NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, August 22, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1848, Captain Ulysses S. Grant married Julia Dent in 
St. Louis, Missouri, after courting her at her family's farm outside 
the city, where the couple would live briefly after Grant resigned 
from the Army in 1854.  The farm, called White Haven, is now Ulysses 
S. Grant National Historic Site.

INCIDENTS

00-506 - Caribbean Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Debby

Hurricane Debby is closing in on the northern Leeward Islands this 
morning. Hurricane warnings remain in effect from Guadaloupe northward 
to Puerto Rico. The projected path of the storm takes it over the 
Leeward Islands this morning, then on to Puerto Rico by late today and 
early tomorrow. Caribbean parks have made necessary preparations for 
the arrival of the hurricane:

o       Virgin Islands NP (VI) - The park completed hurricane 
        preparations yesterday morning. Non-essential employees were 
        released at 11:30 a.m. and normal park operations were 
        suspended a half hour later. 
o       Christiansted NHS (VI) - The park closed yesterday and all 
        staff were sent home.
o       San Juan NHS (PR) - The park's hurricane plan was put into 
        effect yesterday, but the park remained opened to visitors. A 
        decision on closure today was to be made yesterday afternoon. 
        Contractors working in the park were notified and secured 
        their projects. The port closed this morning and cruise ships 
        have been rerouted.

[Ken Garvin, SERO, 8/21; Judy Shafer, Deputy Superintendent, VIIS, 
8/21; Joel Tutein, Superintendent, CHRI, 8/21; Mark Hardgrove, SAJU, 
8/21]

00-510 - Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Special Event

Extremely rough seas and a heavy afternoon thunderstorm failed to keep 
boaters away from the Boaters' Rendezvous and Blessing this past 
Sunday. Strong north winds in the early morning kicked up seas of four 
feet or higher which pounded the event site on the north shore of West 
Ship Island. Fortunately, the seas subsided through the morning and 
calmed down to a reasonable one foot or so.  At mid-day, 990 boats 
were counted, with more boats still arriving.  The crowd was estimated 
to be between 8,000 and 9,000 people. The permitted event is sponsored 
by two local businessmen, who bring a barge with a stage, sound 
system, and band. The event includes a very popular swim suit contest. 
 The Catholic bishop of the local archdiocese also blesses the 
assembled vessels. The emergency response portion of the event is 
administered under ICS, with a unified command involving the NPS, 
Coast Guard, sheriff's department, state marine patrol, and an 
ambulance service. Members of the Southeast Regional SET team assisted 
during the event, which involved a total of 103 law enforcement 
officers and 14 paramedics from the cooperating agencies. Due to 
overcast skies and a brisk wind, the heat was not nearly as oppressive 
as expected, which undoubtedly reduced the alcohol consumption and the 
number of associated problems.  There were only four arrests this year 
compared to nine last year, but there were numerous contacts for minor 
violations as well as several rescues from sinking, swamped, or 
capsized boats.  Five boats sank during the morning, with an 
additional SAR due to a Mayday call when the afternoon thunderstorm 
struck.  Three medical evacuations occurred, one each for a possible 
heart attack, heat exhaustion, and a severe allergic reaction to 
jellyfish stings. The park will be filing a report with  FAA 
concerning an airplane that flew over the event at low altitude, 
pulling an advertising banner. [Mark Lewis, DR, GUIS, 8/21]

00-511 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Rescue

On the afternoon of August 19th, park dispatch received a cell phone 
report that a 17-year-old ROTC student from Manassas had fallen 15 
feet off a ledge on the summit of Old Rag Mountain. A ground 
evacuation team led by ranger Bob Kreiling and including 
ranger/paramedic John Patmore and ranger/park medic Scot Bowen 
responded. Prior to their arrival, the girl's condition was monitored 
by a nurse and later by an orthopedic surgeon, both hikers who 
happened to be passing by. An hour after the initial report, the 
doctor reported by phone that the girl was suffering from one or two 
spinal fractures and possible internal injuries, adding that he felt 
her condition was deteriorating. A Park Police helicopter piloted by 
sergeant Kevin Duckworth and staffed by two rescue technicians - 
sergeant Kathleen Harasek and officer David Stallman - was dispatched. 
They picked up two rangers en route to the scene. Ranger/park medic 
Dixon Freeland and ranger Bill Cardwell were inserted on the mountain 
via a jungle penetrator cable, where they joined the early arriving 
members of the ground team. Medics began administering advanced life 
support measures and prepared the girl for evacuation. The litter was 
then hoisted aboard Eagle 1, which was hovering 60 feet overhead. The 
girl was then flown to Fairfax Memorial Hospital. Each year, the Park 
Police aviation unit and Shenandoah rangers train for exactly this 
type of mission. [Clayton Jordan, DR, SHEN, 8/19]

