NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, July 29, 2013
INCIDENTS
Grand Canyon NP
Heavy Rains Cause Localized Flooding
Monsoonal weather patterns brought heavy rains that resulted in localized flooding affecting portions of Grand Canyon Village and Bright Angel Trail last Friday.
Runoff impacted park headquarters and the general offices for Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the park's concessioner, and flood debris had to be cleared from storm drains at the intersection of South Entrance Road and Village Loop Drive to make them passable.
Canyon District rangers reported flash flooding in Garden Creek along Bright Angel Trail. Rangers temporarily closed sections of the trail near Indian Garden until flows subsided in the creek. No injuries were reported.
[Public Affairs Office]
Golden Gate NRA
Man Pleads Guilty To Narcotics Charges
During the month of February, Park Police Officer Stephen Smith recovered a large amount of methamphetamine (about a half pound) during a routine traffic stop in the Presidio of San Francisco.
The driver was found to have a warrantless search clause as a condition of probation for a previous drug offense. He also was in possession of various drug paraphernalia, leading Smith to believe he might be selling the product. Park Police criminal investigators conducted a search of the man's residence, which led to the recovery of various items typically used to produce methamphetamine and a large amount of the product itself, approximately half a pound.
The man was recently indicted by a federal grand jury in San Francisco and pled guilty to possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute. He is to be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in September.
[Lieutenant Todd Roth, United States Park Police]
Shenandoah NP
Heart Attack Victim Saved Through Early Intervention
On July 10th, park employees responded to a report of a 71-year-old man experiencing shortness of breath and chest pain on Dark Hollow Falls Trail, one of the most popular and steepest of the park's trails.
A ranger/medic provided patient care until a litter team arrived and transported the man by wheeled litter to the park's ambulance. An air evacuation was delayed by weather, but a ground ambulance with a cardiac monitor responded from Rockingham County Fire and Rescue.
The man went into cardiac arrest in the park ambulance while en route to the rendezvous with the county ambulance. The ranger/medic and another park employee began CPR and shocked the patient twice with an AED. Rockingham County Fire and Rescue took over patient care upon their arrival.
Due to a break in the weather, the helicopter was soon able to land. The team was able to reestablish a pulse and the man was conscious when he was flown to a cardiac cath lab. Later that day, the park received a report that he was sitting up and talking.
The responding flight nurse congratulated park staff for doing a “fabulous job” in keeping the man going until the helicopter could arrive. The early intervention provided by Shenandoah staff indisputably saved the man's life.
[Brian Sikes, 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/):
Death Valley NP - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting heat stress evaluation studies of park employees at Death Valley at the park's request.
Today's Almanac - Today's weather notes and remembrances from National Park Service history. Tropical Storm Flossie will bring wind and very heavy rains - up to a foot or more in some locations - to most of Hawaii today and tonight.
Mammoth Cave NP - While visiting Mammoth Cave National Park on July 2nd, Kelly and Anton Berg became Junior Rangers - for the 50th time in five months.
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the National Park Service. This report covers the week ending on Friday, July 26th.
Fort Scott NHS - Jackie Messer, the park's facility manager, will retire on August 2nd following a long NPS career. A retirement party is planned for that evening.
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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@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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