NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, April 21, 2011

INCIDENTS

Grand Teton NP

Search Continues For Two Missing Skiers

Several rescue teams were flown by helicopter into the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon early yesterday morning to resume a methodical search for W.K., 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and G.S., 31, of Columbia Falls, Montana. The two men skied into Garnet Canyon on Saturday, April 16th, with plans to camp overnight and explore areas around the Grand Teton. A search for them was begun on Monday after they were reported overdue for work. Yesterday, three rescue teams of four people each and two dog teams continued to explore the lower Meadows - an area that is one of several possible locations where the missing men may be found. Rescuers are also probing areas higher in elevation in the south and north forks of Garnet Canyon. Search teams were not able to check the steeper terrain in those areas on Monday because of unstable snow conditions. Improved weather conditions yesterday provided better visibility and allowed for additional helicopter flights. Rescue teams will continue to both expand their search areas and focus on likely locations that might provide clues as to the whereabouts of the missing skiers. Similar rescue operations are planned for today, weather permitting. The forecast is for increasing clouds and snow. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]

HYPERLINK "http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/2011/04/search-continues-for-missing-skiers.html" http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/2011/04/search-continues-for-missing-skiers.html

New River Gorge NR

Third Drowning Victim Recovered

The body of D.H. was found by NPS river patrol rangers and recovered from the New River late on Monday morning nearly 10 miles downstream from where he was last seen on April 3rd. On that date, D.H. was with four other men who fell from a boat when it overturned, dumping all five into the river. Two men were able to swim to shore. D.H., P.M., and S.A. were missing after the accident and presumed drowned. None of the men were wearing lifejackets. An interagency search and recovery effort was begun that day that included the NPS and a variety of West Virginia state, county, local, and volunteer resources. The bodies of P.M. and S.A. were recovered on April 4th. The search for D.H. continued daily, but was scaled back to routine, daily boat patrols on April 10th due to high water levels from spring rains. High water and time greatly expanded the search area to over 20 miles downstream. At the time of recovery, the New River was flowing at 49,000 cubic feet per second, or about 15 times that of normal summer pool. This incident is the first triple-drowning in the history of the park and marks the first three fatalities of the year. IC for this incident was C.W. Mitchem. [Frank Sellers]

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/):

Minute Man NHP - The annual remembrance and commemoration of the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War took place on Tuesday, the central event in a series of National Park Week activities at the park.

Park Facility Management Division - The March/April issue of the Park Facility Management Division newsletter, PFMD Update, is now out and available on InsideNPS. A link is provided.

Business Services - Dyra Johnson, NPS charge card bureau lead, will retire on May 3rd after 36 years of federal service. 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 Communications and 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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