 8/29
Nez Perce NF Porcupine - T1 21,940 22,870 CN 8/30
Notes:
* - New fire (this report) T1/T2 - Type 1 or Type 2 team committed
NEC - No estimate of containment CN (date) - Expected date of containment
NR - No report received CND - Contained
3) FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS - No significant new reports.
4) NPS RESOURCE STATUS - As of yesterday morning, the NPS had 397
firefighters (down 13 from yesterday) and 158 overhead personnel (down three
from yesterday) committed to interagency fires:
Region Overhead Firefighters Region Overhead Firefighters
ARxx NR NR PNR 8 42
MAR 6 54 RMR 58 19
MWR 6 22 SER 9 58
NCR 1 20 SWR 16 51
NAR 2 23 WR 52 108
5) FIRE ACTIVITY - 125 fires for 738 acres in past 24 hours.
6) ANALYSIS - Demobilization is continuing from several large fires which
have met containment targets. Several areas report high to extreme fire
dangers.
7) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity may increase on large fires in Idaho and
Montana if forecasted strong winds materialize. Significant demobilization
should occur this weekend.
[NIFCC, 8/28; Dean Berg, FIRE, 8/27]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin on operational review,
Yellowstone NP, WY (8/24-8/28); Henry conducting aircraft overflight
research, Grand Canyon NP, AZ (8/24-9/1); Lee at urban SAR conference, San
Diego, CA (8/20-8/28); Sisto at oil spill seminar, Hyannis, MA (8/24-8/28);
Schamp on Danny Horning incident review, Grand Canyon NP, AZ (8/24-8/28).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd and Spruill at organizational review,
Branch of F&A, Boise, ID (8/24-8/28); Gale serving as IC on all-risk team,
Everglades and Biscayne, FL (indefinite).
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
cc:Mail Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation