Biscayne |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wednesday, October 8, 1986 Location: Mowray Canal Area At approximately 6:00 pm on Monday, October 10, a U.S. Customs Air Officer, while off duty was riding an ATC vehicle in the Mowray Canal area of Biscayne NP (approximately 200 yards from Park Headquarters) when he was approached by a male subject. The unidentified subject, with a gun in hand, advised the Customs Officer to leave the area because he was in the process of making a cocaine deal. As the Officer drove off the subject fired two shots, one of which struck the ATC. There was no personal injury to the Officer. The Miami Dade Police responded to the scene, however they could not locate the subject in question. This matter was not brought to the attention of the Park Staff until Wednesday (10/8) morning. Ranger Bob Gibbs, the Park's LES notified the Regional Office.
Location: Boca Chita Channel J.I.L. was swimming away from his sailboat in an attempt to set his anchor in or near the channel. R.A.H was coming up the channel in his powerboat, saw the anchor line, and hit J.I.L. in attempting to avoid the line. The incident occurred around sunset, and Hendricks was unable to see J.I.L. in the failing light. Florida marine police are investigating; no charges have been made against Hendricks.
Location: Biscayne Key to Elliot Key A park inholder reported that a number of people in a lifeboat had paddled up to her dock. Park rangers checked, and found that they were members of the crew of a ship which had been seized by Bahamian authorities. Following the seizure, the Bahamians put the 72-man crew, all from the Dominican Republic, into 10 lifeboats and rafts and set them adrift. Rangers then began searching along the islands in the park, and found 4 of the 10 boats; at the time of the report, they were continuing the search for the others. The park notified Customs, Coast Guard and Immigration authorities.
Location: Elliott Key Two park maintenance men reported sighting six men with M-1 automatic weapons at University Dock on the north end of Elliott Key. Seven rangers in two boats responded, and arrived just as the men were returning to their fishing boat in a rubber raft. The rangers made a felony approach, and the men in the boat offered no resistance. During the search of the boat, a number of assault rifles were found. As the rangers were bringing the men back to the dock, five more people came out of the bushes and down to the docks with their arms in the air; one had an NBC identification card in his hand. Investigation revealed that the man with the card was Brad Willis from WBZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Boston, and that he and his crew were filming a documentary on the armed men, who were members of Alpha-66, a Cuban nationalist organization that trains to maintain readiness for a return to Cuba. One of the men arrested was the secretary general of Alpha-66, who said that his organization had been employing Elliott Key to practice landings for the previous 18 months (the key was a training site for the Bay of Pigs invasion, which occurred before the park's creation in 1968). The Cuban group was charged with possession of loaded and concealed weapons; the WBZ crew was cited for filming without a permit.
T.H., 38, of South Pittsburgh, Tennessee was sport diving with an organized group when he disappeared in 40 feet of water. A extensive air search was initiated by rangers with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Marine Fisheries. Portions of T.H.'s equipment, including airtanks and floatation devices were found within 300 yards of the boat he was diving from. Underwater search efforts have been hampered by 6-8 foot seas. Air search operations are being phased out with efforts concentrating on a diving search of the area where the diving equipment was found as soon as conditions permit.
Location: Near Ajax Reef J.M., 35, of Homestead, Florida was scuba diving in 20 feet of water near Ajax Reef when he began having difficulty, J.M. was low on air, so he surfaced. On the surface, he advised his 2 diving partners of his problems and them started to swim, alone, to their boat nearby. About halfway to the boat J.M. stopped swimming and lay face down in the water. His diving partners pulled him to the boat and began CPR. Metro-Bade paramedics who happened to be in the area observed the incident and assisted. The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and responded with a helicopter with which J.M. was transported to Mercy Hospital in Miami. J.M. was pronounced dead early that afternoon. Metro-Dade Homicide and the FBI are investigating the death. The preliminary autopsy finding indicates death by drowning.
On the evening of April 1st, G.V., 18, was cruising in a boat in the park with some friends. The group had been drinking, and G.V. jumped overboard twice, apparently just in fun. The boat ran aground after G.V.'s second plunge, however, and his friends were unable to return to the point where he entered the water to retrieve him. The Coast Guard eventually arrived on scene, towed the boat free, then joined park rangers in an intensive search for G.V.. No trace of him has yet been found, and it is believed that he drowned and his body was carried out to sea. A limited search for him is continuing. (Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, via Bill Springer, RAD/SERO).
Around noon on July 8th, ranger Bill Cass received a tip from a park visitor that a boat with bales floating around it was off-shore of a beach on the Atlantic Ocean side of Sand Key. Cass investigated and found a 37-foot, high-speed boat at that location. While awaiting ranger backup, a Florida Marine Patrol helicopter overflew the area and confirmed that there were bales floating in the water. When rangers Bob Panko and Tom Sallese arrived, the three boarded the boat; they found no one aboard, but observed a possible trip wire and other suspicious devices. The boat was towed to park headquarters, where the Metro/Dade police bomb squad conducted a search of the craft. No booby traps were found. Rangers Chris Johnson, Tom Rutledge and Bill Hudson recovered 18 86-pound bales of cocaine from the water and nearby beach, with an estimated value of $20 million. Despite a search of Sand Key by rangers. Customs officers and four Metro/Dade search dog units, no trace of any suspects could be found. Customs investigators subsequently advised the park that they had observed an air delivery of drugs to this boat and another boat at about 1 a.m. on the 8th in Cuban waters. Their surveillance was interrupted, however, when Cuban MIG's scrambled in response to an alleged violation of their airspace and Customs lost contact with the vessels. The other boat has been seen frequently in park waters, and was boarded by rangers and Metro/Dade officers one month ago in an investigation of suspicious activities. Investigators speculate that the suspects escaped from the area on this boat. The park will file for forfeiture of the vessel and its electronic equipment and four Mercury outboard engines (total value of approximately $150,000). (Scott Erickson, CR, EVER, via telefax to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO).
On the 29th, M.S., 32, of Hialeah, Florida, was snorkeling for lobsters two miles east of Soldier Key when he apparently drowned. M.S.'s friends began CPR, which was continued without luck by Florida Marine Patrol personnel. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital in Miami. (Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, via telefax to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO).
Over the holiday weekend, the park was host to the 36th annual Columbus Day Regatta, the largest sailboat race held in the United States. About 550 sailboats competed in the race, and a fleet of over 3,000 spectator boats was on hand. During the course of the event, which is known locally for its large parties, rangers investigated numerous complaints, including an incident in which one man pointed a loaded automatic rifle at another in a dispute over an anchorage spot, a similar incident involving a loaded handgun, several instances of domestic violence (one of which temporarily involved a hostage situation), and numerous cases of drunk and disorderly persons. Rangers also issued hundreds of oral warnings, courtesy tags and violation notices for various boating, fireworks, firearms and drug incidents. There were two serious boating accidents and one sinking, but relatively few emergency medical cases. The incident was managed under ICS (the incident command system); Biscayne rangers were assisted by Everglades (six rangers, a dispatcher and three boats), the Coast Guard (16 boarding officers and one boat), the Metro Dade Police Department and the Florida Marine Patrol. (Telefax report from Bob Panko, BISC).
On the morning of November 17th, an F-15 or F-16 from Homestead AFB crashed in shallow water in Biscayne Bay approximately three miles northeast of park headquarters. At the time of the report, it was unclear whether or not the pilot had survived. The aircraft was so highly fragmented that it's model was also uncertain. The Air Force was in the process of beginning an investigation, and the park was providing security for the area. There was no damage to park facilities or resources. (Telephone report from Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO).
On the morning of April 21st, the owner of one of the last private residences on Elliott Key discovered a Cuban refugee in the house and summoned park rangers. Investigation revealed that the refugee, L.C.S., 22, had come ashore earlier that morning. He and a companion, J.R.N., 22, had left Cojimar, Cuba, a week earlier, anticipating a two or three-day trip to Florida. They had run out of water and food after a few days, and were dehydrated and suffering from exposure by the evening of the 20th. The northerly currents of the Gulf Stream had carried them past most of the keys, but a strong northeast wind that evening pushed the raft toward shore. Even though they tied themselves to the raft before falling asleep, J.R.N. slipped off the inner tube raft sometime during the night. A search was immediately begun by the park. Florida Marine Patrol and USCG aircraft coordinated their air search efforts with park rangers, but no sign of J.R.N. was found. Because of the unknown point of disappearance and the large area already searched, the aircraft suspended the search at the end of the 21st and returned to their bases. The search was continued on water and renewed by air on the 22nd and 23rd, but without any further luck. L.C.S. was turned over to INS agents for processing at the Krome Detention Center. (Telefaxed report from Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, via Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 5 p.m. EDT, 4/23/90).
While conducting routine inspections of archeologically significant shipwreck sites on June 13th, rangers discovered that one of the wrecks, that of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora del Populo had been looted. The ship is thought to have sunk during a hurricane in 1733 along with numerous other ships of a Spanish fleet. The site is well known to local divers, and its location has been published. The primary disturbance to the site appears to have been the destruction of a mound of ballast stones which were removed to facilitate digging for artifacts in the sand below. At least five pits were dug, and several timbers and ribs of the hull of the vessel are now exposed. Although this site has been the subject of past commercial salvage operations, the ballast pile was thought to be intact and potentially covering and protecting valuable artifacts. Biscayne rangers are pursuing the investigation with the assistance of the Unites States Attorney's office in Miami. The park is planning to stabilize the site after the investigation of the scene is completed. (Bob Panko, VPS, BISC, via telefax from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 6/17).
On the night of December 8th, the shrimp vessel "Debbie L." sank in park waters. The three crew members who were on board at the time spent the night in the water. They were rescued early on the morning of the 9th and taken to Black Point Marina. One of the crew members was treated for hypothermia and released. The vessel was removed on the 10th by a towing service. Although the boat had 150 gallons of diesel fuel on board, none of it leaked into the water. (Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, via telefax from RAD/SERO, 12/10).
On the afternoon of July 14th, M.H., 35, was snorkeling on the reefs near Caesars Creek while her companions were diving. She suddenly began flailing and sank beneath the surface in 15 feet of water. One of the divers brought her to a boat, where two people unsuccessfully attempted D\CPR. A passing boat with a cellular phone stopped and called for help. M.H. was taken to Bay Front Park by a Metro Dade rescue team. The death is being investigated. [CompuServe message from Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, 7/16]
H.M., 43, was scuba diving from a boat off Fowey Light on the evening of August 26th. When he failed to surface at a prearranged time, his companion in the boat flagged down a passing vessel, whose operator notified the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard and Florida Marine Patrol began a joint air and water search of the area but were unable to locate H.M.. The search continued until midnight, then resumed the following morning, at which time rangers joined the search effort. Teams concentrated on an area northwest of the point where he was last seen, but no sign of him had been found at the time of the report. The search continues. [CompuServe message from Bill Hudson, BISC, 8/27]
On the afternoon of September 11th, a woman was knocked to the ground and robbed of her purse by an unidentified male while she was strolling through the park's picnic area. The victim claimed to have had cash in excess of $10,000 in her purse. An investigation is underway. [CompuServe message from Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, 9/12]
The 38th annual Columbus Day regatta, billed as the "world's largest sailboat race," was run from Miami's Dinner Key Marina south on Biscayne Bay to Boca Chita Key in the park on October 12th. There were 600 race entrants in the two-day event, and between 15,000 and 18,000 spectators watched from approximately 4,000 boats within park waters. Rangers, Coast Guard boarding officers and Florida Marine Patrol and local government marine law enforcement officers patrolled throughout the weekend, providing communications, controlling boat traffic, and emphasizing safety to park visitors. As a result, citations were kept to a minimum, though there were many boat stops and warnings for minor violations, primarily for speeding in no-wake zones and in prescribed anchorages. Other incidents included several lost persons found, one major boat accident involving three vessels, and several altercations among partying spectators. One boat operator was thrown overboard; his boat continued running in a tight circle until it ran out of gas and could be safely boarded. The boat was monitored while it circled, but posed no threat to either the operator or other boaters. There were some minor injuries requiring the attention of park EMT's, but no medevacs. [CompuServe message from L. Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, 10/15]
A single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed just off Ragged Keys on the evening of January 13th, killing the married couple who had rented the plane. The aircraft was en route from Key Largo to Boca Raton when the pilot reported that he was having mechanical problems. One body was found on the evening of the 13th; the other was found in the aircraft by divers the following morning. Agencies involved in the search and recovery were the park, the Coast Guard and the Miami Metro-Dade police department. The incident is under investigation. Names of the victims have not been released. [Telefax from Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, 1/15]
On May 1st, rangers, acting on a tip from an informant, seized 60 pounds of cocaine valued at $2.5 million on Elliott Key in the park. No further information on the seizure is available. [Telephone report from Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 5/4]
On the afternoon of June 13th, a house located in the northern portion of the park collapsed, injuring at least seven people. The house was one of 14 inholdings built over water in Biscayne Bay in an area known as Stiltsville. An estimated 150 to 200 people were attending a large party sponsored by Bachelor's Club, Inc. when an approaching severe rainstorm caused everyone to move into the structure. Under all this weight, a large portion of the house collapsed and fell about ten feet to the water, sending people tumbling onto one another. People scrambled out of windows, doors and gaping holes in the walls in an effort to reach safety. Park rangers and officers from every nearby federal, state and local enforcement agency with boats responded to the scene and assisted in evacuating victims. [Bill Hudson, BISC, via telefax from Marcella Gibson, RAD/SERO, 6/16]
Rangers responded to a reported drowning in the north part of the park near Stiltsville on June 27th. Upon arrival at the scene, rangers met Metro-Dade officers who had removed the victim from the water. A witness, O.V., was diving with the victim, R.M., 34, in one of the narrow channels in the north end of the park. When they surfaced, he became unconscious. O.V. removed R.M.'s weight belt and SCUBA gear and attempted to swim with him back to their boat. The current was too strong, however, so she swam to one of the nearby Stiltsville houses with R.M. in tow. O.V. could not lift him out of the water, so she tied him to a stairway on the house and eventually was able to flag down a passing boat. The fatality is being investigated by Metro-Dade. [Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, 6/30]
On June 26th, rangers discovered a sunken 28-foot boat near Black Point Marina. The top of the boat was out of the water, causing a hazard to navigation, and the 200 gallons of diesel fuel on board were leaking into the ocean, creating an oil slick. A towing service was dispatched to the scene and the boat was raised and taken to park headquarters. Arrangements were made to have the boat pulled out of the water and hauled off. The owner of the boat will be charged the cost of removal, which will be about $3,000. [Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, 6/30]
The four National Park Service areas in south Florida - Everglades, Big Cypress, Biscayne and Fort Jefferson - and one further up the east coast - Canaveral - completed all preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Andrew late yesterday and are currently riding out the storm: * Biscayne - The park was formally closed at 6:00 p.m. yesterday, and all staff have left the island. Some were scheduled to go to a local hotel; since it was in the evacuation zone along the Atlantic coast, however, they were instead housed at Pine Island. About 15 boats were brought from the park to an inland storage area in the Everglades. As expected, efforts to contact the incident command center at Everglades headquarters this morning proved fruitless. Preliminary reports from Big Cypress are that the power is still on there and that the worst of the hurricane is hitting Everglades to the south. A follow-up report on the hurricane's impact will appear in tomorrow's morning report, which will also report on the situation at DeSoto, south of Tampa, and on preparations at Gulf Islands, along the Florida/Mississippi coast. [Debbie Ligget, IC team, EVER, 8/23; John Kalifarski, BICY, 8/23; Bill Springer, SERO, 8/24]
Hurricane Andrew caused significant damage to some park areas in south Florida, but none of those employees who sought refuge in the parks were injured. Preliminary damage reports have been received: * Biscayne - The magnitude of damage to the park is unknown because no one has been able to reach the area yet. The park will be checked once Everglade's helicopter returns. [Bill Springer, RCR, RAD/SERO; Bob Belous, SUPT, JELA; Tom McDaniel, PAIS; Ron Switzer, SUPT, BITH, 8/24 and 8/25]
A preliminary evaluation of damage to the parks was completed by air yesterday afternoon. Rangers flew a fixed-wing aircraft over Biscayne, Big Cypress and Everglades and reported the following. Since most of the following observations were made from the air, assessments are limited to what could be seen from the aircraft. There's no report on Big Cypress because the park appears to have come through virtually unscathed. * Biscayne - The park, which is directly east of Homestead and south Miami, two of the hardest hit areas in the state, also suffered significant damage. Although part of the roof is still on the new visitor center at Convoy Point on the mainland, indications are that it suffered extensive damage. A 46-foot NPS boat which could not be moved inland is in the visitor center parking lot. A park tour boat and another boat appear to have sunk nearby. An oil storage area at Turkey Point has leaked, and oil is visible all over Biscayne Bay. The three trailers that were at headquarters are gone, as is the concession office. Although the lighthouse at Boca Chita Key on the north end of the park is still standing, all but one of the nearby buildings are gone. The visitor center at Elliott Key is still standing, but the maintenance outbuildings there are gone and much of the roof of one of two residences has been blown off. One of the residences at Adams Key is gone, the other is still standing. [Kevin Fitzgerald, DR, EVER, and Ron Switzer, SUPT, BITH, 8/25; Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, 8/26]
Reports have now been received from all Gulf Coast areas affected by the hurricane, and few have suffered any serious problems: * Everglades/Biscayne - As of yesterday morning, there were 82 people committed to the overhead team working in the Everglades and Biscayne. The ARM (all-risk management) team is now operating out of a building at park headquarters. Efforts yesterday focused on contacting all employees who had not yet been heard from. As of yesterday evening, all but one Big Cypress, two Biscayne and 16 Everglades employees had been contacted. A 12-person team has been going to residences in Homestead to reach most of them. They've reached about 80% of the homes so far and will continue efforts to reach the remainder. The team's objective today will be to salvage and secure buildings and prevent further damage wherever possible. Operations continue to be "severely hampered" by lack of phones and radios; at present, the ARM team and employees from all three parks are communicating over only one radio channel. The BIFC radio net should be up today, however, and a satellite dish telephone system which was set up yesterday should also be fully operational. Big Cypress has sent two 28-foot travel trailers to Pine Island. Catering and shower units have been ordered, and additional law enforcement personnel have been requested to provide security. There are more than two dozen law enforcement rangers in the park at present; they've been assigned to island and mainland facilities at Biscayne and to Flamingo and the main entrance at Everglades. Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) teams were due in last night. An incident information officer has also arrived. Many NPS employees and friends of the Service have called to ask what they can do to help people in the park. - Personnel - Incident commander Rick Gale has expressly asked that the many people who've offered to help hold on until the basic groundwork for recovery operations has been laid. Although these efforts to help are very much appreciated, there is no infrastructure to support additional employees or volunteers, much less existing staff. Additional help will be summoned as soon as possible. Until that time, please stand by. - Financial Aid - SERO has set up a relief fund to receive monetary contributions for employees in Biscayne and Everglades. The regional director has asked ENP&MA to set up a reserve account to meet these employees' immediate needs. Eastern has set up an "Andrew Relief" fund and has already donated funds to it. Individual employee contributions and non-ENP&MA park donations may be sent to ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. ENP&MA parks that want to make a contribution from this year's percentage donation or an advance from next year's donation must notify George Minnucci by memo or fax (215-832-0242) of the year and amount. These funds will be made available to employees by wire transfer immediately upon receipt. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to Pat Stanek in SERO (404-331-3527) or Richard Jamgochian at ENP&MA (215-832-0555). - Notes of Support - As noted yesterday, you can send either general messages of support to the park staff or personal notes to employees via the park office in Everglades City. The mailing address: Everglades NP, PO Box 120, Everglades City, FL 33929. - Goods and Supplies - We are working with the ARM team and park to identify supplies (clothing, equipment, etc.) which are needed by park employees. That list and a UPS mailing address will be available through the morning report on Monday. [Rick Gale, Bill Gabbert, and Jan Patrick, ARM Team, EVER/BISC; Darlene Koontz, EVER; Bill Springer and Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; Bonnie Winslow, RAD/SWRO; 8/27]
There are now 173 people - 158 NPS, 12 Forest Service and four from other agencies - committed to the NPS all-risk management (ARM) team working on the recovery effort in Everglades and Biscayne. Extremely limited communications continued to hinder operations through the weekend. A military satellite phone system which was brought in late last week failed to work properly, so the ARM team ordered a 24 duplex channel satellite system from AT&T. It arrived yesterday afternoon and should be up and functioning today. Incident objectives remain as before: * Provide for basic emergency needs of park employees and their families. * Provide for employee safety. * Prevent further damage to resources, property and facilities. * Secure, protect and salvage all facilities. All Everglades and Biscayne employees have now been found. According to recent estimates, over 50 employee homes were destroyed by the hurricane or are uninhabitable. Facilities on Key Largo are up and running, but work still needs to be done in Flamingo to get that area operational. Employees are being housed in a motel on Key Largo, in NPS housing at Flamingo (despite lack of services) and Pine Island (where people are doubling up in those homes which are still intact), and with family and friends outside the park. A body was discovered over the weekend by NPS employees flying over Adams Key at a location where two boaters were reported to have disappeared. They'd been moored to the key, but their boat blew away during the storm. No further details are presently available. Many people have asked how they can help. The following information appeared in Friday's morning report, but has been somewhat amended: - Personnel - Incident commander Rick Gale has expressly asked that the many people who've offered to help hold on until the basic groundwork for recovery operations has been laid. Although these efforts to help are very much appreciated, there is no infrastructure to support additional employees or volunteers, much less existing staff. Additional help will be summoned as soon as possible. Until that time, please stand by. - Financial Aid - SERO has asked ENP&MA to set up a reserve account to meet employees' immediate needs, and Eastern has accordingly set up an "Andrew Relief" fund. Individual employee contributions and non-ENP&MA park donations may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. ENP&MA parks that want to make a contribution from this year's percentage donation or an advance from next year's donation must notify George Minnucci by memo or fax (215-832-0242) of the year and amount. These funds will be made available to employees by wire transfer immediately upon receipt. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to Pat Stanek in SERO (404-331-3527) or Richard Jamgochian at ENP&MA (215-832-0555). - Notes of Support - You can send either general messages of support to the park staff or personal notes to employees via the park office in Everglades City. The mailing address: Everglades NP, PO Box 120, Everglades City, FL 33929. - Goods and Supplies - We are working with the ARM team and park to identify supplies (clothing, equipment, etc.) which are needed by park employees. That list is not yet ready, but should be completed later today. A special message will be sent out when the list is available and will be repeated in tomorrow's morning report. [Rick Gale, Bill Gabbert, and Martha Isbister, ARM Team, EVER/BISC; Darlene Koontz, EVER; Bill Springer and Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; Doug Erskine, FIRE; 8/28-31]
There are now 181 people - 164 NPS, 12 Forest Service and five from other agencies - committed to the NPS all-risk management (ARM) team working on the recovery effort in Everglades and Biscayne. The AT&T satellite phone system is now functional and providing the ARM team with limited telephone communications. This system is being used only for priority incident management traffic; the parks still have no regular phone lines and are unable to receive routine phone calls. A fuller itemization of damages has been prepared for both parks. The new headquarters and maintenance buildings which were under construction at Convoy Point in Biscayne have been severely damaged. Although still standing, some interior walls in the wood and steel structures in the new $4 million complex were shifted and buckled. A just-completed restroom facility in one corner of the headquarters building was virtually blown apart. The storm also severely damaged Biscayne's current visitor center and headquarters building, destroyed trailers and boat docks, and deposited two concessioner-operated boats onto a road and a rocky shoreline. Other damage was inflicted on park structures at Elliott Key, Adams Key and Boca Chita Key. The storm blew out the walls of the main visitor center at Everglades and damaged the headquarters office complex, though both structures remain standing. Employee housing and maintenance facilities at Pine Island also suffered some damage, as did the park's research center. Other park facilities at Flamingo, Shark Valley and Everglades City came through the storm relatively intact. Tree damage was extensive throughout the park, as the storm mowed down royal palms, hardwood hammocks, and pine trees. Facilities on Key Largo are up and running, but work still needs to be done in Flamingo to get that area back on line. The current target is to have it fully operational by Wednesday afternoon. A key asset at the location is the Flamingo Lodge, which has 104 rooms and will be used to house many dislocated employees and ARM team members. A number of other steps are being taken to assist employees. Two critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) teams and a psychologist specializing in CIS have been meeting and talking with them, a property insurance and real estate "ombudsman" has been providing advice on pertinent matters, and representatives from insurance companies have begun issuing checks to those who lost their homes and other possessions. Employee assistance teams are also helping people acquire needed supplies and resolve logistical problems, and funds from the emergency relief account being administered by ENP&MA are being disbursed. As expected, local repair and supply resources are in many cases wholly unavailable. The incident commander reports, for example, that there's "no plywood south of Tallahassee", and that indications are that it may soon be in short supply throughout an even larger area. The team has been ordering resources from elsewhere, however, and essential needs are being filled. At the team's request, BIFC is currently checking on the possibility of acquiring 80 to 100 5kw generators for use at employee residences. Current estimates are that it will take from four to six weeks to get power back. Meetings have been held with Dade County officials on recovery operations. The ARM team will soon have a representative at the Dade County emergency operations center to facilitate communications between the park and the county. Managers and staff from the park and ARM team have held extensive discussions regarding what types of goods and supplies should be sent to park employees and have decided that those wishing to help should send contributions to the relief fund rather than ship or bring supplies. The reasons are several, and include difficulties in accurately identifying employee needs, problems with matching those needs with contributions, receipt of insufficient amounts of some items and surpluses of other items, and difficulties in distribution. The flow of emergency equipment and supplies is increasing and should soon meet all basic employee needs. By making a monetary contribution, you can get employees funds to purchase other items that they will need over both the short and long term. As noted before, contributions and non-ENP&MA park donations may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Paul Winegar, SERO, 8/28; Rick Gale, ARMT, 8/31]
There are now 205 people - 188 from the NPS - committed to the Hurricane Andrew recovery operation. Of these, 72 are overhead personnel; the remainder are assigned as follows: two to air operations, 30 to security, 48 to employee assistance and CISD, 38 to salvage and repair, 13 to communications and four to medical support. About 40 maintenance employees, mostly from SER and MAR, also arrived last night, but their numbers are not yet reflected in the above total. Operations have been divided into three branches - one for Biscayne, Key Largo, Fort Jefferson and part of Homestead; one for the remainder of Homestead, East Everglades, Pine Island and Flamingo; and one for Shark Valley, Tamiami, Everglades City and all of Big Cypress. The top priority for immediate response continues to be provision of emergency welfare and security - shelter, food, water and counseling - to the 258 NPS employees affected by the hurricane. The current assessment of the storm's impacts on personal property is as follows: * 101 employees/families have seriously damaged homes which were either destroyed during the hurricane or will be condemned. Most lost all their personal belongings as well. * 76 employees/families have homes or quarters that can be temporarily repaired with adequate resources. Some of these may also be deemed unrepairable after further evaluation. * It's not currently known how many employees lost vehicles in the storm, but current estimates are between 30% and 40%. Yesterday, recovery teams completed work on all but four of the repairable employee homes in Homestead. Efforts centered on plugging leaks so that employees could remain in their residences. The remaining four should be finished today. Other teams are repairing NPS-owned quarters in Biscayne, Everglades and Big Cypress. Operations also focused on the curatorial collections in Biscayne and Everglades. The museum on Adams Key at Biscayne was destroyed, so team members are searching the area for remnants of the collection. The roof of the building housing the collection at Everglades is being repaired. The park's last curator, who had transferred, is returning to the park to consult with the team on restoration of both the Everglades and Biscayne collections. Repair work at Flamingo has been completed and all facilities will reopen there today, including the lodge, which will be used to house and feed homeless employees and ARM team members. Funeral services for Natividad "Tito" Rohena, the Fort Jefferson employee who died during the hurricane when his roof collapsed on him, are to be held today at the Bernardo Garcia-Brake Funeral Home at 8215 Bird Road in South Miami. Tito, who was a long-term seasonal at Fort Jefferson, had retired from the military and will be given a military funeral. His daughter, Melissa, gave birth to a son the day after the hurricane and named him Tito. Although the parks and ARM team have requested that those wishing to help send financial contributions through the ENP&MA fund, those of you who have packages to be sent to specific employees can send them via Federal Express, Airborne Express or UPS to the following address: Employee name, Hurricane Andrew Relief, Big Cypress National Preserve, Oasis Ranger Station, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. Ccontributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Dick Ring, Superintendent, EVER; Bill Gabbert and Bill Pierce, ARM Team; Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; 9/2]
Employee support and park repair and reconstruction efforts continued throughout the Labor Day weekend. Here are highlights of activities which are either in the works or undertaken or completed over the last 72 hours: * The maintenance teams which arrived late last week have been re-roofing
structures (both residences and park buildings), clearing roads and
working on related activities. All structures in Big Cypress have now
been stabilized. Total personnel commitments to the recovery operation as of yesterday were as follows: employee assistance and CIS, 60; salvage and repair, 103; security and medical, 41; support, 75; overhead, 26; air operations, three. Of these 305 personnel (an increase of 22 from last Friday), 261 are NPS, 28 are Forest Service, 15 are from state forestry divisions (North Carolina, Minnesota, Tennessee and Florida), and one is from Fish and Wildlife. Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. Those of you who have packages to be sent to specific employees can send them via Federal Express, Airborne Express or UPS to the following address: Employee name, Hurricane Andrew Relief, Big Cypress National Preserve, Oasis Ranger Station, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. [Bill Gabbert, Bill Pierce, ARM Team; Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; Ann Strack, RAD/WASO; 9/5-9/7]
Director Ridenour will be on site today to get an overview of the damage and meet with park and ARM Team staffs. After a meeting at Everglades headquarters late this morning, he will fly to Biscayne. There are no significant new developments to report today. The parks and ARM Team have jointly completed a summary of the first two weeks of recovery operations and a plan for actions which will have to be taken in coming months. A synopsis will appear in tomorrow's morning report. The total personnel commitment to the recovery operation as of yesterday was as follows (changes in numbers are indicated in parentheses): employee assistance and CIS, 60 (same); salvage and repair, 105 (+2); security and medical, 41 (same); support, 74 (-1); overhead, 37 (+11). Of these 317 personnel, 272 are NPS, 29 are Forest Service, 16 are from state forestry divisions, one is from Fish and Wildlife, and one is a volunteer. Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. NOTE: Director Ridenour has determined that the Eastern National Park and Monument Association may also accept donations from NPS concessioners. Because of potential conflicts of interest or appearance of conflicts of interest, NPS policy prohibits the acceptance of donations from concessioners, either directly by the Service or by others, when the gift would benefit the Service. The director has determined, however, that such contributions are permissible under present circumstances. Please note that parks may not solicit donations from concessioners or from visitors for the relief fund. [Bill Gabbert and Bill Pierce, ARM Team; Carol Aten, Office of Policy, WASO; 9/9]
Director James Ridenour, SERO Regional Director Jim Coleman and Comptroller Bruce Sheaffer visited the south Florida parks yesterday to personally view the damage caused by the hurricane. Accompanied by the superintendents of the three parks, they drove from Miami airport through East Everglades, took a helicopter flight over the three parks, drove to Biscayne, then returned to the airport through heavily damaged residential areas. The director emphasized that the problems in south Florida are a Servicewide concern and are not limited to the parks or Southeast Region: "We are committed to provide whatever support is necessary - whether it be housing or people or whatever - and to channel it to you in ways which are useful to you, both professionally in the work place and personally as family." Park repair and rehab operations are continuing. Among the projects on today's work plan are the following: - Convoy Point (Biscayne): Remove the damaged marine repair shop, all or
portions of the headquarters/visitor center complex, and debris in the
resource management and protection trailer. Employee assistance teams are focusing on pickup and storage of employee personal belongings, distribution of generators to employees living inside and outside of the park, and serving as contacts to address employee needs. The Service is currently attempting to acquire all rental housing available within a reasonable commuting distance of the parks to accommodate those employees and their families who are either homeless or whose previous homes are uninhabitable. Amenities continue to improve. Bus service is now available between Pine Island and Flamingo, mail is being received through the park address, and Flamingo Lodge has opened its pool and is providing evening social activities. The total personnel commitment to the recovery operation as of yesterday was as follows (changes in numbers are indicated in parentheses): employee assistance and CIS, 60 (same); salvage and repair, 103 (-2); security and medical, 41 (same); support, 73 (-1); overhead, 42 (+5). Of these 319 personnel, 273 are NPS, 30 are Forest Service, 16 are from state forestry divisions, one is from Fish and Wildlife, and one is a volunteer. Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. Director Ridenour has also determined that ENP&MA may also accept donations from NPS concessioners. Please note, however, that parks may not solicit donations from concessioners or from visitors for the relief fund. [Bill Gabbert, Bob Miller and Bill Pierce, ARM Team; 9/10]
Repair and restoration work continues in Everglades, Biscayne and Big Cypress. The following are highlights of yesterday's activities: * Biscayne and Coast Guard personnel picked up asbestos shingles on Adams Key and secured them for future disposal. * The underground powerline contract has been signed and work will begin next week (previous reports that work was underway were erroneous). Contractors will be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to complete the project, and expect to finish it within 60 days. * Roofing installation continues on quarters at Elliott Key, Pine Island and Tamiami. * The destroyed prefab buildings at Convoy Point in Biscayne are being prepared for demolition. Temporary office trailers are being rented for interim use until the building under construction is completed. * A hazardous materials firm is being contracted to remove all hazardous materials from the parks. * A stress management contract is being negotiated with a local firm to provide on-site services at south Florida parks for the next two years. They will begin making contacts with park employees next week. As of yesterday, a total of 320 personnel were committed to the recovery operation (changes in numbers are indicated in parentheses):
Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. Director Ridenour has also determined that ENP&MA may also accept donations from NPS concessioners. Please note, however, that parks may not solicit donations from concessioners or from visitors for the relief fund. [Bill Gabbert, Bob Miller and Bill Pierce, ARM Team; 9/11]
Repair and clean-up work continues at many locations throughout the three parks. Demolition has begun on the badly damaged visitor center at Convoy Point in Biscayne. The roof of the Tamiami ranger station is now being repaired. Work is continuing on the Royal Palm visitor center and on park housing at Elliott Key, Pine Island and Tamiami. The NPS lands office in Naples has found 45 housing units within 45 minutes of Convoy Point and Pine Island that employees can rent from the Service as temporary quarters while rebuilding. Efforts are now underway to place employees in these units. Two teams of specialists arrived in south Florida over the weekend. The larger group is a resource assessment team, headed by Gary Davis of Channel Islands. Many of the members of the group have a long association with south Florida resources; they will examine both natural and cultural resources to determine both the immediate effects of the storm and to make recommendations for long-term monitoring and recovery programs. The second team, headed by Cordell Roy, will begin documenting the impacts of Hurricane Andrew for future reference and review. Members of this team have completed similar documents on the Yellowstone and Yosemite fires and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Approximately 120 generators (100 large and 20 small) with a combined capacity of 2.2 megawatts are now being employed on the incident. The satellite phone system is working well - 24 of its 44 lines are now in service. As of yesterday, a total of 372 personnel were committed to the recovery operation - an overall increase of 52 since last Friday (changes in numbers are indicated in parentheses):
Please note that the ARM Team is seeking temporary and seasonal maintenance employees who are interested in short term appointments with the cleanup crews in the Everglades and surrounding parks. Full details appear below under "Operational Notes". Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. Director Ridenour has also determined that ENP&MA may also accept donations from NPS concessioners. Please note, however, that parks may not solicit donations from concessioners or from visitors for the relief fund. [Bill Gabbert and Bob Miller, ARM Team; 9/12-9/15]
The badly damaged visitor center at Biscayne has been demolished and removed. Repair activities continue throughout the three parks, with current emphasis in Big Cypress on roof repairs. Four semi-truck loads of material were scheduled to arrive yesterday; they carried plywood, sheetrock, rolled roofing, roofing tar and similar items. A total of 377 people are now working under the ARM team, up five from yesterday. Many personnel are reaching the end of their 21-day maximum assignments, and are being rotated out and replaced. Recovery operations have cost $3.1 million to date; the total cost of operations through the end of the month is expected to be $4.3 million. The ARM team is seeking temporary and seasonal maintenance employees who are interested in short term appointments with the cleanup crews in the Everglades and surrounding parks. Full details appear below under "Operational Notes". Today is the last day to submit names. Contributions may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. Director Ridenour has also determined that ENP&MA may also accept donations from NPS concessioners. Please note, however, that parks may not solicit donations from concessioners or from visitors for the relief fund. [Bill Gabbert, ARM Team, 9/15]
The ARM team moved into trailer facilities over the weekend, and Everglades park staff will return to their offices this morning. Trailers and other structures at Chikika in the East Everglades are being demolished and removed with the assistance of the military. Efforts are being made to contract a helicopter sky crane to remove a sailboat which was marooned at Biscayne. Facilities at Everglades City reopened yesterday. The concessioner resumed boat tours, and the backcountry was opened for day use only. Opening Shark Valley will be the next objective, but no target date has yet been announced. The NPS resource assessment team has devised a way to measure the ecological "vital signs" of south Florida parks to determine their health. A group of 23 scientists has begun to assess the geographic limits of the storm's influence on coral reefs, seagrass beds, hardwood hammocks, mangrove forests, sawgrass marshes, pine forests, historic shipwrecks, and archeological sites. They will attempt to determine the status of populations and habitat of both endangered species, such as panthers, crocodiles and bald eagles, and the more common species that reside in the parks. They will examine the quality of air and water, and measure organic debris and sediments that shape biological communities. The scientists will also identify immediate actions required to stabilize threatened resources and long-term activities which will have to be undertaken to assure the continued health of park ecosystems. Donations to the relief fund managed by ENP&MA have been considerable - about $100,000 to date. The superintendents of the south Florida parks and the ARM Team management have passed on the following regarding your gifts: "The contributions to the Hurricane Andrew Relief Fund are greatly appreciated by the more than 300 employees in the four south Florida parks. To date, the fund has been used for funeral expenses, to fly an employee to see a newborn child for the first time, to cash checks, for employee loans, and for a variety of needs. In the next few weeks, the superintendents expect to receive a large number of requests to cover initial needs as employees begin to move out of temporary housing. Many employees are not yet able to accurately assess all of the effects of the hurricane on their lives and property. Unfortunately, many of the needs will likely be significant. A system to distribute relief funds over the next year is in place. A portion of the fund will be made available on an equal basis to all employees of the south Florida parks who were affected by the hurricane. The remainder will be distributed on the basis of specific needs identified by the individual employees. The National Park Service family's continued support of the fund is greatly appreciated." Because needs will likely exceed even the substantial amount donated to date, contributions are still being accepted. Checks may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; they should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Pat Tolle, Bill Gabbert, Rick Gale, ARM Team; 9/19-9/21]
Commercial electricity has been restored to Convoy Point in Biscayne and to the headquarters area and Pine Island in Everglades. Efforts are continuing to open the Loop Road in Everglades and to rehabilitate employee quarters. A major transition is underway in the staffing of the ARM team - 224 people have been demobed to date, but others have replaced them (90 on September 21st alone). As of yesterday, there were 344 people assigned to the team. Contributions to the relief effort are still being accepted. Checks may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; they should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Rick Gale, ARM team, 9/23]
Repair and rehabilitation efforts continue in the three parks. The following notes were sent yesterday by the ARM Team: * Briefings will be held today for the three park superintendents and
representatives from the regional office on the findings of the resource
and facilities assessment teams. Contributions to the relief effort are still being accepted. Checks may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; they should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Bill Adams, Rick Gale, ARM Team, 9/24-25]
The following significant developments were reported over the weekend by the ARM team working in Biscayne, Big Cypress and Everglades: * Repairs to the utility system and power lines at Biscayne are underway, a roof has been installed on the generator building, and crews are constructing a boat repair building. * Roof repair is beginning on quarters at Flamingo and new pumps are being installed at the Flamingo sewage treatment plant. * Utilities have been hooked up on trailer units at the Beard Center. Boardwalks are being constructed between the units. * Employee property being stored at the missile site has been put on pallets to help with air flow ventilation. * Army engineers are continuing removal of storm damage and exotic vegetation from campground areas. * Navy Sea-Bee construction personnel are working on the leach field at Shark Valley. * Repair and reconstruction of park quarters at Tamiami is continuing. A fax number has been established specifically for those of you who would like to communicate with employees in the three parks. If you have a note to send, address it to the individual care of the all-risk team and telefax it to 1-800-525-3037. Although monetary donations are still preferred to material contributions, those of you with packages to send to an employee in one of the affected parks should send it to the person care of the all-risk team and ship it to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. According to the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations, books are being sought for the environmental education center at Biscayne. You can help by sending books dealing with marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the above address. Contributions to the relief effort may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; they should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Bill Adams, ARM Team; CNPCA; 9/29-9/30]
Most repair and rehabilitation actions reported yesterday are still underway. The ARM team has determined that the following work still needs to be done during its tenure in south Florida: * Repair quarters and facilities to permit use next year. * Repair boundaries, navigational aids, harbors and visitor centers prior to the winter season. * Complete the set-up of temporary office and visitor facilities prior to the winter season. * Demolish condemned structures in the three parks. * Clean up the tons of debris still left in the parks. Marcia Blaszak, the ARM team finance chief, has asked that the following be passed on to the administrative officers of parks whose employees have participated in the incident in order to assist in proper payment of overtime to those employees: Some questions have been raised about whether or not travel to and from the incident is compensable. Entitlement to overtime for travel is based upon whether the event causing the travel is unscheduled or administratively uncontrollable. The event (Hurricane Andrew) clearly fits the criteria. Please refer to section 12.2-2 of the Interagency Fire Business Management Handbook for guidance. Len Emerson in WASO Personnel has confirmed this interpretation of this pay issue. Also note that the bi-weekly pay cap for GS employees is lifted for this type of emergency response. In order to ensure proper payment, please code 98A in the remarks of time reports for GS employees. A fax number has been established specifically for those of you who would like to communicate with employees in the three parks. If you have a note to send, address it to the individual care of the all-risk team and telefax it to 1-800-525-3037. Although monetary donations are still preferred to material contributions, those of you with packages to send to an employee in one of the affected parks should send it to the person care of the all-risk team and ship it to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. According to the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations, books are being sought for the environmental education center at Biscayne. You can help by sending books dealing with marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the above address. Contributions to the relief effort may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; they should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for the relief fund. [Bill Adams and Marcia Blaszak, ARM Team; CNPCA; 9/30]
There are currently 282 people (217 from the NPS) working on recovery operations under the management of the ARM team. Work is continuing on previously reported projects, including reroofing structures, clearing brush, restoring power, and constructing facilities. Over 80 ICS trainees are now working on assignments in the three park units. As of this date, there have been no lost time accidents or injuries related to the recovery operations. Preliminary reports from the resource assessment team headed by Gary Davis have been completed and presented to the superintendents of the three parks. Some of the highlights follow: * Trees - Virtually all large hammock trees were affected by the storm, and 20-30% are down or broken. From 20-25% of royal palms, 25-40% of pines, and about 90% of known red-cockaded woodpecker nest trees were felled by the storm. Approximately 70,000 acres of mangrove forests in the parks were knocked down; from 85-90% of the mature mangroves at Highland Beach on the west side of Everglades are down. Most surviving trees are starting to re-leaf, particularly the hardwoods. * Wildlife - Very little evidence of direct mortality was seen, but recruitment may suffer for several years. One deer and 200 wading birds were found dead in Biscayne Bay, but hundreds more were found alive. Adult alligators were unaffected; the fate of nests and young is unclear because hatching was taking place as the storm hit. Coastal rookeries in mangroves were severely altered, but many in interior marshes were unaffected. Deer seem to be doing well - all 32 radio-collared deer survived, but about a third shifted their home ranges. * Fish - Freshwater fish and macroinvertebrate populations seemed relatively unaffected. Historical data, however, only permits detection of ten-fold changes in populations. * Interior Waters - The storm had little impact on the park's hydrology or interior water quality. * Marine Environments - Marine environments fared well in comparison with terrestrial areas. The major effect seems to be increased and persisting turbidity. There was some patchy bottom scouring, but submerged areas appeared to be intact, particularly in comparison to adjacent uplands. A few reef tops were scoured, and 200-year-old corals were rolled over, but the distribution of effects was patchy and reefs naturally grow by breaking up and regrowing after storms. Sponges in Biscayne Bay were heavily impacted - about 50% are gone from fixed plots and others were killed. More manatees were counted in a census than had been counted since monitoring began. Sea turtle nesting beaches were probably improved by overwash. * Marine Archeology - Fourteen of 40 known wreck sites were resurveyed and searches were conducted for new sites. Some vessels showed erosion. The storm showed that hurricanes do not jumble wrecks as has been suggested by looters. * Air and Water Resources - The storm generated between 20 and 40 million cubic yards of debris throughout south Florida - equivalent to a football field stacked from three to five miles high. If burned, it will enter the parks by air; if stored in the ground, it will leach into the water. No air monitoring is being conducted anywhere in Dade County because the storm blew all the equipment away. Here's what you can do to help your fellow employees in the three parks: * Notes and Letters - There is a new fax number for sending messages to employees - 305-242-7716. * Material Contributions - These should be sent to the person care of the all-risk team and shipped to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. Books dealing with marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories can be contributed to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the above address. * Donations - Monetary contributions to the relief effort may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the donation is for the relief fund. [Bill Adams, ARM team, 10/2]
There are currently 291 people (204 from the NPS, 55 from the USFS, the remainder from other state and federal agencies) working on recovery operations under the management of the ARM team. Work is continuing on previously reported projects, including reroofing structures, clearing brush, restoring power, and constructing facilities. Regular phone service was restored to much of Everglades last week, and limited phone service began at Biscayne on Saturday. Rotation of team members also continues; Bill Blake, chief ranger at New River Gorge, will replace Rick Gale as IC later this week. The ARM team has an urgent need for a contracting officer with a level III warrant, as the contracting officer who was working with the team had to leave on short notice due to a family emergency. Anyone who is qualified, interested and available should call Betsy Rossini (305-247-6211, ext. 7370) for details. [Bill Adams, ARM team, 10/5]
There are currently 283 people (195 from the NPS, 56 from the USFS, the remainder from other state and federal agencies) working on recovery operations under the management of the ARM team. Work is continuing on all previously reported projects. The status of the parks as of yesterday was as follows: * Biscayne - All land areas (both islands and mainland) are closed and will remain closed indefinitely. Water areas are open to boat use. Here's what you can do to help your fellow employees in the three parks: * Notes and Letters - There is a new fax number for sending messages to employees - 305-242-7716. * Material Contributions - These should be sent to the person care of the all-risk team and shipped to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. Books dealing with marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories can be contributed to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the above address. * Donations - Monetary contributions to the relief effort may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the donation is for the relief fund. [Bill Adams, ARM team, 10/6]
Management of all further recovery efforts at Big Cypress has been turned over to the park, so the ARM team is now focusing on repair and rehabilitation of facilities at Everglades and Biscayne. Important information regarding payment of employees who worked on the incident appears in operational notes below. [Bill Adams, ARM team, 10/8]
As of yesterday, there were 174 people (103 from the NPS) working on recovery efforts under the all-risk team. Commercial power has at last been restored at Biscayne, and almost all hurricane-related hazards to mariners have been removed. The annual Biscayne Regatta was held over the weekend, and there were about 1,800 boats in park waters. Except for one medevac due to a suspected drug overdose, no significant incidents were reported. Hazard tree, brush and debris removal continues at Flamingo, Long Pine Key campground and throughout backcountry waterways. Work is progressing on restoration of electrical power at Royal Palm. So far, a total of 593 people from 98 NPS areas and 16 national forests have served on the incident along with the staffs of the three parks. Despite the numbers and the amount of work that they have accomplished, there has not yet been a lost time accident or injury. Here's what you can do to help your fellow employees in the three parks: * Notes and Letters - The fax number for sending messages to employees is 305-242-7716. * Material Contributions - These should be sent to the person care of the all-risk team and shipped to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553 East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. Books dealing with marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories can be contributed to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the above address. * Donations - Monetary contributions to the relief effort may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; checks should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the donation is for the relief fund. Or you can buy a Hurricane Andrew t-shirt, the proceeds of which are going to the fund. Shirts are $10 each and can be ordered from ENP&MA, 1100 East Hector Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks should be made out to ENP&MA Andrew Relief Fund. Credit card orders can be called in to 215-832-0363. [Bill Adams, ARM team, 10/6]
As of yesterday, there were 128 people (58 from the NPS) working on recovery efforts under the all-risk team. The ARM team will begin demobilizing this coming weekend and will turn over operations to the two parks - Everglades and Biscayne - it is still assisting. A task force comprised of logistical and financial people will remain in the parks, however, to support individual park operations pertaining to Hurricane Andrew recovery efforts. Please note the special request below regarding information on costs which your area may have incurred in supporting the recovery operation. [Bill Blake, ARM team, 10/18]
At 2 p.m. on October 24th, control of the Hurricane Andrew recovery effort was transferred back to Everglades and Biscayne. At that time, there were 64 people (18 from the NPS) still working on recovery operations under the management of the ARM team. [Doug Riley, ARM team, 10/28]
More reports have been received regarding the impacts of the "winter hurricane" which struck the East Coast last weekend. Many parks, particularly in Southeast Region, reported minor damage, particularly downed trees. The more significant reports follow: * Biscayne - The park reports some roof and boat damage and wind blown debris throughout the area. [Bill Springer, RAD/SERO; Pat Tolle, EVER; Jason Houck, GRSM; Chuck Taylor, GUCO; 3/16]
Eight months have now passed since Hurricane Andrew came ashore in south Florida and recovery efforts are still underway. Everglades just finished its winter visitor season, during which it employed some innovative techniques and opportunistic interpretive themes. While awaiting completion of the "interim temporary visitor center", park naturalists set up an orientation table in the parking lot - much like the contact station seen in early pictures of the park. The main visitor center, which is to be demolished, was enclosed in chain link fence to protect visitors from their curiosity, and a challenging maze of fence and handrail was constructed to provide access to the bathrooms. The new, temporary visitor center is now open and serving visitors. The conceptual design for the new permanent visitor center is done, and teams are now working on other projects, including hurricane exhibit design, signing and other building modifications. Long Pine Key campground remains closed, partly due to administrative use and partly because work must still be done there. Both Long Pine Key and the Chekika area should open for the 1993-94 winter season. The Anhinga boardwalk is more than two-thirds finished and has been the site of many photos of the hurricane's impacts. The tree islands and hammocks have lots of new foliage, but reportedly look like giant bonsai because the leaves cluster at the ends of the main trunks and the few remaining branches. The Flamingo facilities were opened to visitor use when the main park entrance reopened last December 15th, but tourism in the hurricane area has dropped as much as 45 percent below previous winter seasons. Biscayne is also open. Staff moved into the new headquarters and maintenance buildings on March 25th. The furniture arrived the next day. Telephone service, however, remains limited. A&E contracts have been awarded to replace facilities. The Elliott Key harbor complex is open; all other islands remain closed. The concessioner has one boat operating for the glass-bottom, snorkel and scuba tours, but visitation was down 75 percent in the first quarter of 1993. Resource recovery appears promising, except for the red mangrove forest, which may take 15 to 20 years for regrowth from base roots. Homestead is still in bad shape. Although progress in cleaning up the area has been made, mountains of debris still line the streets. Many shopping facilities, particularly strip malls, are being demolished. Many park people have been able to move back into their homes, but others continue to live in temporary quarters. The park also passed on the following: "Sometimes (Hurricane Andrew) seems a lifetime ago, particularly when we talk of how things used to be or how we used to think and plan. Sometimes we feel as if it is still with us, especially when a howling storm awakens us in the middle of the night. Sometimes we acknowledge that we are still too close to the event to objectively assess where we are in the recovery process. To all of the people who came to south Florida as part of the emergency response team, we can say that the progress has been truly remarkable. A significant amount of the credit - especially during the early weeks when many of us were still catatonic - belongs to you. You not only did the dirty work under the worst possible conditions - August and September in the Everglades is no picnic under the best of circumstances - but you also brought spirit and shared you strength and determination to overcome when we had none of our own. The hurricane relief fund passed the $200,000 mark, and 177 people have received desperately needed help from your generosity. One of the facts we must face very quickly is the onset of the 1993 hurricane season on June 1st. Many of the lessons learned must be put into practice, but its difficult to react with any sense of urgency. It seems too soon to worry about that possibility. Yet, worry we must - and prepare. As we revise our hurricane plans to meet the present conditions, we begin with developing objectives - the basic principle of all-risk management and the incident command system. We have seen how it works and we have experienced its effectiveness. The legacy of Andrew is the institutionalization of ICS as THE management system of choice for emergency events. It worked because of the organization and the people it brought us. Thank you from the south Florida parks. So say we all!" [Pat Tolle, PIO, EVER, 4/22]
On the morning of June 13th, Everglades dispatch notified Biscayne rangers Becky and Tom Rutledge that the Coast Guard SAR desk had reported that a private boater had picked up two Cuban rafters from a six-foot-long blow-up type raft in the park northeast of Pacific Reef light. At the time of the report, the boater was en route to the Adams Key ranger residence area to meet with a Coast Guard cutter. The rafters, both of whom were from Havana, had been dropped off in the Gulf Stream by a larger vessel which had transported them from Cojimar, Cuba, at a cost of $400 per person. The vessel was operated by a man known to the rafters only as "El Chino". This is the second reported incident of Cuban rafters coming ashore in Biscayne this year. On April 6th, four rafters from Mantanza, Cuba, were rescued in the park after spending six days rowing a small wooden boat to Florida. [Jan Kirwan, Acting CR, BISC, 6/16]
Early on the afternoon of July 31st, the park received word that a 15-foot vessel had capsized in Biscayne Bay off Boca Chita Island and that one of the six people who were dumped into the ocean was missing. Rangers located five members of the D. family on a private vessel; shortly thereafter, a private salvage vessel located the body of G.D., 58, of Miami, floating face down in about 12 feet of water. His body was entangled in 80- pound test fishing line that tethered him to the overturned vessel. Initial reports indicate that the vessel was struck in the bow by a large wave which had been produced by a thunder squall. The wave pushed the bow down, causing all six occupants to be thrown into the bow area and capsizing the vessel. The five survivors were wearing life jackets and were in the water for about 45 minutes before being picked up. G.D. had given his life jacket to one of his children just moments before the mishap. Rangers and Florida Marine Patrol officers are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. [Wayne Elliott, Acting CR, BISC, 8/1]
On July 23rd, C.D. of Palm Beach appeared in federal magistrate's court to answer charges stemming from the June 21st grounding of his 53-foot vessel on and subsequent damage to a portion of a park reef. In a plea agreement arranged by the U.S. attorney, C.D. agreed to donate $10,000 directly to the park in lieu of prosecution. The money will be used for future preservation and protection of the reef system. [Wayne Elliott, Acting CR, BISC, 8/1]
Park employee J.P., 49, was arrested on the morning of September 1st on multiple charges of lewd and lascivious acts with five male minors, displaying obscene materials to minors, and supplying alcoholic beverages to minors. The juveniles ranged in age from 12 to 16 at the time of the offenses, which reportedly occurred between the spring of 1992 and this past January. The incidents allegedly took place at J.P.'s apartment in Miami. J.P. was also active with Boy Scouts, and worked with two different troops. [News release, Metro-Dade Police, 9/2/94]
On November 22nd, a park visitor beachcombing on the eastern shore of Elliott Key discovered a suspicious package entangled in the seaweed and turned it over to park maintenance employees. They suspected that the package contained a controlled substance and called patrol rangers, who field tested the substance and determined that it was cocaine. Customs officers were dispatched to the scene and the kilo of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $60,000, was turned over to them. Subsequent searches of the island's shorelines by Customs agents and park rangers have turned up no additional drugs. The cocaine was concealed in a black rubber pouch similar to a hot water bottle. This packing method and material has been used by traffickers in the past, but has always contained multiple kilos, not single ones. Customs agents suspect that this variation in packaging may be an attempt to traffic cocaine using smaller recreational vessels, with the substance being attached to the vessel's hull under the water line. (CRO, BISC, 11/25)
The body of a middle-aged man was found by park visitors in the ocean in the Stiltsville section of the park on the morning of January 19th. Homicide detectives from Metro Dade are heading the investigation, with assistance by rangers and Florida Marine Patrol officers. Stiltsville is an area in the bay where the state issued leases to the sea bottom and lease holders constructed homes on pilings prior to the establishment of the park. [CRO, BISC, 1/20]
Parks affected by the passage of Hurricane Erin over the past 48 hours have submitted the following reports: * Biscayne - When the National Hurricane Center issued its first hurricane warning for south Florida, the park was already three hours into implementation of its hurricane plan under ICS. Shutdown of the park's facilities, islands and waters went very smoothly and was completed ahead of schedule. Employees were released to take care of their homes and families in preparation for the storm's arrival. Patrols remained in effect throughout the incident. The park was reopened and fully functional by noon on Wednesday, August 2nd, again in record time. [Mark Lewis, IC, Mississippi District, GUIS; Pat Moriyasu, Admin Assistant, DESO; Administration, BISC]
On the afternoon of September 3rd, B.D., 36, of Miami, was diving with three men in 60 feet of water at Triumph Reef, about six miles off-shore. The other divers lost track of B.D. while underwater; when they surfaced, they found they were more than a quarter mile from the dive boat and being swept north. One diver discarded his spear gun and held on to a lobster trap float to keep from drifting any further. After about 30 minutes, this diver was sighted and picked up by a fishing vessel. The other two divers were soon located and rescued, but B.D. could not be found. A search was begun which utilized park, Coast Guard and county vessels, Coast Guard and private helicopters and aircraft, and Coast Guard divers. Despite the good conditions prevailing at the time, no sign of B.D. was found. The Coast Guard has discontinued its search, but rangers continue to check the area while on patrol. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC]
During the week of September 5th, rangers joined other members of the Blue Lightning Strike Force in the execution of Operation Harbormaster, a drug interdiction operation. A 31-foot vessel was tracked inbound from the Bahamas on September 6th and intercepted offshore from the park in U.S. territorial waters. Approximately 760 pounds of cocaine were found in a search of the vessel. The occupants were arrested and the boat was seized. As a member of the strike force, the park has participated in four multi-agency interdiction operations this fiscal year. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC]
The family of B.D., the diver who has been missing since September 3rd, chartered a plane to search for him last Thursday. The body was sighted floating within a mile of the point last seen and just outside the park's eastern boundary. Park, Coast Guard and Florida Marine Patrol units responded and recovered his body. Metro Dade will conduct the investigation. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC]
Over Columbus Day weekend, a multi-agency task force comprised of rangers from Biscayne and other area parks and officers from Metro Dade PD, Florida Marine Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Coast Guard issued approximately 2,000 citations within the park for infractions that occurred during the regatta weekend. Among these were 30 citations for boating under the influence (BUI) violations, 11 for drug-related activities, eight for weapons possession, 23 for disorderly conduct, and 962 for violations of special regulations established by the superintendent. Other incidents included three boating accidents (one of which damaged four vessels), four stolen boats, five EMS incidents and four sinkings. The regatta is a traditional yachting race that has taken place for the past 41 years. The event, however, has little to do with yacht racing these days, and more to do with excessive alcohol and drug consumption and other illicit activities. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC]
F.M.-V. and two companions headed out from Miami in a 13-foot boat to fish in the park on the night of Monday, October 23rd, despite the fact that small craft advisories were in effect for strong northeast winds and choppy conditions. The boat was soon swamped. F.M.-V.'s companions were rescued by a private boater, but he could not be found. An extremely strong current also flows through this area of the park. A joint search was begun by the park and Coast Guard; F.M.-V.'s body was found on Wednesday about a mile south of the Stiltsville area of the park. The preliminary investigation indicates that the size of the three men - 190, 240 and 250 pounds - was a contributing factor, as it seriously overloaded the small boat. Although the three men had a sufficient number of life jackets with them, only one man was wearing one. [Bonnie Foist, CRO, BISC]
On the afternoon of January 20th, rangers recovered seveal bales of cocaine from park waters in an area known as Triumph Reef. The cocaine is believed to be part of a larger seizure which Customs made in a state park just south of Biscayne. The search for the cocaine was begun by Customs when a civilian boat captain reported seeing the bales tied together and entangled in a row of lobster trap lines. To date, this joint seizure has resulted in the recovery of about 341 pounds of cocaine. The estimated street value has been placed at about $2.8 million. [David Pharo, BISC]
Resource management rangers found a massive section of either offshore oil drilling equipment or pipe laying apparatus protruding about ten feet above the ocean surface near Pacific Reef light tower on the afternoon of May 17th. The object measured 75 feet by ten feet by ten feet and was estimated to weigh in excess of 100 tons. The object was in contact with the sea bottom and was drifting towards the reef platform. Early the next morning, a park dive team was dispatched to the area to gather photographic evidence and identification data, and a salvage operator arrived on scene to make an initial assessment of how the object might be removed. On May 19th, salvage divers were able to inject enough compressed air into the structure to raise it from the sea bottom and begin towing it to sea. Because of the difficulty in moving this object any distance, the decision was made to scuttle it at a point where the ocean depth was 400 feet and it could be retrieved at a later date, if necessary. The investigation into the origin and ownership of the object continues in hopes that the cost of removing it from the park can be recouped. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC]
Some early reports have been received of the hurricane's impacts on Virgin Island and Puerto Rico parks, along with notifications regarding preparations underway on the mainland: o Biscayne - The park is implementing its hurricane plan. The visitor center remained open yesterday, though, and concessioner boat trips continued as scheduled. Information was sent to the media, park neighbors, and cooperators regarding the preparations and the probability of closures today. At the time of the report late yesterday afternoon, NOAA was predicting a 14% probability that the storm would make landfall between Marathon and West Palm Beach. Incident IC is Tom Rutledge. [Mark Woods, VIIS; Mark Hardrove, SAJU; Steve Smith, SEFDO; Gary Bremen, PIO, BISC; Roberta D'Amico, IO, EVER; Bill DeHart, CR, CANA]
Preparations for Hurricane Bertha continue along the Eastern seaboard: o Biscayne - Most park preparations were completed by noon yesterday. Employees were released to complete preparations at home, but were to return to work this morning unless the storm turned to the west. A meeting will be held this morning to determine whether the park will remain closed or if preparations for reopening will begin. [Chuck Dale, CASA/FOMA; Bill DeHart, CR/IC, CANA; Roberta D'Amico, PIO, EVER; Gary Bremen, PIO, BISC; Wayne Landrum, Chief of Ops, DRTO; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Kent Cave, CR/IC, FOPU; Bob Woody, CI/VS, CAHA; Steve Smith, SEFDO]
Parks from Florida to North Carolina accelerated preparations for Hurricane Bertha yesterday, with the anticipation of at least tropical storm level winds along the Florida coast and hurricane winds at more northerly locations. A follow-up report has also been received from the Virgin Islands. Please note that reports were received at different times. The balance were submitted late yesterday before the hurricane's shift to a more northerly course: o Biscayne - The park was reopened as of noon yesterday due to the change in the hurricane's path. Efforts focused on readying the visitor center for reopening today. [Kent Cave, CR, FOPU; Bob Panko, IC, EVER; Bill DeHart, IC/CR, CANA; Wendell Simpson, Superintendent, CANA; Ray Morris, CI&RM, FOFR; Gary Bremen, PIO, BISC; John Tucker, FOSU; Mark Woods, VIIS; Bob Woody, CI&VS, CAHA; Chuck Harris, CR, CALO; C. Dale, CR/IC, CASA/FOMA; Suzanne Lewis, FOCA/TIMU; CRO, CUIS; Steve Smith, SEFDO]
The annual, two-day-long recreational lobster mini-season was held in the park on July 24th and 25th. The event attracts thousands of boaters from Fort Lauderdale to Key Largo. Rangers and Coast Guard personnel contacted the occupants of 453 vessels, wrote 15 violation notices, and issued 118 warnings. Rangers also recovered a stolen vessel valued at $70,000. [Kimberly Mayo, IC, BISC]
The National Weather Service this morning projected that Hurricane Fran will most likely make landfall along the Carolina coastline within 72 hours. Areas further to the south are nonetheless making necessary preparations in case the storm should change direction: o Biscayne - The park has put its hurricane plan into effect. A good deal of work was completed last week in anticipation of yesterday's implementation of the plan. All non-emergency boats have been pulled from the water, computer files have been backed up, sensitive files have been secured, and all water quality monitoring data has been collected. Preparations should be completed by 4:30 this afternoon. IC is chief ranger Wayne Elliott. [Bob Panko, DR, EVER; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC; C.L. Dale, CR, CASA]
Hurricane Fran, now a powerful category III storm, continues its steady progress toward the East Coast. Current projections call for land fall between northern Florida and North Carolina, most likely just south of Fort Sumter. Parks north of central Florida are continuing to complete necessary preparations; parks to the south have reopened: o Biscayne - The park's IMT has determined that the threat to south Florida has decreased to the point where reopening is warranted. The visitor center should be open by 10 a.m., Elliott and Adams Keys by noon. [Bill DeHart, CR, CANA; C.L. Dale, CR, CASA; Newt Sikes, CR, CUIS; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU; Roberta D'Amico, IO, EVER; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
During the period from October 11th to the 14th, Biscayne rangers led a multi-agency effort to control the revelry that occurs throughout the Elliott Key area over Columbus Day weekend. Small craft advisories and locally heavy rainstorms did not deter over 600 boaters from returning to the traditional party location. A total of 727 incidents were handled by rangers. Thirteen individuals were cited for boating under the influence; two were arrested and taken to a federal prison in Miami. One individual was arrested for assaulting a federal officer. Rangers working a plain clothes detail with Customs and EPA agents provided information which lead to the seizure of small amounts of marijuana and the citing of several people for possession and use of controlled substances. Other illegal drugs seized by rangers included mushrooms and Rohypnol, known colloquially as roofies. Felony drug charges may be filed. Other incidents over the weekend included medical treatment and evacuation of a woman with epilepsy and the crash of an ultralight aircraft. The pilot was uninjured and the craft was salvaged by a commercial tow boat operator. Rangers from Everglades NP and Dry Tortugas NP participated in the detail. [CRO, BISC]
A number of reports were received from south Florida late last week regarding the approach of Hurricane Lili. The following summaries were prepared from reports sent in between Wednesday and the weekend: o Biscayne NP - The park closed down on Wednesday. Preparations for the storm were completed on Thursday. Employees who live in the lower keys were released on administrative leave as of close of business that day in order to give them time to complete personal preparations. [Deborah Nordeen/Roberta D'Amico, EVER; Stephanie Bagozzi, BICY; Gary Bremen, BISC]
The 400-foot German freighter "Igloo Moon" ran aground in the park around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5th. The ship's outer hull has definitely been breached, and the inner hull may have been as well. The ship contains a cargo of butadiene, a highly flammable petroleum product used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastics. The ship's hull is hard aground in 23 feet of water in the park's northeast corner, an area characterized by a combination of hard and soft corals and seagrasses. Resource managers are on scene and working closely with the Coast Guard's Marine Service Office (MSO) in assessing the damage. There are no apparent imminent health or safety concerns for employees. The scene has not been federalized because the ship's owners responded appropriately and efficiently to minimize impacts, but MSO has taken the lead in the incident command structure and is monitoring the situation closely. The exact cause of the incident is as yet unknown. There is concern that the void between the ship's two hulls may contain a viscous mixture of petroleum products which could leak out. A contingency plan to contain any such spills is being implemented now. The three areas of imminent concern are: o physical damage to the immediate site and surrounding reef resulting from the impact; o potential damage to the seagrass beds to the south and west of the site; and o potential release of the aforementioned petroleum products and impacts on the park's mangrove forests. Resource management chief Pat Lynch is the on-scene representative to the incident management team. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
Off-loading of fuel from the grounded "Igloo Moon" was to begin yesterday in order to minimize chances of a leak into park waters, but it will probably be five to seven days before a specialized vessel arrives on scene to off-load the liquid butadiene cargo. Other options for removing the cargo are being explored and potential environmental impacts assessed. All plans are being made with an eye toward an incoming weather system, which is expected to be accompanied by high winds. Media reaction has ranged from tepid to sensational. Most of the emphasis in this Coast Guard-led operation is being placed on the possible toxicity of the cargo, while little has been said about the physical impact of the vessel on the park's resources. Although butadiene is flammable, potentially explosive and toxic to humans in high concentrations, it poses little threat to humans and wildlife when dispersed in the atmosphere. As a precaution, the Coast Guard has established a three- mile radius closure area around the tanker as well as a three-mile radius, 3,000-foot altitude no-fly zone. It has been learned that the 464-foot long ship (larger than reported yesterday) was headed from Saudi Arabia to Houston and apparently had no intention of entering Biscayne Bay. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
Park divers examined the area around the stern of the grounded "Igloo Moon" on Friday, November 8th, and found a disturbed area below the tanker's rudder and a damage trail across two patch reefs. Corals and sponges within two sections of the reefs - one measuring eight by 20 feet and the other eight by 30 feet - had been damaged and were marked with dark paint from the ship's hull. The damage does not appear to be significant. Heavy fuel has been removed from the ship, and the remaining diesel fuel was to be off-loaded by Friday afternoon. A preliminary hydrographic survey to determine bottom contours and the best means of moving the ship was also to be completed on Friday. The cargo of butadiene, which remains in its refrigerated, liquid form and therefore relatively safe, will be off-loaded within four to six days. The permissible overflight altitude within the three mile radius no- fly zone has been lowered from 3,000 to 500 feet, and the three nautical mile radius surface closed area has been reduced to one nautical miles. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
The "Selma Kosan," a 363-foot liquefied gas tanker, was to arrive in Miami on Monday evening. After a thorough inspection, the ship was to begin removing 1,000 tons of butadiene from the "Igloo Moon" in order to lighten and refloat the ship. Off-loading should be completed today or tomorrow. A detailed hydrographic survey was to have been completed yesterday. The results will be used by park divers to mark a route for both ships to use during the salvage operation. Divers will also be photographically documenting the area's current appearance. The documentation will be important if anything should go wrong as the ships leave the park. [Editor's note: Two clarifications of yesterday's report are in order. The no-fly restriction was lowered from 3,000 to 1,500 feet, not 500 feet, and the damage to the reefs was not insignificant, only slight in comparison to the huge size of the ship and the damage that might have been caused]. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
During the night of November 8th, rangers recovered an unmanned vessel at sea and found that its owner, J.B., was missing. A search was conducted, but called off late in the evening due to poor visibility and nine-foot seas. Investigation revealed that J.B. had been having troubles at home and that he'd gone boating at or near the park the previous morning to think things over by himself. The vessel was found to be in good working condition with the ignition turned off and the throttle in neutral. Ten empty beer cans and one full can were found on board along with a freshly written note with the telephone numbers of his wife and two friends. A pistol is missing from his home; the case was found in J.B.'s truck during an inventory conducted while impounding the truck, trailer and boat. J.B. has been entered into NCIC as a missing person. Further searches by air and sea have been without result. The investigation is being lead by Florida Marine Patrol; rangers are assisting. [David Pharo, PR, BISC]
The "Selma Kosan," which will be removing the 1,000 tons of butadiene on the "Igloo Moon" in order to lighten and refloat the ship, is docked in Miami, awaiting a break in the weather. Winds are currently blowing between 25 and 30 knots, with gusts to 40 knots. Seven to twelve-foot seas are forecast for the next few days. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
Some crew members from the grounded "Igloo Moon" had to be removed from the ship on the night of Friday, November 15th, due to winds exceeding 50 knots and seas of 12 to 14 feet, but the ship held up well through the period of bad weather. By Monday, winds had dropped significantly, and swells had decreased to about six feet. Buoys were placed to mark a route for the lightering vessel "Selma Kosan" yesterday afternoon. The "Selma Kosan" will probably arrive this morning if the weather holds. The 16-hour-long lightering process could begin this afternoon. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
Lightering of the cargo from the "Igloo Moon" began yesterday and was to have been completed by evening. The "Selma Kosan" will depart the area on the following high tide. Plans call for tugs to refloat and remove the "Igloo Moon" from the park this afternoon. The three-mile, 3,000-foot safety zone has been reinstated during the lightering and removal process, and park boats are assisting in enforcement of the safety zone. Good weather is expected to continue through today, but forecasters are keeping an eye on late-season Hurricane Marco. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
The German tanker "Igloo Moon" was removed from the park on Thursday, November 21st - 15 days after it ran aground at the northeast end of the park on its way to Houston from Saudi Arabia. The area around the site of the grounding was immediately closed to most activities, except hook and line drift fishing. The closure was enacted to limit additional impacts to the area by boaters, divers and commercial anglers, to permit documentation of the types of surveys to be done in order to estimate damage, and to limit any additional damage to the area so that natural recovery can occur. Park resource managers are documenting and marking the site in preparation for what is expected to be a rather long assessment process. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC]
On the morning of January 9th, Coast Guard authorities notified rangers that two Cuban migrants had been reported as missing in the vicinity of Fowey Light within the park. The Coast Guard had received a call from a private boater around 10 p.m. the previous evening reporting a person on Fowey Light flashing a light. They'd responded and rescued him. The man said that he and two other men had left Cuba on a raft on January 5th. He said that the raft sank and that a passing boater had transported them to Fowey Light. His two companions had attempted to swim to shore and had not been seen since. A Coast Guard helicopter and Coast Guard and park marine units are searching the area. [Bonnie Foist, BISC]
On January 24th, the park reopened Boca Chita Key - four-and-a-half years after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area. Keynote speaker Dante Fascell, the former member of the House of Representatives responsible for the creation of the park in 1968, challenged those gathered at the ceremony at the island's historic lighthouse to rededicate themselves to the protection of the park and national parks in general. Among the members of the audience were farmers, business people and representatives from property rights groups who last May firmly opposed some of the park's proposals to protect the water quality of Biscayne Bay. During the summer, the parties participated in a working group established by the county commission which achieved a historic compromise that ensures the minimization of impacts to the park. Also present were members of the newly-established Biscayne Bay Foundation, the park's "friends" group. Much good will was engendered by the event. Susan Paishon was incident commander. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 1/27]
Ranger Bonnie Foist received a report of a suspicious package on Ragged Key #1 on the evening of January 30th. Foist recovered a wet bale of marijuana weighing 87 pounds and containing 14 individually wrapped packages. The bale, which has a street value of about $13,000, was turned over to Customs. Customs officers said that this manner of packaging a bale is highly unusual, but could not tie it to any known smuggling group. [CRO, BISC, 2/4]
A 17-foot Bowrider with four people, a generator and coolers aboard took a wave over its bow and sank several miles east of Boca Chita Key around 8 p.m. on February 25th. Two people panicked and began swimming north, while the other two held onto the boat and put on their lifejackets. The latter two then swam toward land and were found clinging to a navigational marker near a shallow area of East Featherbed Bank 13 hours later by the crew of a passing vessel. The two were dropped off at the ranger station on Elliott Key and a search was begun for the remaining two people. The body of one of them was found at 11 a.m.; the search for the other is continuing. The Florida Marine Patrol is leading the effort. The park and Coast Guard are assisting. Steve Stinnett is incident commander for the park. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 2/26]
The body of the fourth passenger of the 17-foot boat that sank several miles east of Boca Chita Key on February 25th has been found. A park ranger spotted it between Soldier's Key and the Ragged Keys while searching in a Coast Guard helicopter. Rangers recovered the body and turned it over to Florida Marine Patrol investigators who are leading the accident investigation. The search was conducted by the park with assistance from the Coast Guard. [Steve Stinnet, IC, BISC, 2/28]
On the afternoon of Sunday, March 23rd, a collision occurred between a personal watercraft (PWC) and a dinghy near Sand's Cut, a 200-yard-long, sandy, semi-submerged area where a large number of boaters, sunbathers, jet skiers and fisherman converge on the weekends. The operator of the PWC was traveling along the edge of the mangrove shoreline at about 25 to 30 mph when he rounded a point and was unable to avoid colliding with the trolling dinghy. The operator of the dinghy suffered an injury to his lower spine; he was immobilized and transported to Mercy Hospital in a Metro Dade police boat with a park EMT on board. The operator of the PWC was charged with unsafe operation. The park is in the process of creating a slow speed zone that will encompass this high use area to help prevent this type of accident and protect the shallow sea grass beds found there. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 3/28]
Several significant drug interdiction activities have taken place in the park over the past several weeks: o Customs units were involved in a chase of a 30-foot boat believed to have been employed in drug smuggling through the park on March 19th. The pursuit began around the park's northern boundary and headed east toward the Bahamas. During the chase, a Customs boat was rammed and the suspects threw marijuana bales overboard. Four people were arrested and 310 pounds of marijuana and a 30-foot Phantom boat were seized. o On March 30th, Customs chased a 28-foot vessel through Biscayne Bay. The boat collided with two Customs vessels, then ran aground on West Featherbed Bank. Four Bahamians and one Polish national were arrested, and the boat and 427 pounds of marijuana were seized. The Polish national had paid the Bahamians to smuggle him into the U.S. o During the night hours of April 3rd, Customs agents monitored the drop of a cocaine courier at Cape Florida just north of the park's boundaries. They'd earlier seen the courier transferred from a "go- fast" boat to a shallow draft flats boat at Soldier Key within the park. A Customs Blackhawk helicopter followed the flats boat and agents eventually took the vessel and its occupants into custody; the "go-fast" was later picked up by a Coast Guard unit. Marijuana residue was found in the latter with an ion scanner. The courier, however, was able to elude arrest. The flats boat may be the vessel employed in a series of outboard engine thefts in the area of the park. o While Secretary Babbitt was fishing in the park on the morning of April 4th, Florida Marine Patrol officers advised that they were recovering bales of marijuana from the park west of Black Ledge. Forty bales weighing over 1,200 pounds were recovered. A search is continuing for additional bales along the mangrove shoreline. It's not known whether the marijuana was dumped from the "go-fast" caught the previous night. [Bonnie Foist and Steve Stinnett, CRO, BISC, 4/2 and 4/4]
On May 9th, ranger David Pharo contacted the occupants of a 25 foot boat on the ocean side of Elliott Key because the divers were spear fishing without displaying a dive flag. Pharo saw six illegal fish lying on the deck and discovered that none of the men on the boat, all from Hialeah, Florida, possessed fishing licenses. A search of the boat led to the discovery of 37 illegal fish, two out of season lobsters, 458 illegally taken conch, and parts of a loggerhead turtle. All five were arrested and released on individual $50,000 bonds on May 16th. As a stipulation of their bonds, they are required by federal court to stay out of all national parks until their trial. The five men are A.M., 33, O.M., 36, M.A., Sr., 38, M.A., Jr., 20, and M.B., 32. The vessel involved in the incident and all equipment aboard have been impounded pending trial. While Pharo was at the bond hearing in the federal courthouse, his patrol vehicle sustained a broken window and body damage from the tornado that struck downtown Miami last week. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 5/19]
On May 27th, ranger David Pharo contacted five men on a 27-foot commercial sponge-fishing vessel transiting through the Convoy Point channel to check on compliance with federal, state and local regulations. A check of the cooler on board the vessel revealed three illegal and wrung lobster tails. While escorting the vessel back to the park headquarter's dock for further investigation, one of the men dumped 47 lobster tail parts into Biscayne Bay. Resource management ranger Karen Battle recovered them after a quick search with snorkel gear. An extensive search of the vessel was conducted at the park dock, and a compartment was discovered in the bow underneath mattresses and bedding. Inside the compartment was a burlap bag containing 60 fresh, complete, illegally harvested lobsters; 57 of them were under the legal size limit. There is currently a closed season on lobster harvesting in the state of Florida. The men - M.C., 51, J.G., 44, J.M., 43, A.M., 36, and E.V., 55, all of Miami - were charged with violations of the Lacey Act and six other petty offenses. They were released on individual $10,000 bonds and were ordered to stay out of Biscayne NP and Everglades NP. On May 29th, two of the five men violated that order. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 6/2]
The park was notified of a missing boater around midnight on October 13th. A man reported that he and his companion, L.M., 45, were partying near Elliott Key when the main engine of their boat stopped working. They accordingly used an outboard engine to idle the seven miles across Biscayne Bay to Black Point marina. The man said that he'd gone to sleep on the bow of the boat and that L.M. was gone when he awoke around 3 p.m. The engine was idling and lashed to continue on course. The man continued to Black Point, hauled out his boat, and went home; he didn't report the incident until midnight when L.M. failed to appear. A search involved NPS boats and Coast Guard boats and aircraft was begun the following morning in choppy seas and rain squalls, but no sign of L.M. was found. On the 18th, a kayaker discovered what is believed to be L.M.'s body among mangroves in the northwest corner of the park. Metro Dade police took custody and are continuing their investigation into the incident. Ranger Kim Mayo was the IC for the search. [Steve Stinnett, Acting DR, BISC, 10/17]
On the afternoon of December 7th, ranger David Pharo stopped a 17-foot vessel with four occupants near Boca Chita key. One of the passengers had a loaded pistol tucked in his trousers. An NCIC check revealed that the vessel had been stolen in Key West a year earlier, and that the outboard motor was stolen from Hollywood, Florida. The hull identification numbers had been removed from the stern and the forward compartment, but the operator had renewed the vessel's registration with the state in the actual owner's name. The subjects and vessel were turned over to Florida Marine Patrol officers. A check of the operator and supposed owner's criminal history indicated that he had a previous conviction for grand theft. Biscayne rangers recovered three other stolen vessels last month, two with their Yamaha outboard motors removed. Their total value exceeds $500,000. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 12/8]
On the morning of December 9th, rangers Kim Mayo and Steve Stinnett assisted Customs agents in the search for a missing person in the northwest corner of the park. Customs reported that they'd observed a suspected drug transfer from a 41-foot Apache to a 31-foot center console boat near Fowey Rocks Light inside the park. Surface and air units followed the latter vessel into Biscayne Bay and stopped it near Black Ledge. Two men were arrested, but the third occupant fled by jumping off the vessel. Agents found a T-shirt and shoes in the water, but were unable to locate the man in the dark. A joint air and water search was begun by the park, Coast Guard, Customs and Florida Marine Patrol, but no sign of him was found. A scaled down search continues. A total of 2,164 pounds of cocaine was seized by Customs agents during the arrest. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 12/9]
A federal grand jury in Miami recently handed down a six count felony indictment charging I.C. for possessing, knowingly transporting, and attempting to sell sponges that were illegally harvested in the park. I.C. was also charged with conspiring with others in these illegal activities. The indictment concludes a year-long operation to eliminate the sponge poaching problem from the park. Ranges employed a variety of methods to suppress this activity, including plain clothes surveillance, inter-agency intelligence dissemination, and meetings to gain support and assistance from other marine law enforcement agencies. The Florida Marine Patrol provided aerial support. A total of 18 separate sponge cases were made last year, and eleven individuals have since been banned from the park for a period of three years. Two sponge skiffs, three outboard motors and over 400 sponges have been seized and forfeited to the park. [Bonnie Foist, BISC, 2/10]
On Monday, January 12th, a 24 foot vessel which was transporting narcotics through the park crashed and burned on shore in Blackwater Sound in Everglades NP. Earlier that evening, two Florida Marine Patrol officers stopped two boats in Barnes Sound just east of the park. The 24 foot boat, which was occupied by two men, sped off west toward the Everglades, dumping bails of marijuana in the sound. The officers pursued. The two smugglers jumped overboard just before the boat entered the park, but were captured and arrested. The boat continued onward until it ran aground at high speed on the northwest shore of the sound, traveling 150 feet before stopping. The bought caught fire and burned nearly to the waterline. Customs agents intercepted the second, larger vessel (32 feet) in Biscayne Bay in Biscayne NP. Thirteen bails of marijuana weighing 800 pounds - all of which came from the 24 foot boat - were recovered from the sound. A GPS plotter on board the 32 foot boat contained the "waypoints" for the smuggling route through Biscayne NP prior to the initial contact. Salvage of the crashed vessel is on-going. Federal charges for destruction of natural features are pending, with probable inclusion of civil penalties for the same offense. Rangers from the Florida Bay District of Everglades NP are investigating. [Dave King, DR, EVER, 2/11]
On April 24th, G.A. was arraigned on charges of operating a vessel under the influence of impairing substances within the park on three different occasions within a three month period. Rangers Steve Stinnett and David Pharo arrested G.A. in January for BUI with a blood alcohol level almost three times the state's legal limit. On April 9th, G.A. ran his 46- foot motor yacht hard aground, causing approximately $70,000 in damage to park resources. Pharo arrested him for BUI and other violations. G.A. was released from jail after eight hours and returned to his grounded vessel. On the following morning, Pharo found G.A. behind the wheel of his vessel, attempting to power it off the shoal. Investigation revealed he was once again intoxicated. He was arrested for a third time and taken before a magistrate judge, who ordered a $50,000 bond, banned him from the park, and prohibited him from operating a vessel or leaving the magistrate's judicial district. [David Pharo, BISC, 5/6]
