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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Tuesday, September 20, 2005 INCIDENTS Hurricane Katrina Recovery Today's Update on IMT/Park Recovery Operations Highlights of yesterday's operations at the affected parks: Several new documents have been posted to the web site archive of hurricane-related documents, including the memorandum on volunteering for the Katrina recovery program The facility assessment at Chalmette and the trail assessment at Barataria have been completed. Crews are now working on debris removal and damage mitigation on Ship and Horn Islands. Information Directory A web site has been established as a repository for official documents related to hurricane recovery operations: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=15&lv=1" http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=15&lv=1. Now posted there are: Personnel Issues NEW: A copy of the September 15th memorandum from the directorate entitled “Employee Volunteers for the Katrina Recovery Program.” A memo with a policy clarification on transportation of DOI employees in military aircraft. A copy of the September 2nd Human Resources memo on “absence, leave, overtime pay and hiring flexibilities” (under WASO Documents). A copy of the September 9th memo with “guidance on campground waivers for Hurricane Katrina evacuees” (under WASO Documents). Information from the National Team on employee assistance for NPS employees affected by the hurricane (found under “Employee Information” on the left hand column on the main page). Response Topics NEW: A section entitled “SERO Documents.” Within it, you can find a link to a copy of the region's report on its initial response to the hurricane. NEW: A section for the Pacific West Team (Ziemann, IC) for reports from that IMT. A subsection entitled “National Response Plan” contains the emergency support functions (ESFs) found in that plan (found on the left hand column of the main page). A copy of the NPS National Emergency Response Plan (under WASO Documents). Incident management team delegations of authority, ICS 209s and incident action plans received to date (under respective team document folders) Current reports on total resource commitments made through the National Interagency Fire Center (under Interagency Hurricane Response Documents). A high-quality, reproducible map from NIFC showing the location of all teams dispatched from the center (under Interagency Hurricane Response Documents). Health and Safety Issues A Power Point entitled “Hurricane Katrina PPT For Watchstanders” (under WASO Documents). A Power Point entitled “Hurricane Katrina Safety for Responders” (under WASO Documents). Guidance on vaccinations and environmental health (under WASO Documents). A guide to controlling infectious diseases in responders (under WASO Documents). Park and IMT Updates Jean Lafitte NHP&P/New Orleans Jazz NHP The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) is in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and is charged with both assisting the employees of the two parks and with overseeing the overall NPS response to the hurricane. Employee Assistance Branch The branch updated and distributed information packets on the employee assistance program to affected employees. Staff have continued to help employees resolve their needs, including follow-up calls and personal contacts, checks of or escorts to employee homes, and notifications to some employees of the total loss of their homes. Efforts are being concentrated on housing issues. Efforts were being made yesterday to get CISM staff out to remote areas of Gulf Islands NS. The Employee Assistance Center is located at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, LA (985-448-1471). Peer support groups are located at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center and the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette (337-232-0789). Resources and Facilities Branch The documentation of cultural resources collected from 419 Decatur Street is being completed as they are being stored at Natchez National Historical Park. Protective measures to preserve the human remains unearthed in the root balls of wind-blown trees at the Chalmette battlefield have been begun and reburial plans are being developed. Crews continued to work cooperatively with the National Guard on cleanup work at Chalmette, including security, debris removal and the removal of downed trees. The saw crew and chipper are working to clear trees at Barataria Preserve. Yesterday, staff assisted with the assessment of Armstrong Park. The removal of hazard trees and debris continues at Gulf Islands. The facility condition assessment at Chalmette is 99.9% complete. A small portable air conditioner and fans have been set up at 419 Decatur Street. The initial trail assessment has been completed at Barataria Preserve. Salvage