RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Tuesday, March 16, 1993

Broadcast: By 0800 EST

INCIDENTS

93-112 - Eastern Regions - Follow-up on Storm Impacts

More reports have been received regarding the impacts of the "Blizzard of
'93" on East Coast areas:

* Shenandoah - Rangers and snowplows evacuated many backcountry campers and
  lodge guests during the storm, but the huge drifts that later formed
  throughout the park have marooned park residents at Piney River, Big
  Meadows and Skyland.  Efforts to open roads to those locations met with
  little success on Sunday, but were to resume yesterday.

* Assateague - The park escaped serious damage from the storm, as winds and
  tides were well below expected levels.  The wind blew shingles off several
  roofs.

* Horseshoe Bend - The park, located in central Alabama, received between
  six and nine inches of snow and ice.  Power was lost to the park and its
  residents for about 32 hours.

[Larry Hakel, CR, SHEN; Brion Fitzgerald, ASIS; Dwight Dixon, HOBE; 3/15]

93-113 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Follow-up on Search

Late Sunday evening, rangers in a snowcat entered the lower end of Big Run
drainage and moved along the Big Run Portal Trail in an effort to find the
two adults and six youths who'd been reported missing in the park.  This was
a high priority search area because it was part of the group's planned
route.  Around midnight, the rangers found the missing hikers.  All were in
good condition.  They were to be evacuated yesterday.  Had the search with
the snowcat been unsuccessful, plans were being prepared to bring in a Park
Police helicopter, another National Guard helicopter, and dozens of trained
nordic ski patrol and mountain rescue personnel.  Snowplows finally reached
the group's vehicle at Brown's Gap Overlook at 7:30 p.m. on the 14th; it
took a total of nine hours to cover the 12 miles from Route 33 to the
overlook.  [Larry Hakel, CR, SHEN, 3/15]

93-114 - Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Search

Major search operations are underway for approximately two dozen missing
students from Cranbrook, Michigan, and for up to a dozen other groups of
hikers scattered throughout the park, but are being hampered by three to
four feet of snow, drifts and downed trees.  About 55 students from the
Michigan school have been found to date.  Four helicopters flew the park
yesterday, primarily along the Appalachian Trail.  Several hikers were
lifted out of the woods.  A number of military medics were also lowered into
the park to treat hikers.  Most treatment has been for hypothermia in the
beginning stages; there have been no serious injuries.  Between 90 and 100
park employees were involved in the search yesterday.  Five helicopters will
be working the park today.  Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate
today, with more snow tonight and Wednesday.  Jason Houck, the park's chief
ranger, is the incident commander.  [Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 3/16]

93-115 - Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) - Storm Impacts

The winter storm which struck the Mid-Atlantic area on March 4th and 5th
caused about $50,000 in damage to the park.  Following the intense rainfall
which dropped about three inches throughout the area on the 4th, the
Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, which meet within the park, began to rise and
forecasters predicted a river crest which would likely flood two buildings -
the information center and bookstore in Building 45 and the ranger station
in Building 33.  Flooding was also expected in the Hamilton Street area,
which would affect a pumping station, parking lot, the new pedestrian bridge
to Virginius Island and other nearby resources.  Maintenance employees
removed wayside exhibits, signs, trash barrels, wagons, books and bookcases,
and other items; rangers contacted owners of vehicles regarding their
removal.  Much of the area was closed to visitor use.  Although the river
crested a bit lower than expected in the early hours of March 6th, the
entire Hamilton Street area was nonetheless flooded.  Water extended into
the bus parking lot and into the area between the lot and blacksmith shop. 
Shenandoah Street was not affected.  Cleanup began at 7 a.m., but the park
remained closed that day because of the failure of the pump at the pumping
station.  The park reopened on Sunday.  Damage estimates are based on the
cost to resurface areas, remove silt and debris, reinstall waysides and
signs, dredge a canal, replace topsoil, repair the pumping station, repair
roofs, remove and/or repair tree damage, and pump basements and remove silt
from Buildings 32 and 33.  [Donald Campbell, Superintendent, HAFE, 3/9]

93-115 - Joshua Tree (California) - Climbing Fatality

On March 12th, D.K., 20, of San Juan Capistrano, California, was
climbing above his last piece of protection on the Coyote in the Bushes
route at Indian Cove when he fell approximately 35 feet and struck a ledge
with his head and shoulders.  D.K. suffered a severe head injury and came to
rest just below the ledge and about 20 feet above the ground.  Rangers,
assisted by several Outward Bound instructors and a physician, stabilized
D.K. and lowered him to the ground, where paramedics from the park and from
29 Palms provided advanced life support.  D.K. was flown to Desert Hospital
in Palm Springs by a San Bernadino County helicopter.  He was pronounced
dead on arrival.  [CRO, JOTR, 3/15]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming
weeks on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like
further information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Dottie
in WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636.

March 16

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands [Vento]: Hearings will be held on
the following bills (agenda revised since last week): H.R.
486, to provide for the addition of the Truman Farm Home
to Harry S Truman NHS; H.R. 858, to provide for the
rehabilitation of historic structures within the Sandy
Hook Unit of Gateway NRA; H.R. 936, to amend the Boston
NHP Act of 1974 to authorized a cooperative agreement with
Boston Public Library; H.R. 819, to revise the boundaries
of George Washington Birthplace NM; H.R. 1305, to make
boundary adjustments and other miscellaneous changes to
authorities and programs of the NPS.

March 18

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands [Vento]: Mark-up of H.R. 698, to
protect Lechugilla Cave and other resources and values in
and adjacent to Carlsbad Caverns NP.

March 24

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands [Vento] and Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations [Miller]: Joint oversight
hearing on Yosemite concessions contract with the National
Park Service.

March 25

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands [Vento]: Mark-ups of H.R. 295;
H.R. 486; H.R. 858; H.R. 936; H.R. 819.

April 1

House Merchant Marine Subcommittee on Environmental and
Natural Resources [Studds]: Hearing to consider how the
nation's biological resources are being managed and why
species dependent upon wetlands and public lands in
particular are still requiring listing under the
Endangered Species Act.

April 29

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior [Yates]:
Hearing on FY 94 appropriations for the NPS.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin on travel (3/15-3/17);
Dickerhoof on AL (3/15-3/19).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Cook instructing S-230/260/390 (3/15-3/26);
Clark instructing S-490/590 (3/13-3/27).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation