NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, October 12, 2006

===============================================================================================================

INCIDENTS

Kenai Fjords NP

Flood Hammers Park And Seward Area

On Monday, October 9th, flood warnings were issued for several areas of Alaska, including Seward. Park headquarters is located in Seward, and the park maintains a visitor center at the popular Exit Glacier. Torrential rains caused rivers to rise out of their banks and flood much of the city, leading to the issuance of a disaster declaration. By Tuesday afternoon, water began dropping in the Resurrection River and receding from flooded areas, but flood conditions persist in several subdivisions around Seward, including the Exit Glacier subdivision where the park's maintenance facility is located. Flooding there was from Box Canyon Creek, which broke through its levees and sent a torrent of water, ice and debris through the area. Although park staff were able to leave the facility before roads became impassable, some had to leave their personal vehicles there. Crews have been unable to push Box Canyon Creek back into its channel, but several new small flood channels have developed across the subdivision. In the Old Mill subdivision north of Seward, floodwaters had not yet receded at the time of the report. Floating fuel and septic tanks have been seen and the borough has posted notices advising those on wells to boil water. Several members of the park's staff are standing vigil at their properties, which have been cutoff by flooded bridges and roads, and the park is helping them as much as possible. The road to Lowell Point has been closed due to a bridge washout. Staff commuting from that location may have to use local water taxi services for the time being. Water remains about a half foot deep across the park road to Exit Glacier, which has been closed since late on Monday. [Jeff Mow, Superintendent]

HYPERLINK "http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8292438p-8188960c.html" http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8292438p-8188960c.html

Cape Cod NS

Drowning At Coast Guard Beach

Rangers responded to a 911 call reporting a swimmer in distress off Coast Guard Beach just before 5 p.m. on October 7th and arrived on scene at the same time as Eastham Rescue. The rescuers found a swimmer on the beach who'd been helped out of the water by several surfers. He was in full cardiac arrest and efforts to resuscitate him at the scene proved unsuccessful. He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was pronounced dead. Initial reports indicate that the swimmer, a 27-year-old man from Waterbury, Connecticut, was wearing a full wetsuit and snorkeling with his brother off Coast Guard Beach in four- to six-foot-high surf. He told his brother that he was having trouble and they began to make their way to back to shore, which was about 200 yards away. While doing so, they were hit by several large waves. Several visitors on shore called 911 and three surfers in the area came to the victim's assistance. He was placed on a surfboard, rescue breathing was started, and he was brought to shore, where rescue personnel took over. The death investigation is being handled by rangers. It's likely that heavy surf and rip current conditions contributed to the accident. [Bob Grant, South District Ranger]

LINK TO INSIDENPS

For other current NPS news stories, click on HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/

* * * * *

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

--- ### ---