Southeast and Midwest Regions
Tropical Storm Isaac Moves Inland
Tropical Storm Isaac, downgraded from hurricane status, continues to produce heavy rains and severe weather as it moves further inland. Water levels remain high along the northern Gulf Coast. Isaac now has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving northwest at 5 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Isaac is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 7 to 14 inches over much of Louisiana, southern and central Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and southern and central Arkansas through Friday – with possible isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. The current track map shows remnants of Isaac over central Missouri by Friday night, Indiana by Saturday night, and Ohio by Monday night. The current rainfall map shows significant rainfall amounts all along that path. Here's today's park status report:
- Gulf Islands NS – The park remains closed. The Florida District was subjected to periodic bands of rain and high winds through most of yesterday. The park's IMT and reentry/core team convened at park headquarters yesterday afternoon to plan a preliminary damage assessment for the Florida District. Several areas along Highway 399 (the J. Earle Bowden Way) have been damaged, including buckling and caved in areas on the main westbound lane. The adjacent bike lane was also damaged. A significant accumulation of sand covers the Fort Pickens roadway in several areas, but no damage to either lane of traffic has been discovered. Park staff are expected to return to work today to reopen some areas, begin cleanup operations, and continue damage assessments. The Mississippi District will remain closed until the storm has fully passed and all tropical storm wind advisories have been cancelled.
- Dry Tortugas NP – Visitor facilities will reopen today. All licensed commercial operators, including ferry boat and seaplane services, expect to resume operations, but visitors are nonetheless encouraged to phone ahead for information on concession operations and tours.
- Hot Springs NP – A flashflood watch has been issued for the area. Rangers and maintenance staff are pre-positioning barricades in case road closures prove necessary.
The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks
needing assistance after the storm's passage.
[Submitted by Compiled
from regional and park reports]
Olympic National Park (WA)
Missing Hiker Found By Searchers
The search for 32-year-old hiker T.B. came to a successful
conclusion yesterday evening when he was hoisted from a drainage of the
North Fork of the Sol Duc River by a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter.
T.B. sustained an injury to his left ankle but otherwise appeared to
be in good condition. He was transported to Olympic Medical Center in
Port Angeles for further examination. T.B. was reported overdue on
Sunday evening when he failed to return from a planned three-day
backpack trip in the Sol Duc area of the park. He left from the Aurora
Ridge trailhead on Friday morning, planning to hike Aurora Ridge and
Happy Lake Ridge and return by way of the North Fork of the Sol Duc
River by Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, he fell approximately 150
feet down the side of a drainage, sustaining the injury to his left
ankle. "He did all the right things," said IC Kristin Kirschner. "Once
he realized he would not be able to get out of the canyon under his own
power, he stayed where he was, made himself as visible as possible,
built a large signal fire, and waited for help." Search efforts by park
SAR teams began on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, search
teams on the ground reported hearing a sound similar to gunshots.
The searchers were able to direct a helicopter to the location of the
sound and at approximately 3:35 p.m. visual contact was made with
T.B. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter that was hoist capable was
brought in at approximately 6 p.m. to hoist T.B. from the drainage.
Approximately twenty personnel from Olympic National Park were involved
in the search, aided by a helicopter from HiLine Helicopters Inc.
[Submitted by Rainey McKenna]
Zion National Park (UT)
Injured German Visitor Rescued From Canyon
On August 16th, D.B., a 77-year-old German national, hiked
into the lower end of the Left Fork route, intending to visit a
formation about four-and-a-half miles from the trailhead. Late in the
day, D.B. slipped on a rock and injured his knee. To avoid cramps
and stay warm, he slowly hiked in circles through the night. On
the morning of the 17th, D.B. encountered some hikers who sent a text
message to relatives requesting assistance from the park. Ranger Nick
Wood hiked to D.B.'s location about two-and-a-half miles from the
trailhead and found that he was able to walk slowly. D.B. believed that
he could hike to the trailhead, so he and Wood slowly began making their
way out of the canyon. Over the next six hours, D.B. and Wood
hiked one mile. An ascent of a steep 500 foot slope is required about a
half mile from the Left Fork trailhead; although hikers travel up and
down the slope on a well-used social trail, a litter carry up the slope
would be challenging and hazardous to rescuers. As dark approached,
D.B. still had not reached the bottom of the ascent. A ranger
spent that night in the canyon with him. After a good night's sleep,
D.B.'s mobility had not improved. Rangers discussed options for
carrying him up the hill, including a direct carry up the difficult
route, a 700 foot guiding line, or a helicopter short haul operation.
Based on available resources, the non-critical nature of D.B.'s
injuries, and the lowest overall risk to rescuers, the decision was made
to construct a guiding line up the steep slope. The guiding line
consisted of a main line and a belay line with a track line that could
be slackened or tightened to move D.B. and an attendant away from a
talus slope and the rock fall zone. Fifteen park employees and members
of the Kane County SAR team constructed the guiding line on the morning
of August 18th. After hauling D.B. to the top of the steep
ascent, he was carried by litter to the trailhead, where he arrived at
2:30 p.m.
[Submitted by Ray O'Neil, Operations Chief]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Motorcycle Operator Convicted Of Vehicular Manslaughter
The operator of a motorcycle whose passenger was killed in an
accident on the parkway last summer has been convicted of vehicular
manslaughter. Plateau District rangers were called to the scene of a
single motorcycle collision on the park on August 267, 2011. The
operator of the motorcycle was identified as D.S. and his
passenger was identified as a P.M. The motorcycle was
travelling north when it collided with a stone median that separates the
northbound and southbound lanes. Both D.S. and P.M. were
ejected from the motorcycle. P.M. was pronounced dead at the
scene and D.S. was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Both
D.S. and P.M. were under the influence of alcohol when the
collision occurred. Multiple charges were filed on D.S. by the state.
The collision was investigated by rangers, Botetourt County Sheriff's
Department officers, and by the Blue Ridge Regional Crash Team. Earlier
this month, D.S. was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in
Botetourt County District Court. Sentencing is scheduled for November
8th, at which time D.S. will be sentenced to 18 months in jail.
[Submitted by Bobby D. Miller, Plateau District Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights
National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 4
NIFC is at PL 4. Thirty-four uncontained large fires are burning nationwide, up from 29 yesterday. Twenty-five incident management teams are committed, an increase of five from yesterday's total.
Fire Weather Forecast
Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the central and eastern Great Basin, northern Arizona and the central Rockies. Cooler but dry conditions will settle in over the Northwest, the northern Great Basin and the northern Rockies. Scattered thunderstorms will develop over the mountains of southern California. In the East, conditions will remain quiet and mild over the Great Lakes and New England regions. Scattered thunderstorms associated with remnants of Hurricane Isaac will continue from eastern Texas and Oklahoma to Georgia and the Carolinas.
To see a NOAA map of today's critical fire weather areas, click on this link: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html
Fire Summary (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Fri |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
Date |
8/24 |
8/27 |
8/28 |
8/29 |
8/30 |
|
Initial Attack Fires |
99 |
98 |
80 |
82 |
99 |
|
New Large Fires |
10 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
6 |
|
Large Fires Contained |
11 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Uncontained Large Fires |
26 |
25 |
20 |
29 |
34 |
National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Fri |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
Date |
8/24 |
8/27 |
8/28 |
8/29 |
8/30 |
|
Area Command Teams |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
NIMO Teams |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Type 1 Teams |
8 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
|
Type 2 Teams |
10 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
NPS Fire Summaries
No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday.
For additional information on all fires, check the following National Park Service and NIFC web sites:
NIFC
- Summary of current fires – http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf
- Detailed reports on major fires – http://www.inciweb.org/
- Fire news and fire year in perspective – http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
- Map of fire locations – http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
NPS
- Details on current NPS fires – http://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/fires.cfm
- InsideNPS Fire and Aviation – http://inside.nps.gov/fire
- InsideNPS Structural Fire – http://inside.nps.gov/fire/structuralfire
- NPS Fire and Aviation - http://www.nps.gov/fire
PARKS AND PEOPLE
National Capital Region
GS-0801/0807/0808/0810/0830-13 Program Manager
National Capital Region's Division of Lands, Planning and Design has issued an announcement for a line item construction program manager.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.
It closes on September 26th.
More Information...
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (TX)
GL-0025-9 Protection Ranger (Lateral)
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is seeking qualified candidates interested in a lateral reassignment to a permanent, full-time law enforcement park ranger position.
Candidates must currently possess or be able to obtain a Level I law enforcement commission. The person selected will perform a variety of traditional ranger duties, including bike patrol. Relocation expenses will be paid.
San Antonio Missions NHP rangers have a wide variety of responsibilities and work in a complex urban environment. In addition to law enforcement and physical security responsibilities, the person selected will assist with active safety, natural resource management, and environmental management programs.
The park is located within San Antonio, Texas, the seventh largest city in the United States with a population of 1.4 million people. Local government agencies are completing a major improvement project along the San Antonio River, which runs through the park. The park consists of four 18th Century Spanish Colonial Missions and associated water systems and ranch; a demonstration farm will be operated within the park in the near future. The mission churches remain active Catholic parishes and are a major religious, historical and cultural focal point of the city. Annual park visitation exceeds 1.4 million people. Summers are hot and winters generally mild. San Antonians enjoy affordable housing, excellent educational institutions and extensive cultural and recreational opportunities.
If you are interested in this lateral reassignment, please submit the following:
- An OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, resume, or other written application format of your choice;
- A copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
- Your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
Applications must be received by September 21st. Mail your application package to: National Park Service, San Antonio Missions NHP, 2202 Roosevelt Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78210, Attn: Gregory Smith. Please contact Chief Ranger Gregory Smith at 210-534-8875, X-224 with questions concerning this vacancy.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Vivian Sartori To Retire
Vivian Sartori, an interpretive ranger at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, is retiring after 20 years with the NPS.
She began her National Park Service career in 1991 as a seasonal at Carlsbad Caverns NP. Three years later, Vivian was hired as a permanent interpreter. She spent the next several years leading cave tours, planning and participating in community and education outreach, and becoming the unofficial "bat lady" of the caverns.
In 2002 she continued her interpretation career at Organ Pipe Cactus. Over the next ten years, she "filled every position available" in the interpretive division. At one time she was supervisor of seasonal and VIP staff. She temporarily served as fee collection supervisor.
Vivian not only presented the standard range of walks, talks, and evening programs, but also planned and presented special events, and created a variety of special graphic-related projects including site bulletins. She wrote articles for the monument's newspaper and wayside exhibits.
Vivian was involved with comprehensive interpretive planning for the visitor center exhibits that were installed in 2011. Twice she served as acting chief of interpretation. She was very active in the local community, and presented a wide variety of interpretive programs to local civic and educational groups.
After her last day on August 31st, Vivian is looking forward to being even more active in the local community, revisiting favorite vacation sites and traveling to other national parks.
[Submitted by Sue Walter]
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.