NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, December 20, 2010

INCIDENTS

Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs

Storm Causes Closure Of Primary Park Roads

Flooding, mudslides and rockslides, caused by a major winter storm that hit the Sierra Nevada Mountains this past weekend, have forced the closure of the inbound lane of the southern access into Sequoia National Park, as well as the road between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, until further notice. The Generals Highway is closed from the entrance station at Ash Mountain at Sequoia in Three Rivers to Highway180 in Kings Canyon. Weather conditions are expected to worsen in the immediate future. Park visitors and guests at Wuksachi Lodge are being provided notice of a voluntary evacuation or advised to consider sheltering in place for up to several days. The safety conditions warrant an R1 rating, or requirements for all vehicles entering Kings Canyon to either have four-wheel drive or chains, cables, or snow tires. Vehicles without the proper equipment are not being allowed into the park. Access to the General Grant Tree and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is currently open, but access to the Generals Highway is closed at Highway 180. The entrance to Kings Canyon National Park remained open as of last night. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the NPS. Included in today's summary are three bills that have passed Congress and are ready for signature by President Obama - one each pertaining to Longfellow NHS, to Olympic NP, and to two islands in the Potomac River.

Intermountain Region - Dr. Gary Machlis, science advisor to Director Jarvis, was honored by Western National Parks Association with the Emil W. Haury Award on December 2nd. Photos.

Alaska Region - Melanie Flamme, NPS biologist in Fairbanks, Alaska, is the recipient of the National Association for Interpretation's community interpretive service award for 2010. Photo.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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