00-512 - Bighorn Canyon NRA (MT/WY) - Rescue

On August 14th, M.M. was wakeboarding on Bighorn Lake when he 
attempted to do a "tantrum," or reverse flip. M.M. landed wrong, 
though, and fractured his femur. Rangers Lance Twombly and Mike Kujala 
and assistant chief ranger Chris Ryan responded, applied a Sager 
splint and cervical collar, administered oxygen, and took vitals. No 
helicopter was available for transport, so M.M. was taken to a 
hospital in Billings by a local ambulance service. Doctors determined 
that he'd sustained a spiral fracture of his femur. M.M. underwent 
surgery to have a metal rod installed in his femur. [Chris Ryan, ACR, 
BICA, 8/21]

00-513 - Pictured Rocks NL (MI) - Drowning

The park received a report of a possible drowning in Lake Superior 
offshore from Twelvemile Beach campground on August 7th. J.M., 
41, and his nine-year-old son were swimming in the lake when 
they began to have difficulty in the three-foot waves. Onlookers 
rescued the boy, but the father disappeared. Rangers Neil Korsmo and 
Katy Kowalewski arrived on scene shortly thereafter and began search 
operations. Assisting were a private aircraft, a Coast Guard 
helicopter and vessel, a park vessel, the county sheriff's dive team, 
and a local SAR team. J.M.'s body was recovered the following 
morning in about 15 feet of water. Kowalewski acted as the point of 
contact and liaison with J.M.'s family; Korsmo was IC. Initial 
response by search units was very quick, as they had just completed a 
response to a drowning in Lake Superior in similar conditions off the 
nearby town of Grand Marais. [Larry Hach, CR, PIRO, 8/10]

00-514 - Obed W&SR (TN) - Marijuana Eradication

A cooperative operation by the park, a state task force and the 
National Guard resulted in the eradication of about 3,900 plants from 
the park. While flying over the park, spotters found plants growing 
adjacent to a number of houses. [Kris Stoehr, Unit Manager, OBED, 
8/21]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

Firefighters made substantial progress on most large fires yesterday 
and contained six of them. Initial attack was minimal throughout the 
west, and only two new large fires were reported. The forecast 
continues to call for light winds and minimal lightning in the 
northern Rockies. NICC has mobilized and/or reassigned many crews, 
overhead, and aircraft. 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 594 crews (- 18), 
6,522 overhead (+ 688), 1,098 engines (- 56), and 214 helicopters (+ 
1).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in North 
Dakota, Texas and all eleven Western states.

For more national fire news, go to www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html, 
which also provides links to web sites for specific fires.

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Spruce Complex (3,190 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 58 FF/OH). The effects of precipitation 
received earlier in the week are decreasing and fire activity is 
accordingly increasing. Frequent torching has been observed on complex 
fires. Firefighters from this complex are assisting with initial 
attack on fires in the Targhee NF on the park's southwest boundary.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Teton Complex (12,800 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, Type II team, 239 FF/OH). The fire more 
than doubled in size yesterday. Staffing almost doubled as well. 
Extreme fire behavior continues to cause containment problems. 
Developed areas in Grand Teton and Yellowstone remain a primary 
concern.

Glacier NP (MT) - Parke Peak Fire (2,100 acres, 0% containment, 10/15 
estimated containment date, 16 FF/OH). No new information.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Dragon Fire (140 acres, 20% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 46 FF/OH). No new information.

For a listing of all fires, see www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html. 

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low relative 
humidity in western and southwestern Wyoming.

A warming and drying trend over the northwest states will continue as 
an upper level ridge builds over the area.  No thunderstorms are 
forecast in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Montana, as it is too dry.  
Further south, monsoon moisture will begin to move north and west with 
the building ridge.  As a result, thunderstorms will develop into 
central Utah and possibly eastern Nevada.  Thunderstorm activity will 
occur in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

Strong winds will continue in western Wyoming.  Elsewhere winds will 
generally be upslope or southwest at speeds under 20 mph.  

Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, and the 
mid 80's to mid 90's at lower elevations.  Desert areas will see 
temperatures from 100 to 110.  Minimum relative humidities will be in 
the teens and 20's, with some single digit readings occurring in the 
driest areas.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/22

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Reports pending.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

BOL - The Monroe County Sheriff's Department (New York) is looking for 
a missing and possibly suicidal woman who loves parks and may be in or 
around an NPS area. Be on the lookout for a 1992 Mercedes four-door, 
NY registration EW 751M, driven by Sara Fogg (WF, DOB 11/3/45, 5'7", 
150 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair). Contact Sheriff Tom Passmore at 
716-359-7100. [Dennis Maroney, USPP]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
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the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

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

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