NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

INCIDENTS

Southeast Region

Hurricane Isaac Slams Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaac is moving slowly along the coast of southeast Louisiana and producing a dangerous storm surge and flooding from rainfall. Maximum sustained winds this morning were around 80 mph with higher gusts. The HYPERLINK "http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/031835.shtml?5-daynl?large" "contents" current track map has it moving slowly ashore and then on a northwest track over Arkansas and Missouri. NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center HYPERLINK "http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/qpf/tcqpf.php" projected rainfall map shows substantial to heavy rains falling over much of the center of the country over the next few days. Here's today's park status report:

Gulf Islands NS - The park is fully closed, with staff waiting out the storm.

Jean Lafitte NHP - The park activated its incident management team early in the week. All sites were closed as of noon on Monday.

Natchez NHP - The park is closed. Preparations were completed by noon on Tuesday and all staff were released. The park will not reopen before Friday.

Cane River Creole NHP - The park began its storm preparations on Monday and finished them yesterday. It closed at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in order to give employees time for personal preparations. The park will likely be closed today and tomorrow; if damage assessments are complete on Friday morning and it's safe to do so, the park will reopen that afternoon.

Big Cypress NP - The park sustained no serious damage. All visitor facilities reopened yesterday morning. Access is again being permitted to the park's backcountry.

Everglades NP - The park reopened at noon on Tuesday. The storm caused only minor damage; there was no surge or flooding at Flamingo.

Dry Tortugas NP - The park reports only minor damage, but an assessment was still in progress yesterday. Plans are to reopen tomorrow.

Biscayne NP - All park facilities reopened on Tuesday morning. The park's islands (including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, and Adams Key) were closed to the public on Friday.

De Soto NM - The park returned to normal operations at 10 a.m. yesterday morning.

The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks needing assistance after the storm's passage. [Compiled from regional and park reports]

Fort Matanzas NM

Rangers Make Arrests In Car Clout Case

A ranger from Fort Matanzas saw a suspicious vehicle parked in the Riverside Lot on State Road A1A at the beginning of his shift last Friday. The vehicle and its driver matched the descriptions of those associated with a car clout that occurred on Sunday, August 12th, in the same lot. The ranger, who was on a plainclothes surveillance detail targeting car clouts, moved to a position where he could observe the two people in the vehicle. While moving to a concealed vantage point and calling for backup from the St Johns County Sheriff's Office, he heard breaking glass and a car alarm sounding. He identified himself and ordered the pair to stop, but they instead fled in the car at a high rate of speed. As they drove off, they discarded items from the vehicle, including a purse and a window punch. A “be on the lookout” message was broadcast to surrounding agencies and the passenger in the car was soon located by St Johns deputies and arrested by rangers. The driver was soon found as well and also arrested by sheriff's office canine teams supported by a helicopter. The two are currently being held on federal charges without bail. [Kim Mayo, Chief Ranger]

Bighorn Canyon NRA

Ranger Assists In Double Fatality Accident

On August 25th, the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office contacted the park and asked for assistance in a fatal accident on Highway 313 about ten miles north of Fort Smith. Ranger Elizabeth Morin responded and found that the male driver and his female passenger had both been ejected from the vehicle. Two children who had also been in the vehicle received non-life-threatening injuries. The woman was declared dead at the scene and Morin assisted with transporting the man to Hardin in the Big Horn County ambulance. He was then taken to the hospital in Billings, where he died later in the day. The two people who were died are related to employees of the Bureau of Reclamation who reside in Government Camp, a housing complex for NPS and BOR employees. The Montana Highway Patrol and Bureau of Indian Affairs Police are leading the investigation. [Kevin Tillman, Chief Ranger]

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/):

The White House - President Obama has directed that all United States flags be flown at half staff on Friday, August 31st, in memory of astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Office of Communications - The Office of Communications is soliciting videos from the field that promote teamwork, creativity and a new InsideNPS. Particulars are provided on how to make a submission.

Intermountain Region - Cadets in the Intermountain Region's ProRanger San Antonio program gave oral presentations about their 2012 summer internships to the National Ranger Council at its recent bi-annual meeting in San Antonio.

Capitol Reef NP - Al Hendricks, the superintendent of Capitol Reef National Park, will retire on September 3rd after 42 years of government service, all with the National Park Service.

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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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