NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, June 1, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Badlands NP

Park Staff Assist in Severe Storm Response

On May 28th, rangers were notified of a severe weather front moving through Jackson, Shannon and eastern Pennington Counties. The front was bringing high winds, damaging hail and heavy rains. Rangers began issuing emergency notifications to park visitors and residents when the system struck the South District. Travelers were forced to stop and take cover, with many taking shelter in government residences. As the full intensity of the storm hit, the park began receiving reports that private residences near the town of Rockyford had been destroyed or severely damaged. Roofs were torn off structures and trees were knocked down throughout the area. Park staff, in cooperation with local and tribal authorities, began responding to local communities outside of the park to offer assistance. Modular homes and trailers had been tossed aside by the extreme wind as if they were toys. Park personnel investigated a number of private residences that had been completely destroyed by the sudden storm. Luckily, there were no reported injuries. As the system moved across the park, visitors were instructed to leave their vehicles and seek shelter in drainages for safety. Local residents reported a number of possible funnel clouds. The National Weather Service reported winds exceeding 80 mph near Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Local and park response to this event was improved by a simulated natural disaster training exercise that had just been held on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The training exercise had been developed by tribal authorities after a number of tornadoes struck several small area communities. Through cooperative partnerships with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, rangers, the park's structural fire brigade, and emergency service personnel participated in mock training and response to tornado disasters. The exercise was a huge success and additional drills have been scheduled for early June. [Mark Gorman, Chief Ranger]

Fire Island NS

Drowning Man Rescued by Teenage Surfers

A near-drowning that almost became a double drowning occurred off the beach at Watch Hill late on the afternoon of May 27th. A 41-year-old man got caught up in rough surf and was being carried out to sea by a rip current. His companion, a poor swimmer, attempted to help him, but almost drowned in the process. Three teens in wetsuits who were surfing nearby responded. They used their surfboards as flotation devices and brought him to shore. Although conscious when he reached the beach, he was incoherent, vomiting, and appeared to be suffering from both hypothermia and shock. Rangers from the East District helped the man from the water and immediately began administering oxygen and providing other medical assistance. He was medevaced by helicopter to a local hospital, where he was treated and kept under observation, then released. The man's companion was able to get to shore without assistance and was unharmed. This beach is one of two in the park that has lifeguards during the summer, but they do not come on duty until June 25th. [Wayne Valentine, Chief Ranger]

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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