During the first week of May, park visitors assisted rangers and drug enforcement officers on two occasions by identifying smuggled packages of drugs. On May 5th, boaters found a package containing 70 pounds of marijuana valued at $150,000 and turned it over to rangers. On May 9th, a visitor kayaking along the mangrove shoreline discovered a parcel and also turned it in. The parcel contained 27.8 kilos (62 pounds) of cocaine with an estimated value of $500,000. The cocaine was turned over to Customs agents for disposition. [Steve Stinnett, PR, BISC, 5/11]
The tug "Allie B," which was towing a barge with 12 tons of sugar from Palm Beach to Galveston, ran aground on the reef platform in the northeast corner of the park on the afternoon of July 20th. Preliminary investigation has revealed extensive damage to both natural and submerged cultural resources at the site of the grounding. The vessel and barge may have also struck other areas in the park before grounding. Evidence collection and a site assessment are underway to determine the full extent of the damage. The park is managing the incident under ICS, and is currently bringing in additional people to help in the assessment and evidence collection. Over 500 cubic meters of coral rubble and reef community were either destroyed or displaced at one site alone. [Monika Mayr, IC, BISC, 7/23]
On July 3rd, a 40-foot motor vessel valued t $367,000 ran aground on a sea grass shoal and caused extensive damage to park resources. The operator had just "powered off" the shoal when rangers arrive and was attempting to flee, but a fire broke out in the boat's engine room due to the overheating caused by the powering off effort. Rangers David Pharo and Steve Stinnett removed all three occupants from the boat; the vessel's on-board fire suppression system extinguished most of the fire. The operator was found to have been operating under the influence of alcohol and was arrested and taken to jail. A preliminary estimate indicates that damage to park natural resources will run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The park will pursue criminal charges and seek restitution for both the investigation and the damages inflicted. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 7/24 and 7/28]
Investigation continues at the site of the July 20th grounding of a 350-foot barge which was being pulled by the 110-foot tugboat "Allie B." Rangers and biologists have located a crater approximately 10 feet deep and 42 feet across, apparently created by the tug. The site of the barge grounding was also located. The area shows severe damage to both hard and soft corals. NPS divers began "reef triage" this past Tuesday, taking the steps immediately necessary to mitigate the damage and ensure recovery of the reef. Evidence of a heretofore unknown cultural site was also found - the wreckage of a ship that is consistent with early 20th century shipwrecks found elsewhere in the park. A private engineering and environmental firm has been contracted to assess the damage. An area surrounding the ground has been closed to all activity in order to assure the safety of those working in the area, to minimize further injury to the site, and to permit adequate assessment of damages. Enforcement of this closure was expected to be somewhat difficult, since Wednesday and Thursday constituted the official spiny lobster sport season in Florida, during which time tens of thousands of lobster seekers descend on the Florida keys. A total of 27 people have been committed to or are assisting in the incident since July 24th, including biologists, patrol rangers, private contractors, and overhead. A correction to last Friday's Morning Report entry: The barge contained 12,000 tons of sugar, not 12 tons as was originally reported. [Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 7/29]
A lobster diver participating in Florida's two-day sport lobster season was killed on July 29th when he was struck by the propeller of a passing boat with a 225-hp outboard. Rangers David Pharo and Thomas Rutledge were first on scene and began life support on the victim, identified as 28-year-old A.M. Other park, Coast Guard, Florida Marine Patrol and Miami- Dade police units also responded. Pharo called for air rescue and established an emergency, no-wake zone in the area. A.M. was taken to the trauma center at the University of Miami hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Florida Marine Patrol officers are handling the investigation, as park staff are committed to follow-up actions stemming from last week's tug and barge grounding. A Coast Guard critical incident stress debriefing team was brought in and worked with NPS staff. [Gary Bremen, PIO, BISC, 7/30]
Some parks in Southeast Region began preparations for the possible arrival of Hurricane Bonnie on Friday afternoon. Here's where things stood as of yesterday evening: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park was closed to visitors and began shutting down on Saturday, but will be open again today. Parks along the coast in Georgia and the Carolinas are awaiting further developments before implementing their hurricane plans. [Ken Garvin, SERO, 8/23]
Hurricane Georges passed over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico yesterday and is now bearing north-northwest at about 15 mph toward the southern tip of Florida. As of this morning, it was 620 miles southeast of Miami, with winds down to 75 mph due to its passage over Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The highest probability area for landfall on the U.S. mainland on Friday morning stretches from Miami west to the Keys. A hurricane watch for that area has been issued. Some strengthening is expected when Georges again passes over warm ocean waters. The following reports were received yesterday: o Biscayne NP (FL) - Island and mainland facilities have been secured and park boats have been transported to secure storage areas. The park closed at 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Margie Ortiz is IC. [Ken Garvin, SERO, 9/22; Ben Morgan, EVER, 9/22; Rob Shanks, PIO, IMT, BISC, 9/22; Larry Belles, IC, BICY, 9/22]
Hurricane George continues to bear down on southern Florida, with landfall expected as early as tomorrow morning. The storm had winds of 75 mph this morning, but is expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours. It is about 400 miles southeast of Miami and moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Hurricane warnings extend from Fort Myers on the Gulf coast around the tip of Florida to Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coast. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the Keys; voluntary evacuations for Key Biscayne and Miami Beach. Today's updates from affected parks: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park has shut down and is closed to the public. Minimal visitor protection patrols will continue as long as it is safe to do so. [Ken Garvin, SERO, 9/23; Bob Panko, IC, EVER, 9/23; Larry Belles, BICY, 9/23; Rob Shanks, BICY, 9/23]
A number of parks in Southeast Region are either recovering from the hurricane's impacts or are still weathering it as it slowly moves inland: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park was closed on Tuesday afternoon as the hurricane approached, but reopened on Sunday morning. Park facilities suffered only minimal damage from tropical storm force winds on Thursday and Friday. All employees are okay. Margie Ortiz was IC. [Ken Garvin, SERO, 9/25-28; Joe O'Haver, BICY, 9/25-26; JR Tomasovic, GUIS, 9/25-26; Rob Shanks, BISC, 9/26; Maureen McGee-Ballinger, EVER, 9/26; Roberta D'Amico, EVER, 9/27; Jim Carson, JELA/JAZZ, 9/27; Rick Black, SAJU, 9/27]
Reports have been received from several parks which have been or are being affected by the hurricane: o Biscayne NP (FL) - All employees are safe and report little damage to their homes. A preliminary assessment of damage in the park revealed blown-out screens, downed trees, a damaged boat trailer, damaged carpet throughout headquarters (due to failed adhesive) and other relatively minor impacts. The park will schedule air, land and underwater surveys to assess resource damage. The NPS is also providing critical incident stress counseling for employees at Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico. The hurricane caused major damage to forest resources and facilities and affected numerous employees. The Forest Service requested a Spanish-speaking CISM team. Four NPS peer supporters, most of whom speak Spanish, are en route; Gus Martinez of Big Bend NP is the team leader. [JR Tomasovic, GUIS, 9/27-28; Brian Loadholtz, DESO, 9/28; Pat Buccello, CISM Coordinator, NPS, 9/28; Ken Garvin, SERO, 9/28; Kris Stoehr, EVER, 9/28; Larry Belles, BICY, 9/27; Jim Carson, JELA, 9/29; Monika Mayr, BISC, 9/30]
Over the Columbus Day weekend, the park conducted "Operation Baywatch," a special operation aimed at curbing boating safety and boating under the influence violations in a small area of the park. Numerous agencies provided assistance, including the Coast Guard, Customs, FBI, and city and state marine enforcement organizations. Rangers from other parks also provided support. Over 1,260 contacts were made during the operation; these resulted in a dozen arrests for operating boats while under the influence, a felony arrest for throwing a deadly missile at an occupied vessel, four serious boating accidents, one sinking, numerous groundings, and eleven medical responses. The Columbus Day weekend is traditionally a very busy weekend for the park due to the number of spectators at the Columbus Day Regatta. The operation was managed under the incident command system; ranger David Pharo was the incident commander. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 11/8]
Last April, G.A. was arraigned on charges of operating a vessel under the influence of impairing substances within the park on three different occasions within a three month period. Rangers Steve Stinnett and David Pharo arrested G.A. in January for BUI (boating under the influence) with a blood alcohol level almost three times the state's legal limit. On April 9th, G.A. ran his 46-foot motor yacht hard aground, causing significant damage to park resources. Pharo arrested him for BUI and other violations. G.A. was released from jail after eight hours and returned to his grounded vessel. On the following morning, Pharo again found G.A. behind the wheel of his vessel, attempting to power it off the shoal. Investigation revealed he was once again intoxicated. He was arrested for a third time and taken before a magistrate judge, who ordered a $50,000 bond, banned him from the park, and prohibited him from operating a vessel or leaving the magistrate's judicial district. On January 6th, G.A. was found guilty of numerous offenses, including several of the BUI charges. He was assessed $106,000 in partial restitution for injury done to park resources, banned from operating a vessel in either Biscayne NP or Everglades NP for three years, sentenced to three years' probation and another four months' of monitored in-house arrest, fined $25,000, and ordered to successfully complete a drug and alcohol program. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 1/6]
Late on January 6th, rangers responded to an area of the park where a Customs aircraft had crashed while conducting a training mission. Due to the rapid, multi-agency response, the pilot was soon found clinging to a partially inflated life raft. He was hypothermic, suffering from near drowning (with both water and fuel in his lungs), and had a head injury, a severely broken ankle, and numerous cuts and bruises. He was picked up by a park patrol vessel with the assistance of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The pilot was hoisted from the patrol vessel while it was underway by a Coast Guard helicopter and flown to a local trauma center. He was in critical condition for many days, but is expected to make a nearly full recovery after he undergoes surgery for his injuries. The aircraft was found in eight feet of water and later removed from park waters. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 1/12]
An intense storm blew through park waters early on the afternoon of March 3rd and capsized a vessel near Stiltsville. The boat's two occupants, F.U. and A.V., immediately became separated in the rough seas. F.U. was able to swim to one of the nearby stilt houses. After the storm cleared, F.U. sought and found A.V. floating face down in the water. He retrieved A.V.'s body, returned to the same stilt house, and awaited assistance. Nearly six hours later, he was able to flag down a passing vessel and was rescued. F.U. was suffering from hypothermia by that time. Officers from the Florida Marine Patrol are leading the investigation. The boat has not yet been found. [David Pharo, PR, BISC, 3/4]
Twenty illegal immigrants from Cuba came ashore by vessel on Elliott Key around 4:30 a.m. on April 3rd. Ranger Tom Rutledge located and detained 19 of them by 9:30 a.m. with the assistance of the Border Patrol and Coast Guard. They were subsequently turned over to INS authorities. The last missing immigrant was found on the key that afternoon and turned over to the Border Patrol. [CRO, BISC, 4/19]
Rangers received several reports around noon on April 18th regarding a person who had disappeared while snorkeling in Turkey Point Channel earlier that morning. C.A. was swimming near a vessel. The vessel's anchor broke and it began rapidly drifting away with his young niece on board. C.A. tried unsuccessfully to catch up, then decided to swim towards shore. A search was begun in rough seas and 30-knot winds. Five park boats, a Coast Guard boat, a Miami-Dade police boat, and a Miami-Dade helicopter were employed in the effort. Ranger Tom Rutledge found C.A. around 2:30 p.m. about three-and-a-half miles from the point where he'd last been seen. He was treated for hypothermia and released in good condition to his family. Ranger David Pharo was IC for the incident. [CRO, BISC, 4/18]
On February 8, 1997, M.C. ran his 50-foot vessel aground in Biscayne Bay. M.C. had set the vessel's auto pilot, then gone below deck. He eventually noticed that the vessel was shuddering and returned to the bridge to discover that he was on a seagrass shoal. M.C. continued to power up the engines until they began to overheat, causing significant damage to the shoal. Ranger Steve Stinnet conducted the subsequent investigation, and marine biologist/ranger Karen Battle completed an injury assessment. The damage caused by the grounding extended over 625 meters. A plea agreement was entered on April 21st. M.C. pled nolo contendre to destruction of natural features, a guilty verdict was entered, and he paid the park $64,125 in restitution. The money will be used for site restoration and response costs under 16 USC 19(jj). [CRO, BISC, 4/23]
Twenty-six Cuban nationals made it to shore on Sands Key on July 7th. They were traveling in a sailboat that was about 25 feet long and had a diesel engine. The NPS, Border Patrol and Coast guard all participated in retrieving the men and women, who were taken to the Coast Guard station at Miami Beach. No fewer than four helicopters from news media were in the area at the same time, prompting an NPS request to close the immediate airspace for safety reasons. [Gary Bremen, PR, BISC, 7/7]
Parks along the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to North Carolina have been preparing for Hurricane Dennis since it neared the coastline late last week: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park instituted its hurricane plan on Thursday, but remained open to the public. Normal operations are expected to resume today. [Denis Davis, CUIS, 8/28; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 8/26-27; Chuck Dale, CASA/FOMA, 8/27; Karren Brown and Jim Zahradka, CALO, 8/27 and 8/29; Chris Bernthal and Bob Woody, CAHA/FORA/WRBR, 8/27 and 8/29; Helga Fraze, CANA, 8/27-29; Bill Martin, PIO, FOSU/CHPI, 8/29; Ann Childress, MOCR, 8/29]
Parks in Southeast Region are preparing for the imminent and probable landfall of Hurricane Floyd somewhere between southern Florida and the Outer Banks. Should Floyd make landfall as a Category V hurricane, it will be only the third Category V storm to strike the United States this century, the other two being the Florida Keys Hurricane in 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park entered the second operational period of its hurricane plan at 8:30 a.m. yesterday morning. Some buildings were shuttered and boats were moved to safer locations. The park will continue with preparations today; all employees have been asked to report to the incident command center to check in. The park will close to visitors at noon and will be completely shut down by normal close of business this afternoon. [Gary Bremen, PR, BICY, 9/12; CRO, CANA, 9/12; Bob Panko, EVER, 9/13; Larry Belles, BICY, 9/12]
Parks in the potential path of Hurricane Floyd have largely completed preparations for its arrival. The current highest probability track would take the storm almost directly over parks from Canaveral NS to Fort Frederica NM, including FLETC in Glynco, Georgia: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park was nearing completion of preparations as of noon yesterday. Power at the park was about to be turned off, and the entire area was to be shut down by 4:30 p.m. [Ben Morgan, Liaison Officer, IMT, EVER, 9/13; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 9/13; Ken Garvin, SERO, 9/13; Denis Davis, CUIS, 9/13; Chuck Dale, CR, CASA/FOMA, 9/13; Bob Panko, EVER, 9/14; Mike Tennant, FOFR, 9/13; Paul Henry, FLETC, 9/14]
Customs agents attempted to intercept a vessel entering park waters from the Bahamas during the early morning hours of August 31st. Agents suspected that the boat was carrying drugs. A chase ensued, with the suspect vessel striking the Customs vessel several times. Both of the occupants of the boat jumped overboard, and it continued traveling at a high rate of speed. Rangers were asked to help by stopping the boat while the agents searched for the two men. The rangers determined that it would be unsafe to attempt to stop it due to its high rate of speed, rough sea conditions, and the fact that it was circling over an environmentally sensitive and treacherous area of shallow coral reefs, so they monitored it from a safe distance and established a perimeter around it. The vessel eventually slowed down to the point where it could be safely boarded. No drugs were found on board, but an ion scan revealed that there had been cocaine in the vessel. Rangers, customs agents, and the Coast Guard conducted a large search of park waters at first light in an effort to recover drugs or evidence that was dumped overboard by the suspects during the chase. A significant quantity of marijuana was found, but evidence indicates that there may be another 750 kilos of cocaine still in the water. [David Pharo, BISC, 9/6]
As Hurricane Floyd wends its way north, parks and regional office staff in SER are making necessary preparations. Bob Panko's Type II team will arrive in Atlanta tomorrow to begin planning for post-hurricane natural and cultural resource damage assessments in conjunction with regional staff. All National Park Service Type I and Type II teams have been contacted by SERO and are prepared to respond as needed to recovery operations. SER staff will be contacting DOI emergency operations personnel this afternoon to work out procedures for mutual aid to other Interior agencies in the storm's path. Regional staff are also directly contacting refuges and other DOI offices in the Southeast and maintaining communications links with them. Meanwhile, in the parks: o Biscayne NP (FL) - Park staff are in the process of assessing the hurricane's impacts, but do not expect to find much damage. There were at least two boat groundings, neither of them serious. The park will probably reopen today. [Ken Garvin and Darryl Rhodes, SERO, 9/15; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU/CHPI, 9/14; Jim Zahradka, IC, CALO, 9/14; Roy Wood, IO, EVER, 9/15; Stephanie Bagozzi, IMT, BICY, 9/15; Bob Woody, IO, IMT, CAHA, 9/15; Barbara Goodman, TIMU/FOCA, 9/14-15]
The following updates have been received from parks being affected by Hurricane Floyd: o Biscayne NP (FL) - All islands reopened at 2 p.m. yesterday; the visitor center and headquarters will resume normal operations this morning. Concession boats should be back today as well. [Ken Garvin and Daryl Rhodes, SERO, 9/15-16; Barbara Goodman, Superintendent, TIMU/FOCA, 9/15; Linda Brown, CR, MOCR, 9/15; Jim Zahradka, IC, CALO, 9/15; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 9/15; Mike Johnson, CR, FRSP, 9/15; Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 9/15; Rick Nolan, CR, FOMC, 9/15; Dave Griese, CR, FIIS, 9/15; Mike Litterst, PAO, COLO, 9/15; Denise Pearce, CAHA, 9/15; LES, CAHA, 9/16; Nora Martinez, CR, CANA, 9/16; Hattie Squires, MOCR, 9/16; Martha Bogle, COSW, 9/16; Dave Parker, FOMA, 9/16; Wally Mattis, CM, FOFR, 9/16; Gordie Wilson, FOMA/CASA, 9/16; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU/CHPI, 9/16; John Burn, CR, ASIS, 9/16]
Hurricane Irene had varying effects on parks in the Southeast as it made its way northward: o Biscayne NP (FL) - The park sustained some damage, mostly to vegetation. Park headquarters received water damage from driving rains and there was damage to shutters and screened porches. The trail to Convoy Point Jetty, recently made accessible by volunteers from Telephone Pioneers of America, sustained damage and likely will remain closed for some time. Floating docks were also damaged by high tides and winds. Minor damage was also reported on the islands. A full assessment is underway. All facilities have reopened. Little or no damage was reported at the other half dozen or so parks along the Southeast coast. [Ken Garvin, SERO, 10-16-18; Jim Zahradka, IC, CALO, 10/16; Steve Harrison, IC, CAHA, 10/16-18; Larry Belles, BICY, 10/18; Chuck Dale, CR/IC, CASA/FOMA, 10/16; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 10/18; Deb Nordeen, IO, EVER, 10/17
Over the Columbus Day holiday weekend, a boating safety operation - Operation SWAMP (Safer Waterways Alcohol Monitoring Patrols) - was put into action in the Elliott Key area of the park. Rangers from Biscayne, Everglades, and Big Cypress conducted the operation in conjunction with representatives from the Miami Dade Police Department, Miami Dade Fire and Rescue, Coast Guard, U.S. Attorneys Office and the Customs Service. The objective was to maintain law and order among those attending the traditional party that always seems to form in this area during the holiday weekend. Special regulations were put in place for the weekend in order to help minimize damage to natural resources and to provide emergency law enforcement and medical services to the thousands of park visitors recreating around Elliott Key. During the weekend, there were 1,480 violations of the special regulations; 188 boating safety violations; 16 vessel registration violations; 31 littering or water pollution violations; nine assaults; 46 instances of disorderly conduct, lewd and lascivious behavior or open sex acts; two controlled substance violations; eight persons arrested and transported to jail for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; four boat accidents; and 12 medicals, five of which required advanced life support and air rescue. Even though BUI enforcement was the major focus of this operation and law enforcement rangers and officers were doing their best, a vessel accident occurred in the area of the operation one night. A 23-foot powerboat with four occupants ran into a 50-foot sailing vessel at anchor. The violent collision resulted in one person being ejected from the power vessel and the remaining three persons on board suffering injuries requiring advanced life support and medivac by air rescue to the nearest trauma center. All four persons on board the sailing vessel were asleep at the time of the accident and were not injured. The person ejected from the power vessel was recovered by police divers near the point of impact and pronounced dead at the scene. A blood sample obtained from the powerboat's operator at the scene before he was airlifted to the trauma center. Toxicology results of the blood sample reveal that his blood alcohol level was .20, well above the legal limit. Manslaughter and BUI charges will likely be pursued. Ranger David Pharo coordinated the multi-agency operation and was IC for the incident. [David Pharo, CR, BISC, 11/7]
On December 21st, A.R., 24, of Miami, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Michael Rosia in a boating accident that occurred in the park over Columbus Day weekend. A.R. was operating a sport fishing boat near Elliott Key Harbor when he collided with an anchored vessel; Rosia, who was in the latter, suffered extensive trauma in the collision, then fell out of his boat and drowned. Results of the blood test on A.R. revealed that he had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit for operating a boat. If convicted, A.R. faces up to six years imprisonment, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. [Gary Bremen, PR, BISC, 12/22]
The Coast Guard asked rangers for assistance when a 60-foot vessel suspected of smuggling illegal aliens entered park waters near Pacific Reef Light at 1:30 a.m. on January 1st. Rangers David Pharo and David Carter and a Coast Guard patrol boat tracked the fleeing vessel north through shallow coral reef areas of the park. The vessel ran aground on a coral reef, but was freed by the rising tide approximately a half hour later. It then continued northward and ran aground again on a sea grass shoal approximately two miles south of Cape Florida Lighthouse in park waters. Initial estimates were that up to 100 people were onboard the vessel at the time of the grounding. Removal of the illegal aliens from the vessel began around 6 a.m., with about 80 people voluntarily leaving the smuggling vessel. Those remaining on board refused to leave, so a Coast Guard team boarded the vessel and began to physically remove them. Coast Guard, NPS, and Florida Marine Patrol shallow draft vessels ferried the migrants to three 110-foot Coast Guard cutters located approximately two miles offshore. The transfer was completed by 3 p.m. There were no injuries during the operation, but four pregnant women were taken to local hospitals complaining of maternity symptoms. The final tally revealed that there were 411 illegal aliens on the boat, mostly from Haiti but with some from the Dominican Republic and China. All are being returned to Haiti by the Coast Guard. Supervisory ranger Tom Rutledge oversaw the Coast Guard's removal of the vessel from park waters; there were no further injuries to resources. Investigation failed to reveal who had piloted the vessel or organized the smuggling operation. The wooden vessel was of little value and posed a serious health threat from possible disease and vermin infestation. An assessment conducted by park biologist Karen Battle revealed that the incident caused extreme damage to the shoal and its associated sea grass community. The vessel excavated over 75 cubic meters of sea grass and sediment, creating a trench that was over 114 feet long, nine feet wide and four and a half feet deep. The estimated cost to restore this site is over $100,000. The coral reef area where the vessel ran aground has not yet been located but it is expected to also be heavily damaged. The incident was managed by the Coast Guard under ICS. All participating agencies worked together with exchanges of fuel, supplies and personnel. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 1/5]
On February 3rd, the Coast Guard asked the park to intercept three immigrants from Cuba as they entered park waters near Pacific Reef in a small, wooden, diesel and sail-powered boat. Rangers Didier Carod and David Pharo stopped the boat, and were briefly involved in a rescue when all three jumped overboard. They were rescued, brought aboard the park patrol vessel, then transported to a waiting 110-foot Coast Guard cutter in international waters nine miles off shore, where they were interviewed by INS authorities. The three Cubans said that they'd been at sea for five days; one reported that this was his fifth attempt to leave Cuba by boat and the fifth time he'd been caught. [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 2/6]
On Sunday, March 26th, Metro-Dade Marine Patrol officers boarded a boat in the park for erratic operation. On the boat, they found extra fuel containers, fuel transfer pumps and hoses, more life jackets than normal, and fishing equipment that was in an unusable condition. Ranger John LaCorte assisted the Metro-Dade officers and a local Border Patrol agent in the arrest of two persons for illegal immigrant smuggling and the seizure of the 23-foot vessel and its trailer. On Wednesday, March 29th, rangers learned that a fuel transfer rendezvous, part of another illegal immigrant smuggling operation, would take place in the park. Rangers LaCorte and David Carter assisted Customs and Border Patrol officers in the interdiction of the vessels. A Customs Blackhawk helicopter was used to videotape the fuel transfer, then Customs, Border Patrol and two park boats intercepted the 31-foot smuggling vessel as it began its journey to Cuba. Two persons were arrested and taken into Border Patrol custody and the vessel was seized. The Blackhawk helicopter tailed the fuel delivery vessel to a marina where Customs and Border Patrol Agents apprehended 11 more persons and seized the boat, another vessel, and two trucks. [Thomas Rutledge, SPR, BISC, 3/31]
Hurricane Debby has largely dissipated and no longer presents a threat to any NPS areas. Reports have been received from several areas on impacts, preparations, and resumption of normal operations: o Biscayne NPS (FL) - The park put its hurricane plan into effect on Wednesday afternoon. All park islands - including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Adams Key - and the mainland area at Convoy Point were closed to the public, and park waters were open for vessel transit only. The islands remained closed yesterday, but the visitor center and Convoy Point facilities reopened. [Judy Shafer, VIIS, 8/23; Paul Hartwig, SAJU, 8/23; Larry Belles, IC, BICY, 8/23-24; Toni Dufficy, IO, BISC, 8/23-24; Bob Panko, EVER, 8/23-24]
A 77-foot tug and 295-foot barge ran aground in the park on February 28th. The barge was carrying over a half-million gallons of bunker C crude oil on one of its 300 annual trips through park waters to the Turkey Point nuclear power plant. This is the second time in four years that a tug and barge have grounded within the park while transporting oil to the plant, owned and operated by Florida Power and Light Company. In 1997, a tug and barge damaged over 1,000 square meters of fragile seagrass beds and dislodged a section of the shoal while attempting to power off. That case remains in litigation. Ranger Randy Whitton and Coast Guard officials responded to the new grounding and conducted the on-scene investigation. The tug and barge were refloated. It appears that none of the crude oil leaked into the ocean, but preliminary investigations by rangers and biologist Karen Battle indicate that there has once again been significant injury to the seagrass ecosystem. Criminal proceedings are being contemplated. [Monika Mayr, BISC, 3/12]
In 1999, rangers began surveillance on Innocentey Caldentey and Alberto Garcia, who were suspected of poaching sponges from the park. Evidence indicates that they and their associates had taken several thousand sponges over the previous few years. The rangers saw the two men poach 860 sponges from park waters over the course of several early morning surveillance operations. They were arrested and convicted of poaching; the conviction resulted in a sentence of time served and a four-year ban from entering Biscayne, Big Cypress and Everglades. On August 22, 2000, the Coast Guard caught the two men in the park. An investigation by rangers and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers revealed that they were also in possession of 3,280 processed sponges and 225 sponges that were under the minimum size limit. On February 26th, the two men pled guilty to the probation violation and to the illegal possession of the sponges. They were sentenced to six months in prison, lost their commercial sponge fishing licenses, placed on additional probation, and again banned from the three parks. Caldentey and Garcia have been caught poaching sponges from the park about ten times since 1992, not including the above incidents, and have prior convictions for Lacey Act and conspiracy violations. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 3/3]
The Coast Guard sought assistance from the park in a large, multi-agency search for three overdue sailors late on the evening of April 18th. Rangers David Carter, David Pharo, Tom Rutledge and Randy Whitton searched waters within and outside the boundaries of the park. One of the missing persons was the son of the chairman of the Republican National Party. Interest from state elected officials was accordingly high, and included continuous communications with Florida's governor and Congressional delegation. During the early hours of April 19th, an overturned vessel was spotted in park waters by a Coast Guard helicopter. A park boat arrived on scene shortly thereafter and rescued the two people who were found clinging to the overturned sailboat. The third missing person was found by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation personnel. All three were treated for hypothermia and released to their families in good condition. About 40 people from three agencies participated in the search. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 4/19]
A visitor called on a cell phone to report a wildland fire on Boca Chita Key on the afternoon of April 21st. Park staff and volunteers responded and put out the two-acre fire with the help of visitors. Part of a historic stone wall was affected, but park staff have yet to determine the extent of the damage. The fire did not affect any other historic structures or the nearby campsites and picnic area. Indications are that the fire was started by a group of juveniles using a lighter. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 4/24]
In two separate incidents this week, rangers caught poachers in park waters who had illegally taken over 300 snappers and groupers. The larger of the two cases may involve violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in illegally obtained wildlife. On Thursday, July 16th, ranger David Carter stopped a vessel with three people on board. Although none of them had fishing licenses, there were nearly 100 fish aboard, including grouper and yellowtail, mutton and mangrove snapper. All three were cited for not having fishing licenses and for unlawful possession of fish, and one was cited for having undersized lobster. On Sunday, July 29th, ranger John LaCorte stopped a boat with two people on board. Both occupants were legally able to take fish, but they had exceeded their legal limit by over 200 fish. They were each cited for four separate violations. Due to the magnitude of the cases, all five people received mandatory court appearance notices. [Gary Bremen, BISC, 7/29]
Further updates have been received on the status of NPS areas and/or staff responses to Tuesday's terrorist attacks: o Biscayne NP (FL) - All areas are open, but park law enforcement rangers are assisting with perimeter security at the nuclear power facility adjacent to the park. Other closures and operations are essentially as noted yesterday. [Russ Wilson, GATE/SHU, 9/12; Clayton Jordan, IC, Type 3 IMT, SHEN, 9/13; Karl Merchant, Plans, Type 2 IMT, NERO, 9/13]
On October 6th and 7th, a unified law enforcement operation coordinated by the park called Operation SWAMP (Safer Waterways Alcohol Monitoring Patrols) took place in park waters and nearby marinas. Participating agencies included the Federal Aviation Administration, the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Homestead Police Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Attorney's Office, and the Coast Guard. Rangers from Everglades NP and Gulf Islands NS also provided assistance. The purpose of this operation was to increase marine safety through proactive and intensified enforcement of boating and other regulations and to target persons operating their vessels while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. The operation was conducted over the Columbus Day holiday because the long weekend and the Columbus Day Regatta traditionally attract thousands of boaters to the area to watch the event and/or party. Four intoxilyzers were set up at three locations, and the park's 45-foot landing craft with a USCG van and drug detection dogs on board was anchored near the intra-coastal waterway. Sobriety checkpoints were established at two choke points in the area of the park. Personnel involved in this effort, called Operation Waterblock, conducted random stops of vessels traveling south form Miami to south Biscayne Bay and made three drug cases. One of them involved an 80-foot vessel which had marijuana packaged for sale on board; also found were scales, four switchblade knives, and seven guns, including an assault rifle. Over the course of Operation SWAMP, rangers and officers made thirteen arrests for boating under the influence, recovered a stolen boat, responded to two serious boating accidents and three minor accidents, and made four more drug cases. They also dealt with six assaults, eight weapons incidents, a sunken vessel, numerous groundings causing damage to park resources, four medical incidents (two requiring basic life support, two requiring advanced life support), three search and rescue operations, five instances of lewd and lascivious behavior, five violations of restricted air space, one incident of commercial pornography filming, and 1200 incidents of boating safety and violations of park regulations. Numerous arrests, charges and investigations are expected to result from the many incidents that took place during these special operations. Arrests were down this year from the 20 recorded in 2000, but more would likely have occurred if there had been more staff on duty. The shortage of rangers was exacerbated by the withdrawal of 40 Coast Guard personnel on Sunday to deal with post-September 11th operations. During the operation, new technology made it possible for all participating agencies to patch their separate radio systems together into one communications net. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 10/12]
On September 7th, rangers received information about a vessel heading from the Bahamas to the park which would likely be carrying narcotics. Rangers David Carter and David Pharo and a Customs officer eventually spotted the boat and followed it up a canal to a point where it moored at a residence. The building was quickly surrounded by federal, state and county officers. Lookouts posted in the building alerted the smugglers, who tried to flee. Three people were quickly apprehended. Fresh sealant was found to be holding down a portion of the boat's deck, possibly indicating a hidden compartment. The vessel was taken to a nearby Customs facility, where a drug detecting dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Investigators found 350 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of $7 million under the boat's deck. The ensuing investigation led to the seizure of a residence, three vehicles and a 29-foot Mako boat with twin 250-hp outboard engines. Last year, about $23 million worth of illegal drugs were seized while transiting through the park. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 10/12]
In the interest of public safety and national security, the Coast Guard has established a security zone around the Turkey Point power plant, which sits adjacent to the park and just a mile-and-a-half away from park headquarters. The plant is partly nuclear powered. A significant portion of the zone, which is a triangle with sides measuring approximately four by eight by seven miles, overlaps the southwestern corner of the park. Though not yet being enforced, the closure will impact boaters and anglers in that area, including those traveling from Homestead Bayfront Park, one of the two marinas that empties directly into the park, to Caesar Creek, one of the primary routes from Biscayne Bay to the coral reefs. The zone will remain in effect through June 15, 2002. The Coast Guard established the zone partially in response to a number of suspicious incidents, including one at the park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center. The incidents are still under investigation. [Gary Bremen, PR, BISC, 10/23]
On the afternoon of Friday, October 26th, three men left Black Point Marina to fish on the ocean side of Elliott Key. The sky was overcast, the wind was blowing at 15 knots, and waves were about a foot high. At 9 p.m., the boat's operator called his wife to say that he didn't feel comfortable crossing Biscayne Bay after dark (the bay is very shallow) and would therefore stay out until Saturday morning. When the men failed to return by Saturday afternoon, the wife called the Coast Guard and a search was begun. The Coast Guard asked rangers for assistance that evening. By that time, winds were blowing at 25 knots and waves on the ocean side were from eight to ten feet. Searches of likely points around Elliott Key were fruitless. Rangers Dave Pharo, Dave Carter, Randy Whitton and Didier Carod then checked markers on the bay and ocean side, also without results. By this time, seas on the ocean side were between ten and fifteen feet and were three feet on the bay side. The search was suspended until Sunday morning, when two of the men were found clinging to makers south of Biscayne - about five to seven miles from the point where the boat was anchored. They reported that a wave had come over the bow some time on Friday night, swamping the boat and tossing the men into the water. They drifted until they came upon the markers and climbed on them. One of the men was unable to hold on and drifted away during the night. None of the three were wearing life jackets. One of the two survivors is in fair condition; the other is in critical condition. The search was suspended at 10 p.m. on Sunday evening. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 10/30]
Follow-ups on the September 11th attacks and reports on any subsequent incidents that stem from the heightened state of alert in parks Servicewide will continue to appear under this heading. Two reports today: o Biscayne NP (FL) - Last weekend, six men were detained in the Midwest who had photos and descriptions of nuclear power plants in Florida in their possession. Although the men were later released, this led to a state of heightened awareness throughout the Turkey Point nuclear power plant security zone. The plant is located just a mile and a half from park headquarters, and the security zone is almost exclusively on park waters. Several agencies working cooperatively to patrol the zone, including the park, the Coast Guard, Miami-Dade police department, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Airspace is restricted around the power plant to a height of 18,000 feet and for a distance of ten miles. At the highest level of enforcement, penalties include felony arrests and forfeiture of vessels. Biscayne is taking the lead on arranging a meeting of involved parties to define each agency's role in the event of active enforcement of the zone. [Jim Tucker, DR, YOSE, 10/31; Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 10/31]
Although Hurricane Michelle is now moving off into the Atlantic, parks in south Florida spent the weekend preparing for a possible landfall in that area: o Biscayne NP - Park staff began pulling and securing park boats on Friday. [Deb Nordeen, IO, IMT, EVER, 11/3; Larry Belles, IC, IMT, BICY, 11/2; Ken Garvin, SERO, 11/2]
The "Si Map Viv Se Jezi," a 31-foot wooden sailboat carrying 185 illegal immigrants, ran out of fuel in the early hours of Monday, December 3rd, and ran aground at Caesar Creek near Adams Key. Rangers received a report on the grounding around 8 a.m. Resident island rangers Tom Rutledge, Didier Carod and Randy Whitton responded first; they found people on several islands surrounding the creek and others in the water. An interagency rescue operation began, involving the park, Coast Guard, Border Patrol, INS, Miami-Dade PD, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A total of 39 people were pulled from the water. All 185 were first taken to the ranger station on Adams Key, where they received food, water and medical attention, then were transferred to a Coast Guard vessel in Biscayne Bay. Investigation revealed that they'd been at sea for ten days. The boat had a makeshift bilge pump, a rudder made out of a tree branch, and a ragged sail made out of denim. The majority of the Haitians traveled in a windowless hold that had about four inches of water in the bottom. Several of them were obviously ill. These boats are typically considered hazardous due to the human waste and possible infectious bacteria aboard. Two to three people may still be missing, and a search for them was still in progress at the time of the report. This is the second such incident in less than a week. [Gary Bremen, Holly Rife, BISC, 12/3]
On the afternoon of December 2nd, ranger Randy Whitton learned that Miami-Dade fire and rescue was responding to a possible drowning in Mowry Canal, which empties into Biscayne Bay. Several ranger assisted Miami-Dade in the subsequent search. Divers recovered the body of an illegal Mexican immigrant after an hour's search. The man had decided to go for a swim and panicked after getting half way across the channel. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 12/3]
A park visitor reported five Cuban immigrants on a remote island key on November 30th. Rangers and Coast Guard personnel picked them up and the Coast Guard transported them to INS in Miami for processing. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 12/3]
The "Si Map Viv Se Jezi," a 31-foot wooden sailboat carrying 185 illegal immigrants, ran out of fuel in the early hours of Monday, December 3rd, and ran aground at Caesar Creek near Adams Key. Almost all were rescued, but two or three were reported missing. On December 7th, a visitor reported finding a body floating in Caesar's Creek at a point near where the sailboat went aground. The victim had tennis shoes tied to his hand. It's likely that he was from the Haitian ship, but that has not yet been confirmed. Intermittent searches continue for one or two other missing Haitians. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 12/11]
On July 29th, ranger John LaCorte stopped a cigarette boat on the ocean side of Boca Chita Key at the north end of the park and contacted two fishermen who had 235 fish in their possession. The catch included 110 yellowtail snappers and 104 mangrove snappers in excess of the legal limits, 30 undersized snappers, and an undersized red grouper. One of the two men - R.Y., Jr. - owns a Cuban restaurant and fish market in Miami and admitted to selling his catch there. The retail value of the fish was placed in excess of $800. On December 21st, both men appeared in court. R.Y. accepted a felony Lacey Act conviction, $5,000 in fines, forfeiture of his part of the catch, and lost of $3,800 in fishing and boating equipment. The other man accepted a misdemeanor Lacey Act conviction, $500 in fines, and forfeiture of his part of the catch. Both men were placed on probation for a year, during which they are banned from all four south Florida parks. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 12/26]
Late on the afternoon of March 6th, the 178-foot Panamanian-flagged freighter Faro 1 grounded just outside the park's northern boundary near Cape Florida. The ship allegedly broke anchor off Miami and drifted onto a shoal in about eight feet of water. Underwater surveys revealed that the vessel was aground primarily on a sandy bottom. At the time of the grounding and the initial assessment effort, there were concerns regarding the structural integrity of the vessel and some minor oil sheens were issuing from the bilge. A NOAA trajectory analysis showed that there would be a catastrophic release of on-board cargo, including 6,500 gallons of fuel oil, if the ship's structure failed, in turn causing serious impacts on park natural resources. On March 7th, a salvage contractor removed the on-board fuel and was able to refloat the vessel early the next morning. A slow response from the salvage company and rough seas complicated the incident. Coast Guard personnel and Biscayne NP rangers ensured that adequate measures were taken to minimize any damage that could have occurred if the vessel's structure failed. No determination has yet been made as to damage to any surrounding underwater marine communities. The ship is no longer a threat to park resources and is currently moored on the Miami River for further evaluation. [David Pharo, LES, BISC, 3/8]
Rangers received a call from the Coast Guard on April 5th, soliciting assistance in finding a man who'd fallen overboard from his boat. The 42-year-old man and his father were trolling and fishing on the reef tract east of Elliott Key. As the son went to the stern of the boat to check the fishing lines, a large boat passed by, leaving a wake that tossed the son overboard. He was not wearing a life vest. The father, who was unfamiliar with boats, was unable to stop it or reverse the engines, and was unsuccessful in his efforts to throw a line to his son. The son soon said that he was getting tired and slipped under the surface. The father was able to flag down a passing boat about an hour later and reported the incident. A search ensued that continued through the night. The son's body was found the following morning. Foul play is not suspected. [Holly Rife, CR, BISC, 4/8]
Park cultural resource specialist J.A. and his wife P.A. were on the Amtrak train that derailed in Florida, causing several fatalities and many injuries. They were on their way to P.A.'s father's funeral. J.A. suffered lacerations to his head; P.A. had a fractured vertebra, but was subsequently found to also be bleeding internally. J.A.'s injuries have been treated and he has been released from the hospital, but P.A. remains in intensive care. Additional details will be provided when they become available. [Monika Mayr, Linda Canzanelli, BISC, 4/22]
Ranger Randy Whitton discovered a 36-foot Sea Ray power boat hard aground on protected sea grass beds late on April 17. He found four people on board and discovered a weapon and $32,000 in currency. Whitton summoned assistance and was soon joined by ranger David Carter (from C&O Canal NHP) and Customs agents. The cash, believed to be the proceeds from alien smuggling, was seized, and forfeiture proceedings were begun. On August 3, Customs returned the cash and terminated forfeiture proceedings in an effort to maintain the identity of an informant and to enhance the investigation. The follow-up investigation lead to the interception and arrest of the same four men in the same boat on August 8. There were in the process of smuggling 24 aliens in coastal waters off Florida and outside of the park. During the search of the vessel, officers found the receipt and bank deposit for the $32,000, which had been returned to them five days earlier. [Submitted by David Pharo, Law Enforcement Specialist, Biscayne NP]
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 29, A.G. and R.M. went fishing on the ocean side of Elliott Key in an 18-foot Sea Craft. Winds were blowing between 15 and 20 knots at the time. Around 8 p.m., they called home, reporting that they were having engine problems but were okay. At 10 p.m., they made a May Day call to the Coast Guard from their cell phone, but the transmission was garbled and indicated that they were near Key West - about 130 miles from Elliott Key. The Coast Guard searched the keys throughout the night, but without success. Early on Monday, The Coast Guard learned that the men had been off Elliott Key. Rangers Randy Whitton and Tom Rutledge began a search of the area. Rutledge found the two men around 8:30 a.m. and brought them to Black Point Marina. A.G. was found to have a history of drug smuggling; R.M. had an outstanding bench warrant against him and was arrested. They reported that their boat had sunk, but the capsized craft showed up on Friday. A.G. was called to retrieve the boat and authorized removal by a towing company, but never showed up to reclaim the boat and pay the towing bill. A capsized boat is a navigation hazard to other boats and also destroys sensitive coral reefs as it bounces along the bottom. A.G. will be cited to court to account for his failure to retrieve the boat. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of August 16, Miami Dade Metro PD asked ranger John Bittner to assist with a mentally disturbed person who was making death threats at Homestead Bayfront Marina adjacent to park headquarters. Bittner pursued the 17-foot Boston Whaler when it fled from the marina down the channel at a high rate of speed. He attempted to stop the boat, but the operator hit the throttle, then threw himself on the deck, where he was unable to see where he was going. The operator finally stopped, though, and was identified as K.M., a tow boat captain permitted to work in Biscayne NP who lived on an island adjacent to the park. K.M. talked about being "Moby Dick" and saving sea turtles, then jumped into the water. Bittner threw K.M. a life vest, removed the keys from K.M.'s boat, and called a towing company to bring the boat back to the marina. K.M. eventually climbed back in his boat and was arrested by Miami Dade when it arrived back at the marina. K.M. had been arrested a week earlier at his island home, where he'd been making death threats. He was known to carry a .44 magnum pistol. K.M., who was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder, was fired by the tow boat company and no longer lives on the island. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger]
A fisherman reported seeing a body in the ocean 30 feet off the boardwalk at Convoy Point on Saturday, October 5. Rangers David Pharo and John Bittner pulled the body to shore. A hat and pair of shoes were found neatly placed on shore near the point where the body was found, but no identification was found on the body and there was no car left in the parking lot. The rangers secured the potential crime scene and summoned Miami-Dade investigators. A crime scene unit collected numerous items from the shoreline that might be associated with the death. At last report, the man's identity had not been determined. An analysis of his fingerprints proved fruitless. The cause of death remains unknown, so the death is being treated as a homicide until proven otherwise. [Submitted by David Pharo, Law Enforcement Specialist]
The annual Columbus Day weekend boating regattas and associated events brought thousands of boats to the park, all of them anchoring within a one square mile area. As is normally the case, the weekend was characterized by significant amounts of drinking and a fair amount of nudity and lewd and lascivious acts. There were also two significant boating accidents. The first occurred on October 12 near Stiltsville and involved three boats. One boat had engine problems and was being towed by the second when the third sideswiped it, went airborne, and landed on the transom and a passenger in the left rear of the first boat. The third boat then capsized and its two occupants fell into the ocean. There were four injuries. Miami Dade Fire and Rescue handled the rescue. On the next day, kayakers found a 28-foot Donzi about 55 feet up into a grove of mangroves with a body on board. The victim was pinned between the console and leaning post. There were indications that there had been two or three other occupants, but none of them were found in the area. The body of one of the occupants was found the next morning about three miles from the accident scene. Neither had been identified at the time of the report. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger ]
Additional information has been received on the fatal boating accidents first reported in the October 22 Morning Report and on other incidents that occurred during the annual "party on the bay" (as it's come to be known) on Columbus Day weekend. This year, there were several boat collisions and near misses as people left the area on Saturday night. One occurred when a good Samaritan stopped to help a boater who was having engine problems. As he began towing the second boat, a third boat hit it from behind. This caused the second boat to go airborne and land on the stern of the first. The boat also landed on a passenger in the rear of the boat, who died as a result of severe trauma. Three others sustained serious injuries, and several more had to be pulled from the water after their boat capsized. Later that evening, a 28-foot Donzi "go-fast" boat hit a number of other boats while crossing the bay. The Coast Guard received a call from the captain of one of them, who said that his boat had been hit by the Donzi, that he'd been knocked into the water, and that the Donzi had kept on going. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission received a call from a visitor reporting that the Donzi had hit their boat with a glancing blow, then kept going. On Sunday morning, the Donzi was found onshore in a dense grove of mangroves. It had created a 100-foot-long path through the shallow bay bottom, then cut a 70-foot swath through the mangroves. The body of one man was found on board, pinned under the console. Evidence indicated that he'd tried to push the console off him. The identifications for several other people were found on board, but only one other body was located. Another was found in the middle of the bay on Monday. It's believed that the driver of the Donzi was ejected into the bay in the first collision and subsequently drowned. The boat then continued on, as the passengers on board were unable to stop it. It then hit the second boat before running full speed into the mangroves. Also occurring during the weekend were 17 arrests for boating under the influence, five stolen vessels (one of them recovered), two arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, five other incidents involving weapons, one sinking, a boat fire in which 30 people had to be rescued from the water, two assaults, 13 major vessel groundings with related damage to seagrass beds, three search and rescue operations, one incident involving lewd and lascivious behavior, three EMS incidents (including a woman who was run over by a boat and cut by its propeller), 100 boating safety violations, and one pursuit of a vessel that was smuggling 25 Cubans into the U.S. The latter required the use of pepper spray to subdue three of the people on board. The park continues to move this event toward traditional national park activities. To that end, a visitor contact barge was introduced, staffed by interpreters. It proved to be a rallying point for lost swimmers. Maintenance staff marked the Featherbeds, a shallow seagrass nursery, with 25 pencil buoys to keep visitors out of the shallow areas; they also provided on-scene marine mechanical assistance. Resource management and administrative staff guarded the Featherbeds to help prevent damage to the area. Along with this concerted effort by all park staff, Biscayne received help from rangers from Everglades, Big Cypress, Glen Canyon, Yosemite, Gulf Islands, Christiansted, Shenandoah and Assateague Island; they were also helped by Miami-Dade PD, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, the Coast Guard, Customs, and staff from area marinas. The event is an excellent example of a park working cooperatively and successfully with other NPS units and area partners. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger ]
Officials at the nuclear power plant at Turkey Point, located just a half mile from park headquarters and bordering the park, received a phone call advising them of a bomb threat to the facility around 10 p.m. on Thursday evening. The land side of the plant was secured, and the Coast Guard was called for assistance in patrolling the water side of the property. The Coast Guard then called the park for assistance, since they couldn't be on scene for 45 minutes. Rangers Tom Rutledge and John Bittner responded and secured the area until it was determined that there was no longer a threat. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger ]
The 49-foot cabin cruiser Evening Star struck a coral reef in the park yesterday afternoon and sank about three minutes later. All three occupants were safely taken aboard another vessel. The boat has about 600 gallons of diesel fuel on board, but no leakage has yet been noted. Towboat U.S. is employing a number of pumps in efforts to refloat the vessel and minimize damage, but strong winds, turbulent water and waning daylight were hindering operations. According to a passenger on the boat, the impact was "like hitting a wall - the boat stopped and we continued on." Under the National Park System Resource Protection Act, the operator can be held financially liable for restoration required to repair the damaged reef. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger]
The 49-foot cabin cruiser Evening Star struck Anniversary Reef in the park last Wednesday and sank minutes later. All three occupants were safely taken aboard another vessel. Lift bags were employed on Thursday and Friday to float the boat off the reef. About 600 gallons of diesel fuel were removed from the vessel in an effort to minimize the possibility of a fuel spill. Park staff are working with contractors, local salvage companies and the responsible parties to remove the boat from the park. Park biologists have begun an assessment to determine resource damage. The park typically has over 200 documented vessel groundings each year, which together pose a serious threat to marine habitat. [Submitted by David Bremen, PIO]
On January 11, rangers received a tip that a man driving a car with
heavily tinted windows was looking into vehicles in the visitor center
parking lot, scene of a series of car clouts since August, 2002. Ranger
David Pharo kept watch on the lot while rangers Didier Carod and John
Bittner waited just outside the park entrance. The man was only in the
lot for a few minutes when he left at a high rate of speed. Carod
stopped him for speeding; Pharo meanwhile confirmed that a car had been
forcibly entered adjacent to the spot where the suspect vehicle had been
parked. Carod and Bittner asked the driver - later identified as
T.H. - to get out of his car, but he instead fled. Carod
and Bittner pursued. Although T.H. hit a sign that damaged the right
side of his car and flattened its right rear tire, he nonetheless kept
going, heading north in the southbound lane. After about eight miles,
T.H. pulled into a gas station, where the rangers arrested him. Miami
Dade officers provided backup. T.H. is suspected of breaking into cars
at Everglades NP and local establishments in Homestead for more than a
year. He has been charged with a dozen violations, including fleeing to
elude a law enforcement officer, larceny, and reckless driving. On
January 15, he appeared before a magistrate, who denied bond due to
T.H.'s prior criminal record and a history of eluding law enforcement
officers. He will be incarcerated until he's tried.
On January 29, park archeologist Brenda Lazendorf and biological
technician Toby Obenauer were on Elliott Key looking for the remains of
a railroad that had been used to ship key limes when they discovered a
skull and long bones about 75 yards from the tip of the key. Dental
testing revealed that these were the remains of G.L., who was
killed in Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992. G.L. and two
companions tied up their boat in Caesar Creek, with the objective of
riding out the storm. They incorrectly assumed that the storm would turn
north. During the hurricane, G.L. went out on deck to secure lines
and was swept away. Another person on the boat was killed by flying
debris. The sole survivor remained inside the boat throughout the
hurricane.
On the morning of March 4th, a visitor reported the Cuban migrants
were stranded on Caesar's Rock, about ten miles east of Homestead
Bayfront County Park on the southern end of Biscayne NP. The eleven men,
eight women, male child and their dog had left from Cuba two days before
on a stolen 25-foot boat that ran out of gas on Tuesday morning. Rangers
were the first notified and first on scene and transported the
immigrants to Adams Key, where they were treated for dehydration and
hunger. The Coast Guard dispatched a 41-foot boat from Miami to take
them to park headquarters at Convoy Point, where they were turned over
to the Border Patrol. The Miami Dade Marine Patrol also assisted.
A group of six people in two open 17-foot boats left Black Point
Marina on the afternoon of March 30th and headed for Elliott Key Harbor,
a distance of about ten miles. J.C. and N.C. were in a
bayliner; L.V. and A.V. and their two sons - Ri.V.,
three and Ro.V., one - were in a homemade boat. An arctic cold
front passed over the area while they were at Elliott Key, dropping
temperatures into the lower 50s and bringing a cold rain. The V.s
and C.s. decided to return to the marina. Meanwhile, winds had
increased to 40 mph, seas increased to five to six feet, and darkness
fell. The two boats became separated; the bayliner returned to Black
Point Marina, but the V.'s boat did not appear. After two hours, the
C.s reported it as overdue. Rangers headed out into the bay from the
islands and quickly found that conditions were too dangerous for small
boats. The Coast Guard searched by helicopter after the winds dropped,
but called off the effort at 2 a.m. The search resumed at first light
and the V.s were found in the ocean around 9 a.m. Their boat had
capsized during the night. The parents had weak pulses and were taken to
the hospital, where they both recovered without ill effects. The boys
had breathed in too much water, however, and succumbed.
On January 11th, rangers stopped T.H. on suspicion of
committing a car clout in the visitor center parking lot. T.H. fled
during the stop, driving against oncoming traffic down a divided
highway. He punctured his rear tire while trying to elude the rangers,
who were able to catch and arrest him after a chase of seven miles.
T.H. was denied bond and remained in jail until his case was heard in
early April. During the four-day trial, five members of Biscayne's staff
testified along with the car clout victims. T.H. was convicted of
three felony counts by a jury - burglary of a car, fleeing from law
enforcement at a high rate of speed showing wanton disregard for the
safety of others, and possession of burglary tools. T.H. is known to
have committed car clouts back to 1999 in other national parks and at
businesses in the local community. Late last year, he was caught by Boca
Raton police for a similar crime and will be tried there after he gets
out of jail. Sentencing will be on June 19th.
Last week, T.H. was sentenced to 32 months in prison
following his conviction on charges stemming from a burglary he
committed in the park on January 11th. On that date, rangers pulled him
over to question him about a burglary that had just occurred in the
visitor center parking lot. T.H. fled, though, driving his Chevy
Avalanche at speeds of more than 100 mph against southbound traffic on
Speedway Boulevard in Homestead. During his flight from arrest, T.H.
hit numerous road signs, crossed into the center median and struck a
bridge before finally coming to a stop due to a blown tire and severe
damage to the truck. When apprehended, T.H. had burglary tools, cash,
and stolen property in his possession. Prior to his arrest, there had
been a rash of car clouts in both Biscayne and Everglades and at other
area visitor attractions. Those burglaries have since diminished.
T.H., who has a prior criminal record for similar offenses, was also
sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to attend an
anger management and drug abuse program while serving a three-year term
of supervised release.
While on patrol in the Boca Chita Lighthouse channel on August 10th,
rangers Brian Fields (Biscayne) and Michelle Gilbert (Everglades) saw a
33-foot Donzi maneuver over native seagrass, a significant environmental
issue at Biscayne. Fields stopped the boat and identified the two
non-English speaking occupants as J.R. and F.C..
J.R., a foreign national, was operating the boat. The rangers
determined that the Donzi had been stolen from Jacksonville. The boat
was found to contain eight fuel drums with an in-line pump, both
commonly used in drug and alien smuggling operations. A National
Security Agency jacket was also found on board. A joint investigation
was conducted by the NPS, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs and
Miami-Dade Metro PD. J.R. was arrested for the stolen vessel and
F.C. was detained for further investigation.
In December, 2002, park staff discovered an encroachment along the
northwest boundary of the park. The extensive development consisted of a
rock island (39 feet by 47 feet by 5 feet) rising out of Biscayne Bay,
350 feet of boardwalk cut through the mangroves, an aviary (15 feet by
50 feet by 10 feet) and 2,500 square feet of decking surrounding three
recreational vehicles. Rangers obtained a search warrant and searched
the property in January, 2003. The owner of the adjacent upland
property, C.D., was responsible for the encroachment and
appears to have fled the country. A damage assessment was completed,
indicating that damage came to about $1 million. The Park System
Resources Protection Act, a federal law passed in 1990and often referred
to as 19jj, makes the perpetrator of such violations liable for response
costs and restoration of damaged resources, even if such damage was
unintentional. The park worked with Miami Dade County to seize the
C.D. property under a county criminal forfeiture law. The county was
involved because it was able to expedite the process. The
property, which was originally valued at $850,000, was sold to the city
of Palmetto Bay Village for $300,000 to use as a city park. Heightened
attention to the area led the park to assemble a team of 25 park
employees to remove the illegally constructed boardwalk and decking. On
March 25th, the boardwalk was removed at the rate of 60 feet per
hour. The remainder of the decking was removed the next day, and
800 red mangrove seedlings were planted to aid in recovery of the
affected area. The removal of salvaged lumber and demolition of the
aviary and rock island are expected to be completed within six weeks.
The investigation is ongoing.
Ranger Jason Marsh was on patrol on Monday, April 5tyh, when he saw
helicopters hovering over Black Point Jetty. A visitor had called 911
after finding a man hanging from a tree on the jetty. Local EMS
personnel were on scene administering CPR, but were unable to revive the
man. Miami Dade PD is investigating.
Rangers received a call on July 18th, reporting that visitor R.F. had dived into a two feet of water off a popular sand bar and had been injured. Off-duty firefighters witnessed the accident. Rangers Jason Marsh and Tom Rutledge found that R.F. had no feeling in his legs or arms. They put him on a backboard and provided oxygen, then took him to Elliott Key for pickup by Miami Dade Air Rescue. A boat escort was provided to assure calm water. Doctors found that R.F. had suffered a dislocated cervical vertebra. The surgery was successful, and R.F. is expected to fully recover. Rangers had recently completed training in water rescue, which facilitated the rescue. Doctors later said that R.F. would have died without prompt and correct action. [Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger]
Hurricane Charley is forecast to make landfall in south Florida this morning. Parks in its immediate path have completed preparations for Charley's arrival. Meanwhile, parks further up the Eastern seaboard are preparing for the effects of heavy to very heavy rains. According to meteorologists, a strong southwesterly flow aloft will rapidly steer remnants of Bonnie and then Charley up the East Coast today and into the weekend. Flooding rain will be a major concern as these systems drench areas from Florida black"> to New York and New England. Here are reports from parks in the storm's path: Biscayne NP — The park was closed to the public at noon yesterday. The closure affects all park islands — including Boca Chita, Elliot and Adams Keys — and the mainland area at Convoy Point. Park waters will remain open for vessel transit only. Yesterday afternoon, representatives from Southeast, Northeast and
National Capital Regions, including emergency program coordinators,
regional chief rangers, and the Eastern IMT, conducted a conference call
to share information on preparations and coordinate responses.
Preparedness efforts will continue today.
Hurricane Charley's passage up the East Coast affected more than a dozen NPS areas. Here are reports from parks that were in or near the storm's path, south to north: Biscayne NP — The park reopened to the public on Saturday morning. The storm inflicted no damage. The park's concession reopened yesterday. The above report was based on submissions from the following people: Ken Garvin, Southeast Regional Office; Bob Panko, IC, EVER; Mark Hardgrove, Deputy Superintendent, Outer Banks Group; Ann Childress, Superintendent, MOCR; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU; Jon Anglin, Acting Chief Ranger, CAHA; Wouter Ketel, Chief Ranger, CALO; Michelle Oehmichen, BISC; Charlie Fenwick, Superintendent, DESO; Gordie Wilson, CASA/FOMA; Barbara Goodman, Superintendent, TIMU/FOCA; Tom Nash, Chief Ranger, COLO; Timothy Morgan, Chief Ranger, CANA; Mary Doll, Management Assistant, Outer Banks Group; Larry Belles, BICY
The park has begun pulling boats and trailering them to Everglades
and shuttering island residences. These operations are being begun today
because they take the longest time to complete safely. A decision will
be made this morning on when to begin hurricane preparations throughout
the rest of the park. An all employee meeting will be held at
1:30 p.m. this afternoon. Hurricane Frances has
many of the characteristics of Hurricane Andrew, which has raised
concerns among park staff about the scope and intensity of its impacts
if it hits the area.
Hurricane Frances is now forecast to hit Florida hard on Saturday morning, and those in its way are getting ready:
[Submitted by Larry Belles, BICY; Dave Parker, IC, CASA/FOMA; Timothy Morgan, Chief Ranger, CANA; Gary Bremen, BISC]
The following were submitted through yesterday afternoon: Biscayne NP — All employees, including the incident management team and the security team, were released at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. May employees are leaving the area and heading to Florida's west coast. [Submitted by Ken Garvin, SERO; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent; Richard Bryant, IC, TIMU/FOCA; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Timothy Morgan, Chief Ranger, CANA]
Because Hurricane Frances' course skirted most National Park Service areas (at least in its incarnation as a hurricane), it caused only modest damage to parks in the Southeast Region. Reports on those impacts appear below. As a member of the federal interagency wildland fire community, however, NPS employees are among those responding to the larger impacts of the hurricane on residents of Florida. An area command team and six Type 1 incident management teams have been committed to assist FEMA with disaster relief and the operation of receiving and distribution centers, base camps and logistics staging areas for essential supplies. Also committed (as of Tuesday morning) are eleven helicopters and four buying teams. According to the a press release from the Forest Service's Region 8, "this mission represents the broadest application of the incident command system to a natural disaster or federal emergency." Reports from the parks follow: Biscayne NP — The park's mainland and island areas have been reopened, but most hurricane shutters are being left in place and only a minimum number of boats are being moved back due to the prospect of Hurricane Ivan making landfall in Florida late this week. No major damage has been found, although there's a great deal of floating debris in the bay. Some staff members report minor roof damage, and one employee had reported a tree down on his house. No assessment has yet been made of the Stiltsville area. The park has offered to help the Fish and Wildlife Service staff in Vero Beach, which was hit hard by the storm. Based on reports from Ken Garvin, SERO; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, BISC; Fred Sanchez, Chief Ranger, ANDE/JICA; Larry Belles, FMO, BICY; Timothy Morgan, CR, CANA; Charlie Fenwick, Superintendent, DESO; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Brian Loadholtz, Acting Superintendent, TIMU/FOCA; June Devisfruto, Chief Ranger, FOPU.
As parks in Florida and Georgia continue to clean up from Hurricane Frances, they're keeping a weather eye on Hurricane Ivan — characterized by the National Hurricane Center as "an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane" with maximum sustained winds of nearly 160 mph and a barometric pressure of 27.20 — lower than Hurricane Andrew and eclipsed only by Hurricane Camille (1969) and the Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane (1935). Meanwhile, parks along the Appalachians — particularly Blue Ridge Parkway — have been dealing with the deluge brought by the remnants of Frances. According to USGS, rainfall amounts of from 8 to 16 inches have been reported from western North Carolina (Phil Noblitt from Blue Ridge Parkway reports that the suburb of Asheville where he lives received 17 inches of rain in 36 hours). North Carolina DOT reports that more than 90 primary and secondary roads were impassable yesterday due to high water, and that I-40 was restricted in both directions due to a mud slide. Stream flows are very high in the area, some at hundred year levels. Here are today's reports, beginning with the hardest hit area and moving south: Biscayne NP — The park's hurricane incident management team met on Tuesday to discuss possible preparations for Hurricane Ivan. Most shutters installed for Frances have been left in place, and most of the boats that were moved have not yet been brought back. Based on reports from Ken Garvin, SERO; Bob DeGross, BICY; Brian Loadholtz, TIMU; Gary Bremen, BISC; Jerre Brumbelow, CUIS; Gordon Wilson, CASA/FOMA; Charlie Fenwick, DESO; Phil Noblitt, BLRI; Nancy Gray, GRSM; Jeanne Robbins, USGS
Recovery from the intense rains and more modest but strong winds of Hurricane Frances continues. Preparations for Hurricane Ivan, a Category 5 storm that the National Hurricane Center has characterized as "extremely dangerous," have begun in south Florida parks. The center is forecasting a high probability of landfall somewhere in that area by early next week. Here are the reports received yesterday: Biscayne NP — The park advises that the Keys are under a mandatory evacuation order for visitors and all people in mobile homes, and expects that more mandatory evacuation orders will be issued today. Many staff are heading out of state. Reports from Ken Garvin, SERO; Phil Noblitt, BLRI; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, BISC; Carol Clark, Acting Superintendent, BICY/Larry Belles, FMO, BICY; Brian Loadholtz, TIMU/FOCA; Timothy Morgan, CANA.
Today's report on preparations for Ivan is based primarily on reports received late last week. It will be updated early on Tuesday. Also included are some follow-up notes on cleanup from Frances: Biscayne NP — A mandatory evacuation for all residents of the Keys was ordered at 7 a.m. on Friday morning. Those employees living on the Keys were accordingly released from duty. The park's island residences were also evacuated on Friday morning. About a quarter of the park staff has opted to leave the state. Reports from Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, BISC; Timothy Morgan, Chief Ranger, CANA; Charlie Fenwick, Superintendent, DESO; Robert Degross, BICY; Rick Cook, EVER; Bob Panko, IC, EVER; Gordie Wilson, CASA/FOMA; Brian Loadholtz, TIMU/FOCA.
Here are today's updates on preparations for Hurricane Ivan: Biscayne NP — The Convoy Point VC has opened, but island facilities will remain closed until further notice. Island residents will remain in their evacuation locations until Ivan has passed by. The majority of park boats remain in storage and storm shutters remain in place. Due to high winds from Ivan's periphery, boat operations have been suspended. Reports from Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Bob Panko, IC, EVER; J.D. Lee, Chief Ranger, GUIS; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, BISC; Timothy Morgan, Chief Ranger, CANA.
Today's report summarizes preparations for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Ivan on the Gulf Coast and for Tropical Storm Jeanne in the Virgin Islands. Along with park preparations, the National Park Service and kindred agencies have been working behind the scenes making preparations to respond quickly where and when needed. The emergency service coordinators from Southeast, National Capital and Northeast Regions and the Eastern IMT incident commanders have been conducting daily conference calls to coordinate a possible NPS response. Rick Brown's team is on standby. Daily conference calls are also being held between and among federal agencies in the Southeast, including the Fish and Wildlife Service, BIA, Forest Service, US Geological Service and representatives from the interagency command team that is assisting FEMA. Here's the latest from the parks: Biscayne NP — The incident command team yesterday decided to continue with a partial reopening of the park. Residents of the park's islands will be allowed to return to their homes and a limited number of boats will be returned to the park. Some shutters will remain in place due to windy conditions and in anticipation of possible severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Jeanne.
Tropical Storm Jeanne became a hurricane yesterday, and is tracking toward the Florida coast. Three reports have been received: Biscayne NP — Park staff are closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Jeanne, which could reach them by Monday. Most operations will accordingly shutdown by this afternoon. The visitor center will remain open, however, and a scheduled coastal cleanup will go forward — unless conditions change. Island residents will remain in their homes for the time being, but have been asked to be prepared to leave by Sunday morning. Reports from Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, BISC.
Preparations for Hurricane Jeanne, thought to have wandered off for good, have begun in earnest. In case you're wondering when this busy storm season is going to let up, keep in mind the admonishment at the top of the Florida Division of Emergency Management web site (http://www.floridadisaster.org/) — just 68 days until the end of hurricane season. Biscayne NP — Hurricane Jeanne could be a threat to the park by Sunday. The park's incident management team has decided that a full shutdown will be implemented in accordance with the park's hurricane plan, beginning at 7 a.m. this morning. From reports by Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Gary Bremen, Park Ranger, BISC; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR.
The following reports were received through Saturday: Biscayne NP — The park closed on Friday. Island residents have been evacuated. The incident management team (Holly Rife, IC) is overseeing preparations. From reports by Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Wayne Rose, Acting Chief Ranger, CANA; Bob DeGross, Chief of Interpretation, BICY; Susan Gonshor, Chief of Interpretation, BISC; Gordie Wilson, Superintendent, CASA/FOMA; Dann Trexler, Acting Chief Ranger, CAHA; Bill Wright, Chief Ranger, EVER; Julie Meeks, Chief of Administration, CUIS; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Norm Williams, IC, TIMU/FOCA; John Breen, Superintendent, FOPU; Raymond Hamel, Park Ranger, DESO.
The following reports were received through yesterday evening: Biscayne NP — The hurricane made landfall just before midnight near Stuart, Florida. Winds of 25 to 40 mph were reported in the area. Convoy Point was checked and found to be undamaged so was reopened at 10 a.m. yesterday. As there are no longer any storms within the Atlantic or Caribbean threatening the region, the park planned to fully reopen by today. Boats are being returned from storage. From reports by Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Mark Hardgrove, Deputy Superintendent, CAHA; Rick Clark, Plans Chief, IMT, and Gary Bremen, PIO, BISC; Charlie Fenwick, Superintendent, DESO; Steve Hurd, IC, IMT, EVER; Bruce W. Rosel, Maintenance Mechanic Foreman, CANA; Phil Noblitt, PAO, BLRI.
The following reports were received through yesterday evening: Biscayne NP — The park was completely reopened as of 3:30 p.m.on Monday. Employees who reside on the park's islands checked out of local hotels and returned to their homes yesterday. No damage was reported to park facilities. Winds never exceeded 40 mph and less than an inch of rain fell at Convoy Point. Shutdown and re-opening went smoothly for the fourth time in six weeks, a new park record. From reports by Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Rick Clark, Plans Chief, IMT, BISC; Gordie Wilson, Superintendent, CASA/FOMA; John Breen, Superintendent, FOPU; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Norman Williams, IC, TIMU/FOCA; Connie Backlund, Superintendent, CARL; Bruce Ross, IC, CANA; Phil Noblitt, PAO, BLRI; Chris Nelson, PAO, DEWA.
On June 4th, rangers received intelligence information from the Coast
Guard about an illegal alien smuggling operation in the area. Following
two days of surveillance, rangers saw two suspicious vessels leaving
Homestead Bayfront County Park, right across the canal from park
headquarters. As the vessels were leaving the channel, the rangers
noticed that the engine sounded like it was "on plane" (up off the water
and running at cruising speed) but observed that it was instead plowing
through the water. This suggested that it was carrying a lot of weight.
They advised the Coast Guard, which intercepted the boats on the ocean
side of Adam's Key. Recovered items included cell phones with Cuban
phone numbers, GPS systems with routes to Cuba, fuel transfer pumps, and
20 15-gallon fuel cells. Smuggled immigrants are frequently recovered on
land but the smugglers are much more difficult to intercept.
Parks in south Florida are assessing the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Katrina, which will likely be a hurricane by the time it makes landfall, and are taking actions as deemed appropriate: Biscayne NP - The park, including the Dante Fascell Visitors Center, picnic areas and the park's concessioner, is closed today and will remain closed until it is safe to reopen. Employees will likely be released by noon today. [Bonnie Foist, LES, Everglades; Kevin Walsh, FMO, Big Cypress; Gary Bremen, Park Ranger, Biscayne]
Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage in Everglades NP, but so far appears not to have had a major impact on other Florida parks. This morning, the hurricane will again make landfall, probably in Louisiana. It will then move to the north and east, bringing heavy rains along its path. This morning's summary begins with preparations in Louisiana, then reports on the hurricane's impacts in Florida: Biscayne NP The re-entry team checking the park reported half a dozen trees down, with some on the park entrance road. The dock suffered some structural damage. The park has power. Due to unsafe conditions accessing the park, including flooded streets, the park will remain closed. [Submitted by Ken Garvin, Regional FMO, SERO; Leigh Zahm, Ranger, JELA; Bill Wright, Chief Ranger, EVER; Scott Anderson, Program Assistant, CANA; Brenda Lanzendorf, IC, BISC; Ed Clark, Chief Ranger, BICY]
Although Hurricane Katrina made landfall yesterday morning, no reports have yet been received from parks in its path. Today's summary includes two follow-up reports from south Florida and a series of reports received on Sunday and Monday from Louisiana and Mississippi prior to the hurricane's arrival: Biscayne NP All park facilities, including Adams, Elliott and Boca Chita Keys, reopened yesterday following their closure during the hurricane's passage. Damage assessments continue.
South Florida parks have all put their hurricane plans into effect and are largely closed. Here are the particulars: Biscayne NP - Effective at noon yesterday, all park islands (including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Adams Key) and the mainland area at Convoy Point (nine miles east of Homestead) closed to the public. Park waters will remain open for vessel transit only. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. After suffering severe damage in 1992's Hurricane Andrew, the park implemented a detailed plan for adequately protecting life and property, while at the same time taking into account employee's needs to prepare their own homes and families. The plan has been fine-tuned at every approaching storm, and currently calls for preparations to begin at 72 hours before potential landfall. These preparations include not only securing and shuttering buildings, but also removing the park's entire fleet of boats (over 20 vessels) to an inland location. [Bob DeGross, Chief of Interpretation, BICY; Michelle D. Oehmichen, IO, IMT, BISC; Bob Panko, IC, and Rick Cook, PAO, EVER; Willie Lopez, DRTO]
Meanwhile, reports have also been received from four parks in Florida that were hit by the storm earlier this week: Biscayne NP The park has reopened. Only minor damage is reported. [Submitted by Mark Foust, Chief, Branch of Ranger Activities, IMRO; Mark Peapenburg, CR, BITH; Brian Carey, CR, LYJO; Randy Larson, CR, PAIS; Dan Steed, CR, SAAN; Bob Panko, FMO, EVER; Ed Clark, CR, BITH]
As Hurricane Wilma winds up in the Caribbean, parks in south Florida within the possible path of this intense hurricane are once again shutting down: Biscayne NP All park islands (including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Adams Key) and the mainland area at Convoy Point closed to the public at 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Park waters remain open for vehicle transit only. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. [Ken Garvin, FMO, Southeast Regional Office; Bob Panko, IC, EVER/DRTO; Eric Lugo, Chief Ranger, CANA; Kevin Walsh, FMO, BITH; Maria Beotegui, BISC]
The Service's National Incident Management Team (JD Swed, IC) has been pre-positioned in Orlando, Florida, for immediate response, if needed. Thirteen overhead team members are planning and preparing to assist parks with employee accounting and assistance, emergency damage mitigation and park recovery. Establishment of the ICP in Orlando in advance of the storm's arrival enables the team to respond at the first safe opportunity to the storm-related needs of NPS employees and park units. The general trend in lessons learned in responses to Isabel, Katrina and Rita, is that pre-positioning a team in advance of a hurricane results in more successful and rapid recovery of parks and employees from the effects of these weather events. Biscayne NP The park remains closed. [Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT; Rick Cook, PAO, EVER; Ed Clark, Chief Ranger, BICY; John Stiner, CANA; Charlie Fenwick, Acting Superintendent, DESO]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) continues to gather information and prepare to assist south Florida NPS units now that Hurricane Wilma has passed out of the state and into the Atlantic. Operations and logistics have been coordinating with parks and local entities to prepare to address employee and park needs. Preliminary damage assessments have been received by the team, regional director and WASO. Some employees at Everglades and Biscayne have still not been accounted for. Since cellular communications and land phone lines have been damaged, it's likely that employees are fine but having trouble connecting with their park. While some areas still have not been inspected, indications are that Everglades and Big Cypress have sustained significant damage to visitor centers, housing, and other infrastructure. Biscayne is scheduled to give the team an accurate damage assessment today after park staff gain access to headquarters, docks and islands. Park staff on the mainland hope to inspect Dry Tortugas by helicopter today to assess damage there. Generally, power, water and communications are non-existent or spotty in all areas. Wind damage to roofs, structures, docks, power lines and downed trees are widespread throughout south Florida. A small number of incident management team members will travel to the Everglades/Big Cypress/Biscayne area today and the rest of the team will follow as soon as they can be supported logistically. [Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) continues to gather information and prepare to assist south Florida NPS units now that Hurricane Wilma has passed out of the state and into the Atlantic. Operations and logistics have been coordinating with parks and local entities to prepare to address employee and park needs. Preliminary damage assessments have been received by the team, regional director and WASO. Some employees at Everglades and Biscayne have still not been accounted for. Since cellular communications and land phone lines have been damaged, it's likely that employees are fine but having trouble connecting with their park. While some areas still have not been inspected, indications are that Everglades and Big Cypress have sustained significant damage to visitor centers, housing, and other infrastructure. Biscayne is scheduled to give the team an accurate damage assessment today after park staff gain access to headquarters, docks and islands. Park staff on the mainland hope to inspect Dry Tortugas by helicopter today to assess damage there. Generally, power, water and communications are non-existent or spotty in all areas. Wind damage to roofs, structures, docks, power lines and downed trees are widespread throughout south Florida. A small number of incident management team members will travel to the Everglades/Big Cypress/Biscayne area today and the rest of the team will follow as soon as they can be supported logistically. Biscayne NP As of 5 p.m. on Monday, nine employees were still not accounted for. Again, communications issues could be the primary cause. There is minor roof damage to headquarters and roof damage to private homes. The islands have not been checked yet. High winds resulted in downed trees, downed power lines and damaged docks. So far, only a trail to headquarters has been cleared. Park staff plan to travel to headquarters and the islands today to assess damage. [Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
The logistics chief and operations chief from the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) traveled to south Florida early Tuesday morning to gather information and deal with the logistical arrangements necessary to support the people needed to assist Everglades, Big Cypress, Biscayne and any other NPS units or cooperators/volunteers who need it. Updated damage assessments were received by the team, regional director and WASO on Tuesday morning. Some employees at Everglades, Big Cypress and Biscayne have still not been accounted for. Cellular communications and land phone lines are still spotty or non-existent and it's likely that employees are fine but still having trouble connecting with their park. Park staffs are working very hard to contact every NPS employee, volunteer and concession employee and check their condition. Tuesday morning's updates on the parks follow. Power, water and communications are still or spotty in all areas. Wind damage to roofs, structures, docks, power lines and downed trees are widespread throughout south Florida. The incident commander, plans chief, finance chief and safety officer traveled on Tuesday afternoon to join the team members at Everglades. The rest of the team will follow as soon as they can be supported logistically. Biscayne NP As Tuesday morning, four more employees had been heard from and five were still not accounted for. Again, communications issues could be the primary cause. Park staff planned to travel to headquarters and the islands on Tuesday to assess damage. [Submitted by Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
Southeast Region Under the coordination of regional chief ranger Judy Forte and regional fire and all-risk coordinator Ken Garvin, Hurricane Wilma response actions at the regional level have occurred in an efficient and timely manner, in accord with the protocol outlined in the NPS 2005 Southeast Region Emergency Operations Plan. Forecasts were distributed to SER parks from the time the storm first formed. The regional office remained in close communication with parks as they implemented their hurricane plans, weathered the storm, and began initial assessments. Since the preplanning stages of the storm, regional staff have attended daily agency and interagency conference calls to share information, coordinate efforts, and ensure the needs of the parks are being met. On Monday, October 24th, parks were able to conduct preliminary damage assessments and convey their needs for outside assistance. Southeast RD Pat Hooks took immediate action to direct the National IMT (JD Swed, IC), staged in Orlando, to respond to South Florida in the capacity of a Type 2 IMT, to work under park delegation in coordination with the regional office to assist Biscayne NP, Big Cypress NP, Dry Tortugas NP, and Everglades NP with Hurricane Wilma recovery operations as needed. Regional staff continue to coordinate with Florida parks and the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) on a daily basis. Numerous regional resources (FMSS specialists, a hazmat specialist, a landscape architect, etc.) are on standby and ready to respond. Regional staff are also able to provide assistance remotely, including helping to ensure that payroll operations for the affected parks will be processed on time. For more information, go to http://inside.nps.gov/regions/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&rgn=594&id=3877 [Submitted by Michelle Fidler, Fire Education Specialist, SER; Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT; Mark Lewis, Superintendent, BISC; Susan Gonshor, Chief of Interpretation, BISC; Dan Kimball, Superintendent, EVER/DRTO.]
Biscayne NP As of Thursday morning , all but one employee have been accounted for. Park staff have gone to the employee's residence several times. His car is gone and they suspect he left to stay with friends or relatives elsewhere, but will continue to try to contact him. The park is bringing in sawyers, swampers, and construction workers to rebuild damaged facilities and clear trees and debris. An initial damage assessment for Stiltsville revealed mostly minor to moderate damages, including missing stairs and damaged roofs. All structures, however, are still standing. Island LE residents reported primarily roof damage on the islands and have begun clean-up efforts. The park has acquired tarps and begun tarping roofs. The park's gas tank is underground and requires power to operate. Park staff are limiting operations in order to conserve fuel. The park hoped to install a generator to restore power today. [Submitted by Michelle Fidler, Fire Education Specialist, SER; Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT; Mark Lewis, Superintendent, BISC; Susan Gonshor, Chief of Interpretation, BISC; Dan Kimball, Superintendent, EVER/DRTO.]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) transitioned Sunday with the park IMTs from Big Cypress and Everglades. The total number of personnel currently committed to the incident is now 145, including 24 overhead. An FMSS team is onsite to assist Everglades, Dry Tortugas, Big Cypress and Biscayne with facility condition assessments and will enter the information into the FMSS system. Electricity has been restored to Big Cypress, Biscayne and Everglades. Equipment and material are arriving at all three parks. An employee assistance specialist has been assigned to the incident and is meeting with park employees to determine how best to assist affected employees and their families with recovery from Wilma. The National IMT will be attending all-employee meetings that all three parks have scheduled during the coming week. Communications are still challenging all over south Florida. Park employees who have significant need for temporary housing have been placed in motel rooms. Contact with the FEMA incident management team running a receiving and distribution center at Homestead has been established. Meals for crews and fuel are available. Biscayne NP The branch director assigned to the park is Jim Brown, facility manager, Pecos NHP. Facilities have been surveyed to determine the supplies and materials needed for repair of park facilities. Electrical generator issues are being addressed. All park residents are back in their housing. Park crews have assisted in emergency stabilization of roof damage and removal of hazard trees and debris at employee homes. [Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) transitioned Monday with the park IMT from Biscayne National Park. The team spent the morning at an all employee meeting at Biscayne and transitioned with the park's IMT shortly thereafter. The park IMT has done an outstanding job of employee assistance and initial damage assessment. The National IMT will now assist the park with continuing assessments of damage and storm recovery. Equipment and material are arriving at all three parks. An additional employee assistance specialist has arrived and is out in the parks meeting with park employees to determine how best to assist them. Phone service was again out this morning at both Biscayne and Everglades, creating continuing communications problems for both the parks and the IMT. Biscayne NP The newly arrived maintenance crew will conduct an on-site assessment of facilities at Elliot Key and gather information on resource needs for repairs there. The NIMT transitioned with the park's Type 3 IMT Monday morning and began planning for the park's clean-up and recovery. A well attended all-employee meeting was held in the visitors center at Convoy Point. Park management introduced the NIMT to employees and staff were encouraged to ask questions and express concerns. Of 40 park employees in attendance, six remain without power. They have been offered generators and fuel to run them until power is restored. After the all-employee meeting, interpretive ranger Jorge Acevedo provided the NIMT with a complete orientation to the park and IMT activities to date. [Submitted by Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) attended an all-employee meeting held at a chickee near Everglades park headquarters on Tuesday to discuss employee assistance, incident logistics and incident finance with a good portion of the park staff. The team continues to assist Big Cypress, Biscayne and Everglades with condition assessments and recovery operations. Biscayne NP Damage assessment on sites on the Keys has begun in earnest with the assistance of the maintenance crew that is now working in the park. As of yesterday, only a mile or two the seven miles of trails on Elliott Key were determined to be passable. Roofing and screening needs will be assessed and repairs begun on Convoy Point and on the islands. Tree removal started yesterday. A saw crew borrowed from Everglades will be cleaning and clearing the park road and parking areas at Convoy Point. A large dumpster has been ordered to collect the debris at Convoy Point for removal. A local 8(a) roofing contractor in the area has been contacted and will be surveying park structures in order to submit an estimate. Electricity is up at headquarters, but telephone, internet and cell capabilities continue to be spotty. Fuel was delivered to the park early this week and the park tank is now full. Logistical issues with lodging and feeding work crews either on the mainland or Elliot Key are being ironed out by the NIMT and the park. [Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
It was reported yesterday that the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) attended an all-employee meeting held at a "chickee" near park headquarters at Everglades. A chickee is a thatch-roofed, over-water shade structure originally used by the local Native Americans for ceremonial purposes and housing. In south Florida, any covered, open-air or screened structure where people gather is referred to by the Native American term of "chickee." This is true especially in areas within or close to Native American tribal lands. As a continuation of today's Native American theme, Canyon de Chelly National Monument has sent a 30-person crew to assist in hurricane relief efforts in Everglades National Park. The crew, which specializes in exotic plant removal, fuels reduction and search and rescue, is a locally-based Navajo crew hired and trained by Canyon de Chelly to address issues in the park, across the Navajo Reservation and within Intermountain Region. The crew was deployed within a matter of hours and included the technical expertise of an arborist, electrician and heavy equipment operator. The Canyon de Chelly crew is providing support to Everglades in the clean-up of debris on roads and around facilities, removal of downed trees, and restoration of electrical and other operational services. Biscayne NP A skilled maintenance crew began making repairs to ceilings and safety handrails in the headquarters area yesterday. A crew on loan from Everglades cut hazard trees and chipped them at Convoy Point and on the park access road. Park headquarters still has only intermittent phone, electrical and internet service. Park staff have finished surveying their navigational aid devices, and surveying has now begun on water monitoring buoys. The branch director, working with park staff, prepared a five-day plan for immediate facility needs of Boca Chita, Elliot and Adams Keys. The plan was presented at the NIMT planning meeting in which logistical needs, communications needs and finance needs were worked out. [Submitted by Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) continues it's assistance with recovery from Hurricane Wilma at the three large south Florida parks by helping the park staffs with the efforts begun before the storm ever hit. There are now 271 people deployed throughout Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. That figure includes approximately 35 overhead staff. The three parks are beginning to open selected areas to the public while continuing the clean-up process. Biscayne NP The visitor center parking lot, boardwalks, jetties and sidewalks in the Convoy Point area are almost done. The removal of storm shutters is almost complete as well. The concessioner intends to open on Saturday at the same time the Convoy Point VC opens. Crews will begin the tree removal and clean-up at Boca Chica Key on Friday. Clean-up of campgrounds is ongoing. Phone, electrical and internet service have now been restored to the park. [Submitted by Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
Denny Ziemann's Pacific West IMT will transition with JD Swed's National IMT today and assume management of this incident. Swed's team filed its last report earlier this week. It follows. The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) continues it's oversight of recovery from Hurricane Wilma in south Florida. There are now 384 people deployed throughout Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park. The three parks continue to open selected areas to the public while proceeding with the clean-up process. Biscayne NP The FMSS team is now conducting damage assessments in the Stiltsville area and on the park navigational aids. The public use areas around the Education Center and comfort station on Elliot Key have been cleared of hazards and debris and mowed to keep down the mosquitoes. Clearing of the Spite Trail on Elliott Key is now the focus of the saw team and laborers assigned to Biscayne. General clean-up and housekeeping around the Convoy Point area continues. Downed trees and debris are being cleaned from Adams Key. The park's marine mechanic continues to maintain and repair park vessels. [Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
Hurricane Wilma recovery operations are now being managed by two teams. Denny Ziemann's Pacific West IMT is overseeing activities at Biscayne NP and Big Cypress NP. An incident management team headed by Bob Panko of Everglades NP is dealing with operations at Everglades NP and Dry Tortugas NP. A deputy IC (J.P. Mattingly) is responsible for the latter. Biscayne NP Work at Convoy Point continues with repairs on quarters and completion of chipping operations. Work will soon start on replacing 14 glass panels on the Boca Chita Key lighthouse. Stabilization of the Oceanside boardwalk continues. The painting of Boca Chita restrooms has been completed. [Richard Reuse, IO, Panko IMT; Judy Bartzatt, IO, Pacific West IMT]
Hurricane Wilma recovery operations are now being managed by two teams. Denny Ziemann's Pacific West IMT is overseeing activities at Biscayne NP and Big Cypress NP. An incident management team headed by Bob Panko of Everglades NP is dealing with operations at Everglades NP and Dry Tortugas NP. A deputy IC (J.P. Mattingly) is responsible for the latter. Biscayne NP Chipping operations and stabilization of the Oceanside boardwalk continues at Elliott Key. A management burn is planned on Boca Chita Key to remove debris piles from that area. Debris clean-up continues at Convoy Point. [Submitted by Richard Reuse, IO, Panko IMT; Judy Bartzatt, IO, Pacific West IMT]
Parks along the Florida coastline have largely completed preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto, which may again be a hurricane when it reaches the United States mainland: Biscayne NP - The park closed on Monday. Boats have been moved to Everglades in accordance with the park's hurricane plan. [Jeff Brice, NPS Assistant Coordinator, Southern Area Coordination Center]
The following summarizes actions that parks in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are taking in response to Tropical Storm Ernesto (as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday): Biscayne NP - The park is reopening today. Park employees will begin returning to work. Employees who have been evacuated have been asked to contact the Emergency Incident Coordination Center (EICC) at Shenandoah NP to report their status and location. The call in number is 888-246-4335. [Jeff Brice, NPS Assistant Coordinator, Southern Area Coordination Center]
The following summarizes actions that have been or are being taken in Eastern parks in response to Tropical Storm Ernesto (as of 11 a.m. on Thursday): Biscayne NP - The park opened at 8 a.m. yesterday morning. Normal park and concessions operations have resumed. Employees who have been evacuated have been asked to contact the Emergency Incident Coordination Center (EICC) at Shenandoah NP to report their status and location. The call in number is 888-246-4335. [Jeff Brice, NPS Assistant Coordinator, Southern Area Coordination Center; Cyndy Holda, Outer Banks Group; Bill Halainen, Delaware Water Gap NRA]
Despite an increased law enforcement presence on Biscayne Bay, this year's Columbus Day weekend event was marred by two accidents, both occurring at approximately 9 p.m. this past Saturday evening. According to preliminary reports, a collision occurred when a disabled boat that was being towed was struck by a third vessel. A 20-year-old woman died in the accident and four others were critically injured. Three of them were transported to area hospitals in serious condition late Saturday night. A less serious accident involved a single vessel that reportedly struck an obstacle in the water north of the park's boundary. Two of the four boaters onboard were treated and released; the other two were uninjured. Although both accidents occurred outside of the park, reports confirm that those involved were returning from the Columbus Day weekend event. This annual three-day event, which traditionally draws hundreds of boaters to the park, has been free of fatalities since 2002, when three deaths occurred. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is continuing to investigate these accidents. [Susan Gonshor and Didier Carod]
During the weekend of October 6th through October 9th, Biscayne National Park hosted a Columbus Day weekend event that drew thousands of boats and visitors to an area in the middle of the park close to Elliott Key. This annual event was one of the most successful in the park's history. Never before had so many police departments provided assistance; four branches of the Coast Guard also helped out, with some Coast Guard officers backing up rangers. Rangers from Biscayne, Everglades and Big Cypress were highly successful in stopping intoxicated boat operators during the weekend and made many controlled substance and other cases. Altogether, they made 18 arrests for boating under the influence; issued numerous citations for reckless operation, safety equipment and documentation violations; and made six controlled substance and seven preservation of natural resources (grounding) cases. They also dealt with numerous medical incidents. Unfortunately, two people lost their lives during the weekend, both outside park boundaries. The two were killed when a boat crashed into their vessel, which was being towed at night after dark near downtown Miami. Both boats were returning from the event. It's not yet known whether alcohol was a factor. Many area law enforcement and emergency services agencies helped the park in managing the event, including Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, United States Coast Guard, Aventura Police Department, Key Biscayne Police Department, Coral Gables Police Department, Broward Sheriff's Office, City of Miami Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Department and North Miami Police Department. [Didier C. Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On Friday, November 10th, local fisherman alerted rangers to a dead manatee on the shoreline of the Mowry Canal adjacent to park headquarters. The rangers found the remains of a young, 500- to 600-pound manatee with its throat slit and its flippers cut off. The animal did not appear to have any other trauma-related injuries. Rangers towed the carcass to park headquarters, where biologists from the Florida Wildlife Commission picked it up and took it to St. Petersburg for a necropsy. The park has established a tip line and the Save the Manatee Club has put up a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for this heinous act. Media interest has been extremely high. [Stephen Clark, Chief Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/15991942.htm"
On the morning of March 3rd, R.A., 29, was free-diving with a friend in about 50 feet of water on the park's northern boundary when he was struck by a passing 54-foot cabin cruiser. His leg was severed in the accident. R.A. was transported to a nearby harbor, where he was met by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units. He was then airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, but died en route. The incident is under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. [Stephen Clark, Chief Ranger]
A resident park ranger on Adams Key was awakened by the sound of people talking on his front porch just before 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 13th. Upon checking, he found 37 Cuban migrants who had recently been dropped off at the government dock on Adams Key, located approximately 10 miles from the mainland. The group consisted of men, women and children, all of whom were in good health. They said that they'd all been on a raft, but that they'd been picked up by a good Samaritan and taken to the dock. Since they were all dry and well dressed, their story did not seem plausible. Two other rangers arrived shortly thereafter, as did a Coast Guard vessel that took the migrants to park headquarters. They were handed over to Border Patrol officers at daybreak. Because of the government's "wet foot, dry foot" policy, all will likely remain in the United States. Under that policy, anyone caught on waters between Cuba and the U.S. is sent home or to a third country, whereas anyone who makes it to shore gets a chance to remain in the country and later apply for permanent residence status and U.S. citizenship. [Stephen Clark, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Thomas Rutledge responded to a report of Cuban migrants on Sands Key early on the morning of Friday, May 18th. Rutledge found a group of 15 Cubans on the island - men and women, but no children. When Coast Guard and Miami-Dade PD vessels arrived, the Cubans were taken to the Black Point marina, where they waited for the Border Patrol to pick them up. Under the U.S. "wet foot, dry foot" policy, they were paroled into the country until they could apply for green cards (under the terms of this policy, anyone caught on waters between Cuba and the U.S. is sent home or to a third country, whereas anyone who makes it to shore gets a chance to remain in the country and later apply for permanent residence status and U.S. citizenship). It's probable that the Cubans were smuggled into the U.S. On May 24th, 14 five-gallon and six-gallon gasoline containers were found hidden in evenly spaced locations along the eastern coast of Elliott Key. Resource management employees removed the containers, which were filled with fresh gasoline. Islands within the park have been used to store gas for smuggling operations for many years now. [Didier Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 2nd, rangers received a report of a fight in progress at the sand bar at Sands Cut. Upon arrival, they found four injured people in a boat who'd been assaulted by more than 15 people from another boat. The four were bleeding from injuries caused by broken bottles being tossed into their boat and from being punched and kicked by their assailants. The four victims were part of a larger group of boaters who were consuming alcoholic beverages and partying in the waist-deep area of the sand bar. Rangers were able to extricate them only after tying a line to their vessel and pulling them out of the cluster of vessels. It quickly became evident that the many vessels in the area would have to be moved in order for emergency personnel to restore order, secure the crime scene, and render emergency first aid. The rangers were assisted by Florida Fish and Wildlife and Miami Dade County marine units. Following consultation with the rangers and assisting officers, chief ranger Stephen Clark decided to close the area. Although there were between 400 and 500 boats and thousands of people in the immediate area, it was cleared within about 45 minutes. Sands Cut, located approximately 10 miles from the mainland, has for many years been a favorite spot for weekend boaters. In recent years, though, there's been a tremendous increase in visitation, use and incidents, ranging from fights and other assaults to drug use and public intoxication. This increase has occurred despite targeted law enforcement patrols. The sheer number of individuals and boats at the sand bar make it extremely difficult to patrol and control the area. In order to more effectively manage the area, the superintendent recently implemented a change in the compendium limiting the number of vessels rafted together to five vessels and establishing a minimum distance of 100 feet between each group of boats. [Stephen Clark, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Dider Carod was on patrol in Biscayne Bay around midday on Sunday, September 23rd, when he got a call from dispatch advising him that a vessel was en route to Boca Chita Key with a diving accident victim on board. The man was not breathing and CPR was in progress. When Carod arrived at the key, he found the victim on the ground with a blanket over him. Coral Gables PD marine units had arrived a few minutes before him and determined that the man had already died. Miami-Dade police and fire/rescue units soon joined them. Paramedics confirmed that he was deceased. When questions, the man's companion said that the two of them had been diving in about 55 feet of water when the victim suddenly removed his dive belt and equipment and quickly ascended to the surface. He followed and found that the man was already unconscious. Miami-Dade homicide investigators took the body and are currently investigating the incident. The victim's dive equipment was not recovered. [Didier Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Enhanced law enforcement efforts and unsettled weather conditions resulted in fewer boaters participating in the 2007 Columbus Day Weekend gathering on Biscayne Bay, traditionally an event that results in many law enforcement and emergency incidents. The small craft warnings, gusting winds, choppy seas and intermittent rain squalls resulted in an estimated 50% fewer boaters on the water. Previous Columbus Day weekends have attracted from 3,000 to 5,000 boats carrying as many as 20,000 boaters. A coordinated effort by Miami Dade Police Department, Miami Dade Fire Rescue, Coral Gables Police Department, US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, City of Miami Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection agencies to promote responsible boating behavior and to protect lives, property and park resources was the focus for the weekend. Despite the reduced crowd, numerous complex incidents occurred: Four police officers were assaulted by two individuals who were charged with felony assault on a police officer. Approximately 20 boating under the influence arrests were made by the various enforcement agencies. Five boats capsized due to overloading and rough seas. All the stranded individuals were rescued from the water by Miami Dade Police Department, Miami Dade Fire Rescue and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers in conjunction with the US Coast Guard helicopter crew. Three other stranded individuals became separated from their boats and were returned safely to their vessels. Three people were airlifted to area hospitals, including two who nearly drowned and one who suffered heart problems. Numerous other participants were treated for lacerations and bruises by Miami Dade Fire Rescue. The park extends its thanks to the many federal, state and local agency staff who worked around the clock to help assure a safe weekend. [Susan Gonshor, Public Information Officer]
Due to the approach of Tropical Storm Noel, currently forecast to pass near or over southeast Florida on Thursday, the park has put its hurricane plan into effect. All park facilities (including those on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys), the mainland area at Convoy Point, boat tours, and visitor services were shut down yesterday afternoon. Park waters, though, will remain open for vessel transit. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. The park is also securing and shuttering buildings and moving its entire fleet of boats (over 20 vessels) to an inland location. [Susan Gonshor, Chief Interpreter]
Since Tropical Storm Noel has taken an easterly course away from the south Florida coast, the park will reopen today. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center, the headquarters building, the grounds at Convoy Point, and the concession operation are to open at 8 a.m., with park facilities located on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys reopening at noon. For further information, call the park's visitor center at 305-230-PARK (7275) or log on to the park website at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/bisc". [Susan Gonshor, Public Information Officer]
Early on the mornings of both Thursday, December 27th, and Friday, December 28th, the park received calls from the Coast Guard's Miami Beach station reporting the landing of Cuban migrants in the park - on Elliott Key the first day and Adams Key the second. Both groups were evidently smuggled in by "go fast" boats that picked them up in Cuba, charging an average of $10,000 per person to bring them to the United States. Both groups appear to have been smuggled in before sunrise. There were a dozen men, women and children in Thursday's group and 38 in Friday's. The park has seen a marked increase in Cuban migrants being dropped off on its remote keys this year, evidently due to recent tensions in Cuba. [Didier Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 26th, rangers received a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advising that they'd found an unoccupied 25-foot boat running in circles east of Elliott Key just outside the boundary of the park. Rangers joined commission officers and Coast Guard personnel in searching the area where the operator was thought to have last been and in checking the shorelines of several islands within the park. The Coast Guard flew 20 missions in the search effort, but all were unsuccessful. On Tuesday, January 29th, a boater found the body of D.S., 45, floating about three miles east of Boca Chita Key and within the park. It's still unclear exactly what happened, but indications are that D.S. fell out of the boat while trolling and was unable to get back to it. The investigation continues. [Heidi Schlichting, Park Ranger]
The Coast Guard contacted park dispatch around 10 a.m. on March 14th to report a suspicious vessel at anchor near Sands Cut, which connects Biscayne Bay to open ocean waters. They reported that the vessel appeared to have been staged there to conduct smuggling operations during the day. On board, they'd found 44 five-gallon containers containing gasoline, 13 one-gallon water jugs, and canned foods and crackers. The batteries had been removed from the boat, apparently in an attempt to keep others from stealing it. Rangers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement criminal investigators arrived on scene and took possession of the smuggling boat. Rangers impounded the vessel. On Sunday, March 16th, rangers joined the Coast Guard and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in picking up 33 Cuban migrants (20 men, 10 women and three children) from Soldier Key, the northernmost island in the park. All 33 had evidently been smuggled onto the island the previous night. Under the United States' "wet foot/dry foot" policy, these 33 migrants will not be deported and will be allowed to stay in the country. They were transported to the mainland and transferred to the United States Border Patrol. [Didier Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Tropical Storm Fay is expected to reach South Florida some time between this evening and tomorrow morning. Parks in or near its projected path are accordingly making preparations: Biscayne NP - The park has shutdown in accordance with its hurricane plan. As of 5:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, all park facilities (including those on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys) and the mainland area at Convoy Point (nine miles east of Homestead), boat tours, and visitor services were closed to the public. Park waters, however, remain open for vessel transit. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. Additional information can be obtained on the park's website (HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/bisc") and on the park's information line at 305-230-PARK (7275). The public should contact these information sources for ongoing updates on park operations. [Larry Perez, IMT, Everglades; Mark Ruggiero, SERO; Bob DeGross, Big Cypress; Susan Gonshor, Biscayne]
Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in the United States in South Florida yesterday and is currently moving up the state's east coast: Biscayne NP - As of yesterday morning, the park had not reopened due to the continuing tropical storm warning for the area. The park's re-entry team was expected to return late in the day, though, as it appeared likely that the warning would be lifted on Tuesday afternoon. Only minimal damage is expected. If all goes as planned, the park will likely reopen by tomorrow morning, if not sooner. [Pedro Ramos, BICY; Susan Gonshor, BISC; Dan Kimball, EVER; Mike Anderson, SERO]
Tropical Storm Fay continues to be an issue for some parks in the southeastern United States, while others have reopened to the public. Here's a status report, as of yesterday evening: Biscayne NP - The park reopened at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. No damage is reported. [Larry Perez, EVER; Richard Bryant, TIMU/FOCA; Dennis Parsons, CUIS; Susan Gonshor, BISC; Mark Ruggiero, SERO; Dean Ross, WASO]
Parks in South Florida are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Ike, waiting to see what course it takes. Two have closed down temporarily: Biscayne NP - The park has instituted a shutdown in accordance with its hurricane plan. As of 1 p.m. on Sunday, all park facilities were closed - including those on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys and the mainland area at Convoy Point (nine miles east of Homestead). Boat tours and visitor services were also suspended, but park waters remain open for vessel transit. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. [Larry Perez, EVER; Susan Gonshor, BISC]
South Florida parks are closed today as Hurricane Ike passes by to the south, while Gulf Cost parks are keeping a close eye on its forecast path: Biscayne NP - Preparations continue for Ike. The park shutdown at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. [Larry Perez, EVER; ; Saudia Muwwakkil, SERO]
Reports have been received from parks regarding each of the above noted tropical systems: Biscayne NP - As Hurricane Ike moved toward the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, the park began a phased reopening. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center and grounds at Convoy Point, located nine miles east of Homestead, reopened to the public at noon yesterday. All other park facilities and services, including concession-operated boat tours, canoe and kayak rentals, park facilities and docks on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys, are expected to reopen today if wind and weather conditions are favorable. [Stuart West, Acting Chief Ranger; ACAD; Susan Gonshor, Public Affairs, BISC; John Hughes, Chief Ranger, JELA; Larry Perez, IO, EVER]
On January 2nd, rangers stopped a boat in Hurricane Creek for fishing violations. The fishermen had 49 mangrove snappers on board, a total that was 29 over the bag limit. Moreover, only eight of the fish were longer than the legal size limit of ten inches. Multiple citations were issued to the fishermen, including a $1,575 citation for the bag limit violation and a $2,125 citation for the undersized fish. Through an agreement with the Department of Justice, rangers can offer a fisheries education course as an alternative to paying a fine or appearing in court. The four-hour course, developed by the park's resource management staff, is designed to educate anglers on fishing regulations and responsible fishing techniques. To date, more than 93 people have participated in this course and no course participants have become repeat offenders. The captain of the boat will also have the option of taking the class as an alternative for the bag limit violation, but will have to pay or appear in court for the undersize fish violation. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
On Sunday, April 5th, P.B. and his eight-year-old daughter T.B. headed out on the bay in their 17-foot vessel with a raft attached to the stern. P.B. had promised to spend a day on the water with his daughter since an earlier trip had to be canceled due to a flat tire on his boat trailer. They left Black Point Marina, located adjacent to the park's boundary, around 4 p.m. Later that night, the Coast Guard was notified that they were overdue. A major air and water search was launched that involved rangers, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers, Miami-Dade police and fire and rescue personnel and Coral Gables police. P.B.'s vessel was found at daybreak the next day near the mangrove coastline, with the keys in the ignition, the engine off and the shifter in neutral. All his belongings were on board, including life vests. Chief ranger Didier Carod and rangers Jared Brierley, Robert Romer and Evan Pickford searched every corner of the park for P.B. and his daughter with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents with full diving gear. P.B.'s body was found around noon by a citizen. A second body was spotted nearby from a Coast Guard helicopter and park staff responded. The ICE agents entered the water and recovered eight-year-old T.B.'s body. Autopsies are being performed to determine cause of death. Neither the girl nor the father was wearing a life jacket. [Dider Carod, Chief Ranger]
The park has provided additional information on the deaths of the father and daughter in Biscayne Bay reported in yesterday's edition. The following was excerpted from an article that appeared in the Miami Herald: The father and daughter who died in a weekend boating accident drowned, the medical examiner's office determined Tuesday, but the question of what triggered the tragedy remained a mystery. The autopsies on P.B., 49, and his eight-year-old daughter, T.A.B., showed neither suffered any trauma, according to the ME's office. How the father and daughter's lives ended in the water - their 17-foot boat showed no evidence of a collision and was found in mangroves switched off - will likely be the focus of the investigation by Miami-Dade detectives. According to the family, P.B., a vice president for Latin American sales with commercial press maker Goss International, was an experienced boater. The deaths were ruled accidental by the ME's office. According to Didier Carod, the park's chief ranger, the girl did not have a life jacket on when searchers found her just south of Black Ledge, though state law requires that a life jacket be worn if a child is younger than six and on a boat less than 26 feet long. Police would not say whether father or daughter had been wearing life jackets while on the boat, citing the ongoing investigation. Pictures of the boat also show a large inner tube on the back, which could potentially be towed by the boat. It is unclear whether it had been used that day. Carod noted that federal law requires that anyone being towed wear a life jacket and that, in addition to the boat operator, a person at least 12 years old must be present to act as a lookout. Father and daughter left Black Point Marina around 4 p.m. on Sunday. That afternoon the wind was blowing at 15 to 20 knots from the southwest on Biscayne Bay, which could create waves of a few feet, Carod said. When the pair hadn't returned hours later, the family called the Coast Guard, touching off a massive search. [Miami Herald] HYPERLINK "http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/989536.html"
Everglades dispatch contacted Biscayne rangers around midmorning on April 19th and advised them that illegal migrants had landed in the park earlier that morning and that the Coast Guard was en route. The 73 migrants on scene - 56 men and 17 women, all from Haiti - were taken to a Coast Guard cutter. They told investigators that they'd left Port-de-Paix 22 days before in a 35-foot wooden sailboat, following the lights of Cuba as their guide. The boat was still aground in the park at the time of the report. Park employees were working with the Coast Guard to get it removed. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
A woman was bitten by a six-foot-long nurse shark as she swam near an Elliott Key sandbar on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4th. Although severe, the bite was not life-threatening. A man in a nearby boat caught, then released the shark. Immediately upon being released, the shark swam directly toward a group of people swimming near the Elliott Key campground and picnic area, bit the woman on the thigh, then swam off. Nurse sharks are very common in southern Florida waters and are generally considered passive, although they can be dangerous when provoked. The woman was taken to the local hospital and is in stable condition. [Mark Lewis, Superintendent]
Lightning killed a boater last Saturday afternoon near Soldier Key in Biscayne National Park. The 37-year-old man was struck while standing up in a 14-foot boat with an aluminum hull. He was out in the park with two friends, who were in the water when the lightning strike occurred and were not harmed. A large complex of thunderstorms moved through Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties over the course of the day, accompanied by strong winds, hard rain, and a lot of lightning. [Mark Lewis, Superintendent]
On August 8th, ranger Evan Pickford stopped a boat in the Safety Valve area of the park to conduct a creel check. The boat's operator was identified as B.D. of Miami, who said that he was coming back from the Bahamas. During the creel inspection, Pickford found that B.D. had a number of illegally harvested lobsters (wrung tails), 23 illegally taken snappers, and 14 queen conchs in his possession. All takes and possession of queen conchs in Florida and adjacent federal are prohibited. In a follow-up investigation, the ranger determined that B.D. had also exceeded the possession limits for all three species in Bahamian waters. He was issued mandatory violation notices; Lacey Act and felony charges are also being considered against him. One of the many challenges for rangers working in Biscayne is dealing with people coming from another country (the Bahamas more than others) with prohibited species which - like the queen conch - are not prohibited where they were harvested. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
A.G. of Miami was snorkeling with two friends near Fowey Rocks on September 13th when a violent afternoon storm came through the area. Their vessel's anchor broke loose in the storm, so all three attempted to swim to the drifting boat. A.G. was unable to catch up and went under. Responding protection rangers and Coast Guard and local emergency personnel found A.G. floating in the ocean several hundred yards from the boat. Efforts to revive him proved fruitless. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
Preparations continue at parks along the Gulf of Mexico for the possible arrival of the oil plume from the sunken oil rig Deepwater Horizon. This update covers oil spill response activities for the following parks - Padre Island, Jean Lafitte, Gulf Islands, and the South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades). South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Park and resource managers from the South Florida NPS units met Monday with regional and WASO staff to organize a unified response to potential impacts from the Mississippi Canyon incident. During the meeting, park staff drafted an organizational structure for a Type III unified command structure supporting five park units, identified incident priorities, and drafted a joint delegation of authority for approval by all park superintendents. Rick Anderson, Everglades National Park, has been identified as the incident commander. Following guidance provided by regional and WASO resource management and incident personnel, park resource management teams are finalizing a pre-impact assessment strategy for implementation in all five south Florida units. It is currently anticipated that draft assessment plans for each park will be presented Tuesday afternoon, with follow-up discussions scheduled for Wednesday. Park and incident management staff are scheduled to meet with USCG personnel on Tuesday morning at Key West to discuss possible response efforts within the Key West Sector. It is anticipated that representatives from NOAA, FWC, USFWS, and Monroe County will also be present. [Rudy Evenson, IO, Western Incident Management Team; Larry Perez, IO, South Florida Parks Incident Management Team]
