NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, March 9, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-90 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Follow-up on Storm Damage

The heavy rains which fell last weekend caused Bright Angel Creek at Phantom
Ranch to rise at a rate of about two feet per hour from 6 p.m. on March 5th to
2 a.m. the following morning.  Around 11:30 p.m., two Phantom Ranch concession
employees advised the area ranger that flood waters had stranded five
concession employees on a shrinking island in the middle of the creek.  The
ranger and a volunteer responded, assessed the situation, and called out a park
trail crew and area maintenance workers to assist with the rescue.  Personnel
from the South Rim and Indian Gardens also responded.  They discovered that
Bright Angel Creek had overflowed its banks below the campground on the river
delta and split into two channels, trapping the five concessioners on a piece
of land between the two creek channels and the Colorado River.  The first
rescuers on scene were able to get a rescue line from the east bank of the
creek to the island, but it was lost when the people on the island attempted to
move the anchor point out of the path of the rising water.  The water level
crested at 2 a.m., then began to recede.  As the flooded creek continued to
widen its new channel, water levels dropped in the west creek channel,
permitting rescuers to establish a fixed line to the island.  Warm clothes,
food and overnight gear were sent over the line.  Around 8 a.m., weather
conditions improved sufficiently to allow the park helicopter to land on a
newly formed sandbar on the north side of the island.  All five were flown off
the island.  They were in good condition except for mild hypothermia. 
Meanwhile, the park continues in its efforts to assess and recover from damage
inflicted by the storm.  The regional all-risk management team, headed by Bryan
Swift, was requested and arrived in the park yesterday.  Phantom Ranch
facilities have been closed, and use of trails within the canyon is being
discouraged or curtailed.  The park is working on plans for bringing in water
to add to the amount that was in storage at the South Rim when the water line
failed.  No actions to reduce public use at the South Rim have been decided
upon as of yet.  The extent of damage to the line and to trails is still being
assessed.  Additional heavy rains are a real possibility.   [Mallory Smith,
GRCA, 3/8]

95-93 - Joshua Tree (California) - Death of Employee

John Brunkhart, 63, a long-time fee collection ranger at the park, died at his
residence near Joshua Tree on the night of March 6th.  He had been working a
shift at the park's West Entrance Station when he began feeling ill and left
early for home.  John had a history of heart problems and had recently
undergone heart surgery.  A memorial service will be held at the park.  [Judy
Bartzatt, JOTR, 3/7]

95-94 - Independence (Pennsylvania) - Armed Robbery

On the evening of February 27th, a park visitor was held up at gunpoint by two
men near the tea garden area of Second Bank of the United States.  No further
information is currently available.  [Willie Patrick Bowman, INDE, 3/4]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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