efforts at the Gulf Island visitor center continue along with work to restore power and electrical systems to park facilities. Law Enforcement Branch LE staff checked on the status and accessibility of employee homes and provided roving security for park properties. They also boarded up a house for an absent employee. Community Services The National Park Service is providing a variety of services to communities affected by Hurricane Katrina and to neighbors of NPS areas. These include: Providing assistance with debris removal to park neighbors at Gulf Islands. A total of 140 families have been assisted during the incident. Assisting in the rescue of stray dogs. Providing written materials and daily information on FEMA and other available assistance via an unstaffed information table for visitors and library patrons at Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center visitor center. Positioning NPS sites to reopen as quickly as possible to provide additional incentive for public to return to hurricane-damaged areas. Providing ongoing but limited logistical support for military operations at Chalmette. Interagency Activities Activities included: Utilizing the Public Health Services to provide risk analysis and mitigation for NPS employees. Coordination with USGS for current mapping data. Ongoing cooperative working agreement with military at Chalmette for security, debris removal and removal of downed trees. Ongoing contact with the National Guard Operation at the Ocean Springs helix-port to coordinate scheduled flights ops. Ongoing contacts with the U.S. Navy for pending support of heavy equipment operations and shuttles of materials to the island utilizing Navy Hovercraft and LCU. There are 145 people currently assigned to the IMT. Gulf Islands NS The Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC) is charged with assisting employees and helping with the rehabilitation of the Mississippi District. Work continues on cleaning up the campground and visitor center at Davis Bayou. Crews are also boating out to Ship Island daily to work on debris removal and damage mitigation. As crews and single resources check in, they are now being sent to the FEMA disaster center in Gauthier for lodging, food, laundry, showers and fuel. The weather is expected to turn rainy within the next few days. The IMT has begun, in cooperation with park staff, long-term planning for a temporary visitor center, comfort facilities and public camping facilities in anticipation of re-opening the park to visitors in the future. Employee assistance continues with initial clean-up of homes and assistance filing claims. Some park employees who are required occupants are being provided motor homes at sites in the campground with electrical hook-ups. Employee Relief Fund The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is an avenue for federal employees to donate to relief funds for all hurricane victims and is recommended by the Department of the Interior. The CFC in the Department will begin soon. Another relief fund - the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund - has also been established to assist National Park Service and cooperating association employees who have experienced catastrophic loss or damage from Hurricane Katrina. Donated funds will be distributed immediately to provide for basic, daily needs, such as food, water and temporary housing. Please help members of the NPS family by making a donation to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund today. Checks can be made payable to E&AA and sent to: E&AA, Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please direct questions on this fund (applications or donations) to Jack Ryan or Chesley Moroz at 215-283-6900. [Debbie Santiago and Kris Fister, IO's, IMT, JELA/JAZZ; Shauna Dyas, IO, IMT, GUIS] Cape Lookout NS Update on Hurricane Ophelia Recovery Damage recovery operations are going well. Effective last Saturday, the park was reopened to private boaters and pedestrians. Most of the small ferries to Shackleford Banks, the Cape and Portsmouth Village also resumed operation. Repairs to the ferry ramp and cabins at Great Island were completed on Sunday afternoon. Yesterday, vehicle ferry and cabin rental services resumed at the Great Island Camp, and vehicle driving was again permitted on South Core Banks from Ramp 35A at the Codds Creek shelter north to the new inlet located at Mile 24 (about 1.5 miles south of New Drum Inlet). Temporary closures are in still in effect for the following facilities and activities: North Core Banks - Long Point vehicle ferry and cabins North Core Banks - Closed to vehicle driving South Core Banks - Closed to vehicle driving from Mile 35 to Mile 47 Shackleford Banks - Dock at the rock jetty The following recovery work still remains: South Core Banks - Re-establishing turtle closures and the vehicle route signs south of Mile 35 to the Cape North Core Banks - Repair work of the Long Point ferry loading ramp, and cabins North Core Banks - Re-establishing turtle closures and the vehicle route signs and vehicle use North Core Banks - Repair work on the end of the Haulover dock Shackleford Banks - Repair work on the Shackleford Banks jetty dock and toilets. [Wouter Ketel, Chief Ranger] South Florida Areas Preparations for Hurricane Rita South Florida parks have all put their hurricane plans into effect and are largely closed. Here are the particulars: Biscayne NP - Effective at noon yesterday, all park islands (including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Adams Key) and the mainland area at Convoy Point (nine miles east of Homestead) closed to the public. Park waters will remain open for vessel transit only. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. After suffering severe damage in 1992's Hurricane Andrew, the park implemented a detailed plan for adequately protecting life and property, while at the same time taking into account employee's needs to prepare their own homes and families. The plan has been fine-tuned at every approaching storm, and currently calls for preparations to begin at 72 hours before potential landfall. These preparations include not only securing and shuttering buildings, but also removing the park's entire fleet of boats (over 20 vessels) to an inland location. Dry Tortugas NP - The park, which falls directly in the projected path of the storm, has suspended the operation of licensed commercial transportation to the park, including ferry boat and seaplane services. All park boats are out of the water; all offices and residences have shutters in place. Loggerhead VIP's have been relocated to Garden Key. The park presently has just one fully operational generator, along with a backup that is not operating at full power. Portable generators are being checked to determine it they can sustain enough power to operate the park's communications system. Everglades NP - The main entrance to Everglades closed to visitors at noon yesterday; the Shark Valley and Gulf Coast visitor centers closed at 5 p.m. No tourist-related services, including tours, camping and backcountry permits, will be provided during the closures and until the parks reopen. Parkwide preparations were concluded in mid afternoon and all employees who will not be on duty or sheltered in park facilities were released. Big Cypress NP - The hurricane IMT met on Monday morning to discuss closing down in anticipation of the hurricane's arrival. The Oasis VC closed at 10 a.m. and all IMT teams began shuttering and other closedown operations. The park's goal was to have all structures and offices secured by early afternoon so that employees could be released by 2 p.m. [Bob DeGross, Chief of Interpretation, BICY; Michelle D. Oehmichen, IO, IMT, BISC; Bob Panko, IC, and Rick Cook, PAO, EVER; Willie Lopez, DRTO] Yellowstone NP Grizzly Attacks Two Hikers On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14th, two men hiking the North Shore Trail along Shoshone Lake in the southern portion of the park were attacked several times by a grizzly. P.M., 52 of Bismark, North Dakota, and G.H., 51 of Northfield, Minnesota, were walking along an established trail toward a backcountry campsite when they noticed fresh bear scat. They decided to continue on to their campsite, but began making noise in an attempt to prevent a possible bear encounter. As they came over a knoll, approximately a quarter mile from where they saw the scat, they were charged by a grizzly at full stride. G.H., who was walking in front of P.M., was able to side-step the grizzly. P.M. stepped behind some trees and dropped to the ground. The bear ran by P.M., but then returned and swatted at him. The bear continued on to G.H., who had dropped to the ground and was on his stomach, and jumped on his back and swatted at him. The bear then retreated about 50 feet from the men, where they could hear it snorting. From his position on the ground, P.M. began removing the wrist straps from his hiking poles in order to retrieve his bear spray from his waist belt. The bear was apparently drawn back to the site by the noise. This time the bear attacked the hiker's leg. P.M. managed to retrieve the pepper spray from his waist belt and doused the bear's face, causing the bear to flea the area. The men hiked the four miles back to their vehicle at the Delacy Creek trailhead and drove to the Old Faithful Clinic for treatment. Remarkably, neither man was seriously injured. P.M. sustained a puncture wound to his lower left leg and was treated and released; G.H. was not injured, as he was protected by his backpack during the attack. The Delacy Creek, North Shore and Howard Eaton Trails are closed to hiking. Backcountry campsites along the north shore to Shoshone Lake are open to boat access only. [Public Affairs] * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |