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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, September 21, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Gulf Islands NS Park Prepares For Possible Tropical Storm The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a low pressure area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that has the potential to acquire subtropical characteristics as it moves west-northwestward over the warm waters of the gulf - directly toward the park. Due to the potential for tropical storm conditions along the coast as early as Saturday morning, the park has begun necessary preparations: All park operations are now under ICS through authority delegated to the park's IMT by the superintendent. The hurricane plan is being put into effect and is taking precedence over regular operations. The Santa Rosa Island units (including Fort Pickens) and the islands in Mississippi closed at dusk yesterday. Park teams have secured Fort Pickens, West Ship Island and Horn Island facilities and equipment. The IMT will meet at 8 a.m. this morning to decide what further actions to take. [Clay Jordan, IC] Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P Search Underway For Missing Hiker Hiker P.S., 68, of Wisconsin, was dropped off at Skolai Pass on September 12th by Wrangell Mountain Air, based in McCarthy. P.S. failed to return to the air strip when weather permitted a pickup on September 17th, a day later than planned. A ground and aerial search for P.S. began at that time, involving both aircraft and a helicopter. Although P.S.'s tent, food, and other equipment were found nearby, there has been no sign of the missing hiker. An incident command team was mobilizing yesterday afternoon to manage an expanded search. [Smitty Parratt] Lassen Volcanic NP Hiker's Life Saved Through Rapid Multi-Agency Response On September 17th, park staff and personnel from the Chester Fire Department, Mountain Life-flight and California Department of Forestry (CDF) responded to a report of a hiker in distress on the PCT trail near Boiling Springs Lake. Drakesbad Guest Ranch employees received the initial report and immediately hiked out the trail to find the hiker and guide rescuers to her location. Park staff and Chester Fire Department paramedics also responded. The hiker, an elderly woman with a history of cardiac problems, was experiencing a severe cardiac emergency and having difficulty breathing. Due to the remote location, CDF transported the patient via short-haul to the guest ranch, where she was transferred to Mountain Life-flight and flown to Mercy Hospital in Redding. Doctors told rescuers that she would not have survived without their rapid response. Eric Hensel was IC. [Kelly Roche, Acting Ranger Operations Supervisor] Natchez Trace Parkway Teenage Girl Killed In Single-Vehicle Accident Early on the morning of Wednesday, September 19th, park dispatch received a report of a single-vehicle collision near milepost 368 in Wayne County, Tennessee, about 10 miles northeast of Waynesboro. The driver, A.S., 16, was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital, where she later succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision. The initial investigation indicates that A.S.'s 1990 Chevrolet Camaro was northbound on the parkway when it left the road and struck a tree. Speed may have been a contributing factor. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Ranger Daniel Kimes is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites are, respectively, HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ and ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). * Servicewide - The NPS is celebrating Hispanic Heritage month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. * Environmental Safeguards Program - The National Park Service has submitted its environmental safeguards plan for all-hazards emergencies to the Department of the Interior. A link is provided to a site with plan details. * Rosie the Riveter NHP - Betty Soskin, 86, who calls herself a living "artifact" of the World War II home front, has joined the park's staff as its newest ranger. * Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added this week are several FLETC training courses and a broadcast training session on implementing adaptive management. * Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. New on this week's calendar is the Lackawanna Railfest at Steamtown NHS. * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |