NPS Visitor and Resource Protection
The Morning Report
Monday, September 10, 2012


INCIDENTS

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Man Reports Being Shot While Hiking Off Trail

Last Friday afternoon, Cocke County dispatch received a call from a man who said he'd sustained gunshot wounds while hiking deep within the park in the Laurel Springs Road area near Cosby. Emergency medical services arrived on scene to find that the man had two gunshot wounds in his lower leg. He was flown to University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment and later released. The man claimed to have not seen his assailant, but did hear two gunshots just before he realized he had been struck. Rangers worked with the Cocke County Sherriff's Office to secure the area along Laurel Springs Road, the closest road to where the shooting incident reportedly occurred. NPS rangers and special agents are investigating the shooting.
[Submitted by Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Officer]




Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Climber Falls Several Hundred Feet To His Death

On the morning of September 1st, a 59-year-old man was climbing North Palisade Peak (14,284 feet) in the northern portion of Kings Canyon National Park with two companions. Near the summit, he attempted to climb over a bulging ledge, but slipped and fell several hundred feet and was killed instantly. He was not on belay at the time. His companions reported the accident to a second party, who hiked out to report the incident. Rangers were notified of the accident late that evening and recovered his body the next day.
[Submitted by Dana M. Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]




FIRE MANAGEMENT

NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights

National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 3

NIFC is at PL 3. Twenty-nine uncontained large fires are burning nationwide, up five from Friday. Twenty-six incident management teams are committed.

Fire Weather Forecast

Scattered thunderstorms will develop across southern California, the Southwest and the Great Basin. Cooler conditions will spread across the Northwest and the northern Rockies. Windy and warm weather will develop over the Plains, while high pressure will keep dry and mild conditions across the East.

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

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Mon

Date

9/4

9/5

9/6

9/7

9/10

Initial Attack Fires

123

116

137

124

124

New Large Fires

1

1

8

4

6

Large Fires Contained

0

3

3

3

1

Uncontained Large Fires

22

20

25

24

29

National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)

Day

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Mon

Date

9/4

9/5

9/6

9/7

9/10

Area Command Teams

1

1

1

1

1

NIMO Teams

1

1

1

1

1

Type 1 Teams

7

7

7

7

6

Type 2 Teams

14

12

13

11

18

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

NPS




OPERATIONAL NOTES

Yosemite National Park (CA)
Park Continues Response To Hantavirus Cases

Yosemite National Park continues its public health response and outreach as a result of confirmed cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in individuals who spent one or more nights in the "Signature Tent Cabins" located in Curry Village between June 10th and late August of this year.

The National Park Service Office of Public Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health offices to heighten public health awareness and detection of the disease.

"We want to make sure that visitors have clear information about this rare virus and understand the importance of early medical care," said Superintendent Don Neubacher. "We continue to work closely with state and national public health officials, and we urge visitors who may have been exposed to hantavirus to seek medical attention at the first sign of symptoms."

The National Park Service has received confirmations from national and state public health agencies of HPS cases linked to eight individuals who stayed one night or more in Yosemite since June of this year. Three cases have resulted in fatalities; the five remaining individuals are either improving or recovering.  The confirmed cases include six individuals from California, one from Pennsylvania, and one from West Virginia.  The types of hantavirus that cause HPS in the United States cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

Seven of the eight cases of HPS have been linked to the "Signature Tent Cabins" in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. Those cabins have been closed and parties who stayed overnight since June 10th have been reached out to by the park or the operator of Curry Village, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has advised the National Park Service that one of the eight confirmed cases of HPS stayed in multiple High Sierra Camps in Yosemite (a different area of the park than Curry Village) in July, and that the stay in the High Sierra Camps is the most likely source of that person's infection. This individual exhibited mild symptoms and is recovering. 

Yosemite National Park will update its website daily to reflect current information on confirmed cases and any additional important information. The information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hantafaq.htm.

In order to increase public awareness and detection of this rare disease, the park is providing information regarding HPS risks and symptoms to parties who made reservations at the High Sierra Camps this summer and parties who are registered to stay before the camps close for the season on September 17th. 

The park is distributing hantavirus information to every visitor entering Yosemite and notices are posted throughout the park.  In addition, a call center has been established for questions and concerns related to hantavirus in Yosemite (209) 372-0822. The phones are staffed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

HPS is a rare but serious disease that occurs throughout the United States and is caused by a virus that individuals get through contact with the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents. Since HPS was first identified in 1993, there have been approximately 60 cases in California and 602 cases nationally. Nationwide, approximately 20 percent of mice carry hantavirus.

According to the CDC, symptoms of HPS generally begin from one to five weeks after exposure. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, chills, and muscle aches.  About half of patients will experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain.  The disease progresses rapidly (4 to 10 days after initial symptoms) and includes coughing, shortness of breath and severe difficulty breathing.  Early medical attention greatly increases the chance of survival in cases of HPS.  It is recommended that if a recent visitor to Yosemite National Park has any of the symptoms listed above, that they seek medical attention immediately and advise their health care professional of the potential exposure to hantavirus.

For additional information on preventing HPS, visit the CDC's hantavirus website at http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html.
[Submitted by Scott Gediman and Kari Cobb, Public Affairs Office]




Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs
Weekly Legislative Activities Report

The Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs puts out weekly reports on hearings, new legislation and other activities on the Hill. This report covers the week ending September 7th.

Note:  This report covers activities since August 24th.  The House and Senate will return from the August recess on September 10th.

In order to obtain the full text of any of the bills that appear below, click on the following link: http://thomas.loc.gov/ . That will take you to Thomas, the Library of Congress legislative tracking system. Enter the bill number in the "Search Bill Text" block, being sure to also click on the "Bill Number" option below the block.

*****************

New Public Laws

Nothing to report.

Floor Action

Nothing to report.

Committee Activity

Nothing to report.

New Bills Introduced     

Nothing to report.

Upcoming Committee Activity

On September 11th, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands (Bishop) will hold a legislative hearing on the following bill of interest to the National Park Service. The bill has not been introduced at this time. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm in Room 1334, Longworth House Office Building.  The DOI witness will be Steve Whitesell, Regional Director, National Capital Region. 

  • H.R._____ (Poe, R-TX-2), to establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, to designate memorials to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, including a National World War I Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.  "Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act"

*****************

For additional information, please visit the Legislative and Congressional Affairs Office website at http://www.nps.gov/legal/
[Submitted by Susan Martin]




PARKS AND PEOPLE

Independence National Historical Park (PA)
GS-0086-6/7 Security Assistant

Independence National Historical Park is seeking candidates for a position as security assistant. 

Independence NHP is a challenging urban park offering a unique opportunity to live and work in the heart of the Northeast. The park houses many sites, artifacts and buildings that played an integral part in the creation of our nation. Two of the most recognizable sites administered by the park are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The park offers unique challenges associated with icon security, dignitary protection, large scale special events, and management of First Amendment activities. 

Independence is located in downtown Philadelphia, the nation's fifth largest city.  Philadelphia boasts some of the best preserved historic neighborhoods in the nation, along with world class dining, a vibrant arts and theater scene, and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities within close proximity to the park. Philadelphia also boasts an excellent public transit system that serves outlining communities in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The city recently received a neighborhood walk score of 74.1, giving it the fifth highest score of the country's 50 largest cities. Philadelphia is also home to professional sport teams in baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

Housing and overall cost of living is considered lower than many other metropolitan areas in the region of comparable size. Philadelphia's central location provides for quick access to other destinations in the region, including Washington D.C., Atlantic City, NJ, and New York City.

The announcement closes on September 20th.   For more Information, please contact Chief Ranger Patrick Suddath at 215-597-5482.  The full text of the job announcement can be found at the link below.
 More Information...




Independence National Historical Park (PA)
WG-4206-9 Plumber

Dates: 09/06/2012 - 09/18/2012

Independence National Historical Park has issued an announcement for a plumber.

Independence NHP is a challenging urban park offering a unique opportunity  to live and work in the heart of the Northeast. The park houses many sites, artifacts and buildings that played an integral part in the creation of our nation. Two of the most recognizable sites administered by the park are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. 

The park offers unique challenges associated with icon security, dignitary protection, large scale special events, and management of First Amendment activities. Independence is located in downtown Philadelphia, the nation's fifth largest city.  Philadelphia boasts some of the best preserved historic neighborhoods in the nation, along with world class dining, a vibrant arts and theater scene and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities within close proximity to the park.  Philadelphia also boasts an excellent public transit system that serves outlining communities in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Philadelphia recently received a neighborhood walk score of 74.1, giving it the fifth highest score of the countries 50 largest cities. Philadelphia is also home to professional sport teams in baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

Housing and overall cost of living is considered lower than many other metropolitan areas in the region of comparable size. Philadelphia's central location provides for quick access to other destinations in the region including Washington D.C., Atlantic City, NJ, and New York City.

The announcement closes on September 14th.   For more information, please contact the chief of asset preservation and maintenance at 215-597-5550.  The full text of the job announcement can be found at the link below.
[Submitted by Independence National Historical Park, 215-597-5550]  More Information...




Southeast Region
Superintendent Connie Backlund To Retire

Connie Hudson Backlund, superintendent of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site for 18 years, will retire on October 3rd after 38 years with the National Park Service.

Counting her summer in college as a cabin maid and waitress outside Yellowstone National Park and the following summer with the Ohio State Parks, Connie is fond of saying she has been serving the visiting park public for 40 years.

Raised on a farm near St. Marys, Ohio, Connie credits her father for sharing his appreciation of nature and love of the outdoors with her. At Bowling Green State University, she participated in a five-week biology field course, discovering national parks and setting her career goal of working for the National Park Service.

After graduation with a bachelor's degree in biology, Connie taught junior high school for two years as she began her Park Service career.

In the summer 1974, she served as an interpretive ranger in Shenandoah National Park and still has her beige stewardess pantsuit uniform. Through the 1970s, she crafted her interpretive skills as a year-round seasonal with summers in Shenandoah and Mount Rainier and winters in Everglades.

Connie became permanent at Mammoth Cave National Park in 1979, serving as a "split" or generalist ranger rotating between interpretation, resource management, and law enforcement. There she met and married her husband Gib Backlund, and they have spent 31 years as a dual-career couple in the NPS.

With her transfer to Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore as a district interpreter, Connie began an active role in training and served as a member of the interpretive skills team for the Southeast Region. She moved into Servicewide employee development as an instructor at the Mather Training Center, coordinating courses in supervision, interpretation, and cultural resources.

In 1994, she accepted the position of superintendent at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, her third national park home along the Blue Ridge Mountains. During the ensuing years, the park team and community partners have established a dedicated education program, a natural resource program, and completed a general management plan in 2003. A boundary authorization set the stage for protecting park views and adjoining lands. Facility development, including a museum storage preservation center, administrative headquarters building, and new restrooms, has provided added visitor services and resource protection.

Connie has shared that she will miss most being in uniform, walking through the park and greeting park visitors, and chatting with park volunteers and staff. Her retirement plans call for hiking, volunteering with the national parks, and keeping all homes, with more time at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Gib works at Stones River National Battlefield and on the family farm where she grew up in Ohio.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is planning a retirement celebration for Connie on Saturday October 6th from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at Camp Pinnacle in Flat Rock, N.C. For information about the event or to submit stories or well wishes, contact Sarah Perschall at sarah_perschall@nps.gov by September 24th.
[Submitted by Marianne Mills, marianne_mills@nps.gov, (404) 507-5613]  More Information...




Southeast Region
H. Tyrone Brandyburg Named Superintendent Of Carl Sandburg

H. Tyrone Brandyburg has been selected as the new superintendent of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. He will report to his new assignment in October.

"We are delighted to have Tyrone move to Carl Sandburg Home," said Regional Director David Vela.  "He has done a superb job for the last five years at Moores Creek.  He is an energetic leader with a solid Park Service background.  We know he will be a great asset to his new park and to the neighboring community."

Brandyburg, a 25-year National Park Service  veteran, was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, graduated from Branchville High School in Branchville, South Carolina, and earned a bachelor's degree from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg.  While there, he began his NPS career as a co-op student at Fort Sumter National Monument.

After graduating from college, Brandyburg transferred to Tuskegee Institute NHS, where he became the lead interpretive park ranger and museum specialist.  While at Tuskegee, he attended Alabama State University and received a masters degree in American history.  After five years, he was promoted to the position of chief ranger at Booker T. Washington National Monument. 

Brandyburg later transferred to Brown v. Board of Education NHS as chief of interpretation.  He spent two years as district interpretive ranger at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park before returning to Tuskegee, where he served as chief of resource education and interpretation.

Brandyburg is married to the former Mary Williams, who was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and is a graduate of Roanoke Catholic High School and James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.   She was employed by Allstate Insurance Company for seven years and held the position of underwriting supervisor until the birth of their first child.  They are now the proud parents of three boys – Jason, 14, Jared, 12, and Jacob, 10 – and one girl, Amira, 7.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to become a member of the team at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site," Brandyburg said.  "I'm excited for the opportunity to work with the talented staff and park partners to continue our mission of protecting and preserving park resources.  Carl Sandburg was a very intriguing man who was a champion for the everyday working person, those who neither had the words nor the power to speak for themselves, and I look forward to learning more about him."
[Submitted by Bill Reynolds]




* * * * * * * * * *

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.