The incident management teams coordinating the NPS response to the Deepwater Horizon spill continue to prepare for the possible arrival of the oil plume at one or more Gulf Coast parks. This update covers oil spill response activities for the following parks - Padre Island, Jean Lafitte, Gulf Islands, and the South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades): South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The south Florida national parks' Type III IMT continues to make preparations for potential impacts from the oil spill. Internal procedures for the team were finalized, including a template for incident action plans and a delegation of authority from all five park superintendents. US Coast Guard Sector Key West hosted a meeting to discuss plans to address the potential impacts of the spill in the Key West area. In addition to the NPS and the Coast Guard, meeting attendees included representatives of the State of Florida, the Navy, NOAA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Monroe County, and the cities of Key West and Marathon. Based on the path of the Loop Current, Dry Tortugas National Park and the Marquesas in the Florida Key National Wildlife Refuge appear to be the area in South Florida that is most vulnerable at this point in time. An environment team, including a representative from the National Park Service, was established to focus specifically on resource impacts and resource condition assessment. Public information personnel have responded to an increasing number of media inquiries. In response, incident PIO contact information has been established for distribution to interested media. Information officers can be contacted at 305-741-4342, or by email at HYPERLINK "mailto:SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com" SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com. This contact information is expected to stay constant throughout the duration of the incident. For more information on the overall spill response, including images and videos, please see the overall Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Response website at HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com". [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The National Park Service now has approximately 80 people responding to the oil spill created by the sinking of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20th. NPS staff continue to draft plans with USCG for wildlife reconnaissance and recovery and shoreline cleanup and assessment; conduct surveys, sampling, and flyovers to document baseline conditions; mobilize resource experts to direct USCG and responsible party contractors during cleanup and recovery; and provide guidance and prioritization for protection measures such as boom placement in sensitive areas. Learn more about the NPS response at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm". This update covers oil spill response activities for the following parks - Padre Island, Jean Lafitte, Gulf Islands, and the South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades): South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The resource assessment branch of the south Florida national parks' Type III IMT continues to make progress on pre-condition assessment planning for all five NPS units. A final assessment plan for De Soto is now awaiting final approval, and additional plans for Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne are nearing completion. It is hoped that assessments will begin at De Soto by next week. The resource assessment branch will also be developing potential strategies for mitigation and resource rehabilitation. The IMT received confirmation that Chris Ziegler, Dry Tortugas National Park, would serve as our liaison with the US Coast Guard Sector Key West. Local media interest continues to be heavy. In consultation with the GUIS Type II team, each of the five south Florida units will be developing public information pages on their park website to facilitate access. It is anticipated that all sites will be active by tomorrow. The Everglades site can be accessed here: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/ever" For more information on the NPS and national oil spill responses, please see the following: NPS Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" National Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com" [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Approximately 80 National Park Service personnel continue responding to the oil spill created by the sinking of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20th. Ongoing work with the USCG and other agencies includes planning for wildlife reconnaissance and recovery and shoreline cleanup and assessment; conducting surveys, sampling, and flyovers to document baseline conditions; mobilizing resource experts to direct USCG and responsible party contractors during cleanup and recovery; and providing guidance and prioritization for protection measures such as boom placement in sensitive areas. Eight national parks are responding to the oil spill - Padre Island, Jean Lafitte, Gulf Islands, Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The resource assessment branch of the south Florida national parks' Type III IMT continues to make progress on pre-condition assessment planning for all five NPS units. Final pre-impact condition assessment plans for each of the five parks are expected to be completed today. Pre-impact sampling of water, sediment and tissue is anticipated to begin early next week at DeSoto, followed by Dry Tortugas and Everglades at a date yet to be determined. Local media interest is currently low. A public information team has updated each park's website to include a page specific to the incident. Everglades' information can be accessed at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/ever". A communications center has been set up and additional public information officers have been ordered. Information officers can be contacted at 305-741-4342, or by email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses, please see the following: NPS Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm DOI Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm National Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com" http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced yesterday that Director Jarvis and Acting Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Rowan Gould have been dispatched to command centers along the Gulf Coast. They will lead efforts to protect coastal communities and natural resources from BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Said Salazar: "We are continuing to put all hands on deck to support the coordinated response to this spill and to do everything we can to help BP stop its leaks and clean up its spill. The National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the leadership of Jon Jarvis and Rowan Gould, are on the front lines as we fight to protect the Gulf Coast from the dangers of the oil spill. Their leadership on the ground will ensure that we remain coordinated, prepared, and effective in protecting precious natural resources." Jarvis is stationed in the Mobile, Alabama, Incident Command Center. He will oversee the ongoing work with the USCG and other agencies. including planning for wildlife reconnaissance and recovery and shoreline cleanup and assessment; conducting surveys, sampling, and flyovers to document baseline conditions; mobilizing resource experts to direct USCG and responsible party contractors during cleanup and recovery; and providing guidance and prioritization for protection measures such as boom placement in sensitive areas. Eight national parks are responding to the oil spill: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The resource assessment branch of the south Florida national parks' Type III IMT continues to prepare the baseline condition assessment plans for all five NPS units. Final baseline conditions assessment plans are near completion and they are being adapted to cover a variety of ecosystems. A data management plan has been completed. Pre-impact sampling of sediment and tissue is anticipated to begin on Tuesday at De Soto and Dry Tortugas, followed by Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne (in priority order) at a date yet to be determined. A cultural resource assessment was conducted at De Soto on Sunday. The park units are prioritized by proximity to the spill and the potential amount of time for oil to arrive if and when the spill becomes entrained in the Loop Current. This prioritization may change over time as weather conditions change. Staff from Biscayne attended a meeting on Thursday with numerous representatives from Miami-Dade County, the Coast Guard, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), NOAA, and various cities within Miami-Dade County. Most believe any oil arriving here will be primarily submerged tar balls pushed along the ocean bottom or suspended in the water column, but not on the surface. There is not an imminent threat because the oil may not get into the Loop Current and be transported to this location. Local media interest is currently low. Information officers can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Jody Lyle, Information Officer, Gulf Oil Spill Response]
Director Jarvis hosted a press conference at the Mobile unified command post yesterday afternoon. He was joined by Jon Andrew, chief of National Wildlife Refuge System for the Southeast Region, and Rick Clark, Gulf Islands National Seashore's chief of science and resource management. Superintendent Nina Kelson and Jereme Phillipps, refuge manager for Bonsecour National Wildlife Refuge, were also available to answer questions. The press conference focused on the role of the Department of the Interior in responding to the oil spill by providing expertise to the unified command in evaluating public health risks, planning shoreline cleanup and wildlife recovery. Director Jarvis is acting as incident commander for the DOI. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Final baseline condition assessment plans for four of the five south Florida parks have been completed. Assessment plans have been adapted to cover a variety of ecosystems. Pre-impact sampling of sediment and tissue will begin today at DeSoto and Dry Tortugas, followed by Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne (in priority order) at a date yet to be determined. The natural resource assessment branch is currently determining trigger points at which to execute plans for Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne. A cultural resource assessment was conducted at DeSoto on Sunday. Incident commander Rick Anderson spent the day with state and local officials at the Broward County Emergency Operations Center. Superintendent Dan Kimball traveled to the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg incident command post to serve as the lead official for the Department of Interior under a unified command. Additional resources are being requested to assist. Local media interest is currently low. A public information team has updated each park's website to include a page specific to the incident. The team has also developed park-specific fact sheets that address the incident. Everglades' information can be accessed at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/ever". A communications center has been established with three information officers. They can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The National Park Service continues to support the Department of the Interior's unprecedented response to the oil spill resulting from the sinking of the drill rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20th. The Western incident management team continues to support Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the five South Florida parks - Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas and Everglades - continue to work under a type III organization preparing for possible landfall there. Director Jarvis remains in place at the Mobile Incident Command Center as DOI incident commander. Today's update follows: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Final baseline conditions assessment plans for four of the five south Florida parks have been completed. Biscayne science and technical staff are nearing completion on their baseline condition assessment plan. A cultural resource assessment will also be performed at Biscayne. Pre-impact sampling of sediment and tissue began today at DeSoto and Dry Tortugas. The natural resource assessment branch is currently determining trigger points at which to execute plans for Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne. Local media interest is currently low. Everglades fact sheets can be accessed at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/ever". A communications center has been established with three information officers. They can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Preparations continue in parks all along the Gulf Coast for oil to come ashore from the spill following the sinking of the drill rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20th. The Western incident management team remains in place at Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) continue to work under a type III organization preparing for possible landfall there. Yesterday, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tom Strickland was on scene to support Director Jarvis, the Department of Interior incident commander, and other DOI staff at the Mobile Incident Command Post. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Teams under the resource assessment branch have now completed the baseline condition assessment for De Soto. A baseline assessment is also underway at Dry Tortugas, where teams continue to assess the status of cultural and natural resources spanning a variety of ecological communities. It is anticipated that work will continue there for the balance of the week. The natural resource assessment branch is currently determining trigger points at which to execute plans for Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne. It is anticipated that recommended trigger points will be finalized by week's end. The South Florida IMT is committing resources to better integrate park efforts with the St. Petersburg unified command response. A public information officer has been assigned to support Dan Kimball, lead DOI official at the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center, and is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. Local media interest in South Florida is currently low. A series of park-specific fact sheets that address response efforts are available on each park's respective website. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Preparations continue in parks all along the Gulf Coast for oil to come ashore from the spill following the sinking of the drill rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20th. Yesterday, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tom Strickland visited DOI staff at the area command post in Robert, Louisiana. Director Jarvis returned to Washington for a few days and is expected back in Mobile on Sunday; during his absence, US Fish and Wildlife Region 4 Director Cindy Dohner will serve as acting DOI Incident Commander. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - A baseline assessment is underway at Dry Tortugas, where teams continue to assess the status of cultural and natural resources spanning a variety of ecological communities. It is anticipated that the assessment at Dry Tortugas will be completed by Friday evening. The natural resource assessment branch is currently determining trigger points at which to execute plans for Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne. It is anticipated that recommended trigger points will be finalized by week's end. Big Cypress superintendent Pedro Ramos attended a meeting with US Coast Guard representatives to provide general incident information to special interest group and partners. The Coast Guard came away from the meeting with a list of volunteer groups that they could tap as resources. The South Florida IMT is committing resources to better integrate park efforts with the St. Petersburg unified command response. A public information officer has been assigned to support Dan Kimball, lead DOI official at the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center, and is scheduled to arrive today. Local media interest is currently low. A series of park-specific fact sheets that address response efforts is available on each park's respective website. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Rudy Evenson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Preparations continue in parks all along the Gulf Coast for oil to come ashore from the spill following the sinking of the drill rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20. At Gulf Islands National Seashore, the NPS Midwest IMT (Pontbriand) is in command. The five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) continue to work under a Type III organization preparing for possible landfall there: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, De Soto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The cultural and natural resources baseline assessment at Dry Tortugas has been completed. Natural resources staff met today to discuss a timeline to initiate baseline sampling in Everglades. The park expects to begin sampling late next week. A cultural resource assessment of Everglades' west coast will begin on Wednesday. Three hydrocarbon sensors have been deployed to Indian, Rabbit and Mormon Keys on Everglades' west coast. These passive sampling devices will be deployed to additional sites within the park and Dry Tortugas within the next week. Representatives from Entrix, a BP contractor, will be collecting samples at four sites in Everglades and at one site in Dry Tortugas next week. They will be accompanied by a natural resources advisor. Local media interest is currently low. A series of park-specific fact sheets that address response efforts are available both through each park's respective website. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com" [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
National Park Service sites along the Gulf of Mexico continue to collect data and monitor conditions. Dozens of park service employees from across the country are aiding in the response which is being managed by the Midwest Type III IMT (Pontbriand). The five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) continue to work under a Type III IMT to prepare for possible impacts there: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, De Soto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Biscayne superintendent Mark Lewis participated in a roundtable panel to discuss the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Initiated by U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) much of the discussion was focused on the uncertainty of the impacts to southeast Florida and the Florida Keys due to the currents, the need for more modeling, and questions about dispersants. Natural and cultural resources staff met yesterday to discuss the baseline condition assessment sampling that is set to begin in Everglades later this week. A cultural resource assessment of Everglades' west coast will begin on Wednesday. Three hydrocarbon sensors have been deployed to Indian, Rabbit and Mormon Keys on Everglades' west coast. These passive sampling devices will be deployed to additional sites within the park and Dry Tortugas within the next week. Representatives from Entrix, a BP contractor, will be collecting samples at four sites in Everglades and at one site in Dry Tortugas. Provided they obtain the proper permits to do so, they will be sampling in Dry Tortugas on Wednesday and in Everglades later in the week. The contractors will be accompanied by an NPS natural resource advisor. Local media interest is currently low. A series of park-specific fact sheets that address response efforts are available on each park's respective website. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The National Park Service response to the Mississippi Canyon 252 oil spill continued yesterday in sites around the Gulf of Mexico. Dozens of NPS employees from across the country are aiding in the response which is being managed by the Midwest Type III IMT (Pontbriand). The five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) currently continue to work under a Type III organization, but are preparing to transition to a Type II team. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, De Soto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Multiple tar balls were discovered Monday on a beach in Key West. Samples are currently being analyzed by the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA to better determine their origin. Though it has not yet been confirmed whether these are the result of the Deepwater Horizon spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the discovery has sparked considerable local concern and media interest. On Tuesday, on the heels of this discovery, park staff surveyed the shoreline on two keys in Dry Tortugas National Park. What appears to be a petroleum residue has been found on both Loggerhead and Garden Keys. Samples have been taken for further analysis to better determine composition and origin. Additional shoreline surveys in the park are ongoing. At the moment, visitors to Dry Tortugas are being notified to swim at their own risk and be aware that tar balls could be present in the water column or on the beaches. Due to the unexpected discovery of tar balls in the area, baseline condition assessments for Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne are now scheduled to be completed in an expedited manner. Crews will begin performing natural and cultural assessments of the most threatened areas today, and it is hoped all sampling can be completed within a two-day time frame. Scientists from the NPS South Florida/Caribbean Network continued to deploy additional hydrocarbon sensors in the waters of Florida Bay. It is anticipated that, conditions permitting, additional passive sampling devices will be deployed at sites within Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks. The South Florida IMT continues to coordinate response efforts with larger unified command centers in other areas of the affected region. It is anticipated that, as this incident grows in size and complexity, incident management will be transitioned to an incoming Type II team. Representatives from Entrix, a BP contractor, have now been issued permits to begin collecting samples at four sites in Everglades and at one site in Dry Tortugas. The company is scheduled to conduct sampling in Dry Tortugas on Wednesday and in Everglades later in the week. The contractors will be accompanied by an NPS natural resource advisor. Local media interest is currently very high. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The National Park Service response to the Deepwater Horizon (MC 252) continued yesterday in NPS sites around the Gulf of Mexico. Employees from across the country are aiding in the response, which is being managed by the Midwest IMT (Pontbriand). The five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) continue to work under a Type III IMT, but are preparing to transition to the Intermountain IMT (Mossman). The team, scheduled to assume command on May 22nd, will be based in Homestead, Florida. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, De Soto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Analysis performed on tar balls discovered Monday at a beach in Key West suggests they are not the result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Similar analysis of samples taken from petroleum residues found Tuesday on two islands in Dry Tortugas National Park suggest that, while of a different variety than those found on Key West, they are also not affiliated with the Deepwater Horizon incident. Additional shoreline surveys were conducted at Dry Tortugas yesterday, and a small number of additional petroleum residues were located on the islands. Staff from the South Florida/Caribbean Network (SFCN) completed the deployment of seven semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) to monitor the waters at Dry Tortugas. Additional shoreline surveys in the park are ongoing. Baseline condition assessments for natural resources in Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne began on Wednesday. Inclement weather hampered some of the planned sampling, but it is anticipated that weather will be more conducive to operations today. Limited cultural assessments also began yesterday and are intended to continue at all parks tomorrow. The South Florida IMT continues to coordinate response efforts with larger unified command centers in other areas of the affected region. Local media interest continues to be very high. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". Representatives from Entrix, a BP contractor, have now been issued permits to begin collecting samples at four sites in Everglades and at one site in Dry Tortugas. The company was scheduled to conduct sampling in Dry Tortugas yesterday and in Everglades later on this week. The contractors will be accompanied by an NPS natural resource advisor. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following: [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response] More Information: HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/science/earth/19turtle.html?scp=1&sq=padre&st=cse"
The National Park Service response to the Mississippi Canyon 252 Oil Spill continues in sites around the Gulf of Mexico. Park service employees from across the country are aiding in the response which is being managed by the Midwest IMT (Pontbriand). The five South Florida parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades) currently continue to work under a Type III organization, but are preparing to transition to a Type II team: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, De Soto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades and Big Cypress. Assessments are expected to continue through the next couple of days. Cultural resource assessments are being performed concurrently. South Florida/Caribbean Network (SFCN) staff successfully deployed additional semi-permeable membrane devices at both Dry Tortugas and Everglades. Dry Tortugas staff continued shoreline surveys of park islands and documenting occurrences of tar balls on the islands. It is anticipated that the Coast Guard will be sending teams of contractors to Dry Tortugas to perform cleanup operations, in the accompaniment of NPS resource advisors. Baseline condition assessments continued at Biscayne and are expected to continue through the end of the week. Assessments of cultural resources at the park are scheduled to begin on Monday. The South Florida IMT continues to coordinate response efforts with larger unified command centers in other areas of the affected region. The U.S. Coast Guard Key West Sector unified command began its first operations on Wednesday. The South Florida Type III team has appointed an NPS representative to remain actively engaged with command staff. The Intermountain Type II IMT (Rick Mossman, IC) will be arriving in South Florida to assume responsibility for the response effort. Team members will begin travelling to South Florida over the weekend, and the transition is scheduled to occur at 9 a.m. Monday morning. Local media interest continues to be very high. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The Midwest Incident Management Team (Pontbriand) continues to manage the National Park Service response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Intermountain Incident Management Team (Mossman) will assume management of the South Florida incident this morning. Assessment and monitoring continue throughout the area, with shoreline cleanup assessment technique (SCAT) teams responding to reports of oil and/or oiled wildlife. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades, Big Cypress, and Biscayne. Cultural resource assessments are also being performed concurrently at Everglades and Big Cypress. Dry Tortugas staff have conducted additional shoreline surveys park islands and continue to document occurrences of tar balls on the islands. Two new tar balls were discovered on Loggerhead Key. The South Florida IMT continues to coordinate response efforts with larger unified command centers in other areas of the affected region. The south Florida Type III team has appointed an NPS representative to remain actively engaged with command staff. Archeologists from the Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) embedded at the IC in Mobile have completed pre-damage condition assessments for archeological sites at Gulf Islands National Seashore and are providing support to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by conducting site assessments in refuges that may be affected by the oil spill. To date, the team has completed 67 site assessments at Gulf Islands and nine on Fish and Wildlife lands. The team will continue to assess refuge archeological sites across the northern Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana to the Big Bend of Florida. Additional archeological teams from SEAC are conducting assessments in the South Florida parks. The Mobile team has drafted guidelines for site assessment and monitoring of clean-up efforts for archeological sites and cultural resources; these guidelines are currently under review. [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The Midwest IMT (Pontbriand) continues to manage the National Park Service response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Intermountain IMT (Mossman) is managing the South Florida incident. Assessment and monitoring continue, with shoreline cleanup assessment technique (SCAT) teams responding to reports of oil and/or oiled wildlife: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades and Biscayne. Assessments are expected to continue throughout the week. Cultural resource assessments are also being performed concurrently at Biscayne. Entrix, BP's environmental consulting firm, continued conducting baseline sampling at Everglades, accompanied by an NPS advisor. Over the weekend, the US Coast Guard successfully coordinated a contracted cleanup of beaches at Dry Tortugas that had been impacted by tar balls last week. Park staff were on hand to act as resource advisors and helped oversee the effort. Subsequent surveys of the islands have thus far revealed no new occurrences of tar balls. Daily beach surveys are expected to continue at least through the end of the week. The South Florida IMT continues to coordinate response efforts with larger unified command centers in other areas of the affected region. The south Florida Type III team has appointed an NPS representative to remain actively engaged with command staff. The South Florida IMT conducted a briefing for the incoming Intermountain Region IMT. The team will operate from a newly established incident command post in Homestead. Local media interest is light. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
In the five weeks since the oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, the national parks located along the Gulf of Mexico have been planning and preparing for heavy oil to arrive on shore. To date, only tar balls and oily debris has been recovered from the shores of these parks. Initial indications were that the oil would be arriving in the parks soon after the explosion, but this has not been the case. This extra time has allowed for significant planning in which to take baseline data, collect samples, assess conditions of natural and cultural resources, educate visitors, and plan for the time heavy oil does arrive. All the plans and data being collected by NPS operations are being shared with the unified command and are being used and implemented by all agencies responding to the spill across the Gulf of Mexico. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Natural resource baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades and cultural resource assessments continued at Biscayne. Assessments are expected to continue throughout the week. Entrix, BP's environmental consulting firm, continued conducting baseline sampling at Everglades, accompanied by an NPS advisor. NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the island of Dry Tortugas. The incidence of new tar balls since this past weekend's USCG cleanup has been minimal. Daily beach surveys are expected to continue at least through the end of the week. Local media interest continues to be light. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers, and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Late on the morning of May 22nd, rangers responded to a capsized 23-foot vessel with three persons in the water in the vicinity of Pacific Reef, located approximately six miles from Elliott Key in the Atlantic Ocean. With the aid of state and local agencies, the rangers were able to rescue all three people from the water. Although they were fatigued and suffering from mild dehydration, they were in otherwise good condition. The rangers treated them for dehydration and coordinated the salvage and removal of the overturned vessel. [Frank Stack, District Ranger]
As the oil spill response continues in the Gulf of Mexico, park units around the Gulf are planning for high visitation this Memorial Day weekend. Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi and Florida has been reporting only small amounts of tar balls and oiled debris on its shores. There has not been any oily sheen on its beaches. The parks in South Florida have not had any confirmed tar balls from this oil spill. All NPS units in the Gulf remain open and are conducting normal park operations. Visit individual park websites to view a list of ranger activities and programs that are available this weekend. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Natural resource baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades and cultural resource assessments continued at Biscayne. Assessments are expected to continue throughout the week. Entrix, BP's environmental consulting firm, continued baseline sampling at Everglades, accompanied by an NPS advisor. NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the island of Dry Tortugas. Divers began a baseline assessment of a shipwreck site at Biscayne yesterday. The incidence of new tar balls since this past weekend's USCG cleanup has been minimal. Daily beach monitoring is expected to continue at least through the end of the week. [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
All NPS units in the Gulf remain open and are conducting normal park operations. Parks along the Gulf have yet to receive the types and concentrations of oil that are impacting the coastline of Louisiana. Jean Lafitte has yet to receive oil due to its location, buffered from the Gulf by miles of marsh and waterways. Gulf Islands continues to receive small and varied amounts tar balls and oiled debris on its beaches. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Natural resource baseline condition assessments continued yesterday at Everglades and cultural resource assessments are being completed at Biscayne. Entrix, BP's environmental consulting firm, completed baseline sampling at Everglades. NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the island of Dry Tortugas. A baseline assessment of a shipwreck site at Biscayne was completed yesterday. Daily beach monitoring is expected to continue at least through the weekend. [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
Rangers responded to an EMS call regarding a possible drowning victim who was not breathing and unresponsive on the afternoon of May 23rd. A.P. had been swimming against the current in Sand's Cut, a heavily used area in the vicinity of Elliott Key, and presumably become fatigued. Upon arrival, the rangers immediately began CPR and utilized an AED in an attempt to resuscitate A.P. Although the AED failed to revive him, CPR was continued by rangers until he was transferred to the care of Miami Dade Air Rescue. A.P. was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where he was pronounced dead. [Frank Stack, District Ranger]
All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting normal park operations. None has yet received the types and concentrations of oil that are impacting the coastline of Louisiana. Jean Lafitte has yet to receive oil due to its location, buffered from the Gulf by miles of marsh and waterways. Gulf Islands continues to receive small and varied amounts tar balls and oiled debris on its beaches. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Natural and cultural resource assessments have been completed at Everglades and Biscayne. Personnel continue to conduct daily surveys at Dry Tortugas. An underwater robot nicknamed "Waldo" that was launched by Mote Marine to patrol waters looking for oil and dispersants became the focus of NPS personnel at Dry Tortugas. The robot went astray in strong currents and stopped signaling valuable information. A successful rescue at sea was played out with the help of skilled NPS employees. "Waldo" has been examined and is resting securely, waiting to be deployed to continue his mission in the waters north of the park. [J. Michael Johnson, Lead Information Officer, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
All NPS units along the Gulf Coast remain open and are conducting normal park operations. They have yet to receive the types and concentrations of oil that are impacting the coastline of Louisiana. Jean Lafitte has yet to receive oil due to its location, buffered from the Gulf by miles of marsh and waterways. Gulf Islands continues to receive small and varied amounts of tar balls and oiled debris on its beaches. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Natural and cultural resource assessments are complete at Everglades and Biscayne. Personnel continue to conduct daily surveys at Dry Tortugas. Beach monitoring is expected to continue. A communications center can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/mailtSouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com_" SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com . [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Islands National Seashore Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service have been an integral part of the national federal response to the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th. Oil leaking from the well currently threatens Padre Island National Seashore in Texas; Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana; Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi and Florida; and DeSoto National Memorial, Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Biscayne National Park in Florida. These parks preserve wildlife habitats and historical areas that are unique to our country. As of 5 p.m., Wednesday, all NPS units in the Gulf remain open and are conducting park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Recreational and commercial fishing waters approximately 20 miles west of Dry Tortugas NP have been closed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but this closure does not affect all areas near the park, so people are advised to check the NOAA website at HYPERLINK "http://www.noaa.gov/". NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the islands of Dry Tortugas NP. Monitoring continues at all South Florida park coastal areas. There has been no oil from Deepwater Horizon in the parks. Visitors are continuing to enjoy the Islands and beaches and all the related recreational opportunities they offer. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "mailto:SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com" SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com. [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service have been an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units in the Gulf remain open and are conducting park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress NP, Biscayne NP, DeSoto NM, Dry Tortugas NP, Everglades NP) - Recreational and commercial fishing waters approximately 15 miles west of Dry Tortugas NP have been closed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; however, this does not affect all areas near the park, so people are advised to check the NOAA website at www.noaa.gov . The Key West Tar Ball Incident has been re-opened based on additional tar balls found at Duck Key. South Florida incident command has stationed Wayne Elliot, deputy operations chief in Key West, to continue coordination with the USCG Key West Sector and other partner agencies. Personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park. Monitoring continues at all South Florida park coastal areas. There has been no oil from Deepwater Horizon in the parks. Visitors are continuing to enjoy the islands and beaches and all the related recreational opportunities they offer. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "mailto:SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units in the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration moved the "no fishing" boundary further to the west of the Dry Tortugas on Friday. The area boundary has not changed and remains about 100 miles to the west of the Dry Tortugas and 180 miles West of Key West. A team of resource advisors has been working on the oil spill clean-up response plan and the final draft is being reviewed. This document will provide baseline information on how to proceed with clean-up effort while protecting resources and visitor safety. An early warning system to monitor for oil has been implemented by the Coast Guard's Florida Peninsula Unified Command Post, in coordination with BP and the Department of Interior, to alert Dry Tortugas NP and the Florida Keys at the earliest indication of a threat. NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the islands of Dry Tortugas NP. Monitoring continues at all South Florida park coastal areas. There has been no oil from Deepwater Horizon in these parks. Visitors are continuing to enjoy the islands and beaches and all the related recreational opportunities they offer. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "mailto:SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". The national parks in the Gulf of Mexico and south Florida preserve wildlife habitats and historical areas that are unique to our country. Coral reefs, mudflats, mangroves, marshes, and sea grass beds provide nurseries, refuge, and feeding areas for wildlife, while lighthouses, seacoast fortifications, and shipwrecks preserve evidence of trade, war, and maritime technology dating back to the 16th Century. Millions of people come to these seashore and island national parks for relaxation, inspiration and fun. In national park lands and waters the oil spill could contaminate and destroy the food sources and nesting areas for marine wildlife, including endangered least terns and Kemp's ridley turtles. Spilled oil can permanently damage historic brick coastal fortifications on the water's edge, like Fort Massachusetts at Gulf Islands National Seashore, or underwater shipwrecks like the Windjammer at Dry Tortugas National Park. Of additional concern, oil clean-up crews and equipment could disturb or damage sensitive wildlife habitats and archeological sites. Beaches, bayous, and waters will be closed if they become contaminated. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following: NPS Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" DOI Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" National Oil Spill Response - HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com" Oil Spill Safety Training - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service have been an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration moved the "no fishing" boundary further to the west of the Dry Tortugas last Friday. The area boundary has not changed and remains about 100 miles to the west of the Dry Tortugas and 180 miles west of Key West. A team of resource advisors has been working on the oil spill clean-up response plan and the final draft is being reviewed. This document will provide baseline information on how to proceed with clean-up effort, while protecting resources and visitor safety. An early warning system to monitor for oil has been put into operation by the Coast Guard, in coordination with BP and the Department of Interior, to alert Dry Tortugas NP and the Florida Keys at the earliest indication of a threat. NPS personnel continue to conduct daily surveys of the islands of Dry Tortugas NP. Monitoring continues at all South Florida Parks' coastal areas. There has been no oil from Deepwater Horizon in these parks. Visitors are continuing to enjoy the islands and beaches and all the related recreational opportunities they offer. A communications center continues to be staffed by a team of information officers and can be contacted at 305-224-4215, or via email at HYPERLINK "mailto:SouthFloridaNPS@gmail.com". The national parks in the Gulf of Mexico and south Florida preserve wildlife habitats and historical areas that are unique to our country. Coral reefs, mudflats, mangroves, marshes, and seagrass beds provide nurseries, refuge, and feeding areas for wildlife, while lighthouses, seacoast fortifications, and shipwrecks preserve evidence of trade, war, and maritime technology dating back to the 16th Century. Millions of people come to these seashore and island national parks for relaxation, inspiration and fun. In national park lands and waters the oil spill could contaminate and destroy the food sources and nesting areas for marine wildlife, including endangered least terns and Kemp's ridley turtles. Spilled oil can permanently damage historic brick coastal fortifications on the water's edge, like Fort Massachusetts at Gulf Islands National Seashore, or underwater shipwrecks like the Windjammer at Dry Tortugas National Park. Of additional concern, oil clean-up crews and equipment could disturb or damage sensitive wildlife habitats and archeological sites. Beaches, bayous, and waters will be closed if they become contaminated. [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress , Biscayne, DeSoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. The national parks in the Gulf of Mexico and south Florida preserve wildlife habitats and historical areas that are unique to our country. Coral reefs, mudflats, mangroves, marshes, and seagrass beds provide nurseries, refuge, and feeding areas for wildlife, while lighthouses, seacoast fortifications, and shipwrecks preserve evidence of trade, war, and maritime technology dating back to the 16th Century. Millions of people come to these seashore and island national parks for relaxation, inspiration and fun. In national park lands and waters the oil spill could contaminate and destroy the food sources and nesting areas for marine wildlife, including endangered least terns and Kemp's Ridley turtles. Spilled oil can permanently damage historic brick coastal fortifications on the water's edge, like Fort Massachusetts at Gulf Islands National Seashore, or underwater shipwrecks like the Windjammer at Dry Tortugas National Park . Of additional concern, oil clean-up crews and equipment could disturb or damage sensitive wildlife habitats and archeological sites. Beaches, bayous, and waters will be closed if they become contaminated. [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - An early warning system to monitor for oil has been put into operation by the Coast Guard in coordination with BP and the Department of Interior. The crew on a vessel patrolling waters northwest of Dry Tortugas identified oil approximately 247 miles from the park. This ship continues to monitor the situation. [Mindi Rambo, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - A press conference will be held Tuesday on Stock Island in Key West to highlight proactive efforts to assess possible oil in nearby water. The use of specialized nets called Neuston nets, typically used on boats to collect plankton, will be utilized to detect possibly approaching oil. These monitoring efforts will assist in early recognition of spilled oil, and will help facilitate appropriate responses if detected. [Bobbie Altomare Visnovske, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
A man in his late 20s or early 30s apparently dove head first into about two feet of water from a vessel anchored in the Sands Cut party area around 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th, incurring a serious neck injury. Sands Cut has a large sand bar area just west of the actual cut, and rangers could not get to him due to the shallow water and vessels blocking the way. Personnel from the Coral Gables Marine Patrol grounded their boat and were able to reach him, and were soon joined by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Rangers Scott Johnson and Bradon Falls assisted. The man was placed on a backboard, removed from the boat, placed in a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation vessel, then transferred to a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue vessel. The victim, who was reported to be gasping but not breathing, was flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he is in critical condition with a broken C-5 cervical vertebra and paralyzed from the neck down. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Network and local media attended a press conference sponsored by the South Florida Joint Information Center in Key West yesterday. Personnel from the NPS, Coast Guard, and representatives from BP attended a boat tour and demonstration of specialized nets which detect the presence of oil in the water. These efforts highlight proactive monitoring efforts to detect the possibility of approaching oil and illustrate how these measures could facilitate appropriate responses if oil is detected. Currently, there have been no reports of oil reaching shore in the Florida Peninsula. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites. Note that a new link has been added to GeoPlatform, an interactive GIS web page on the spill: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform [Bobbie Altomare Visnovske, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The South Florida IMT is transitioning to a smaller staff in south Florida. This smaller group will continue to manage incident operations and coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard sectors, including the South Florida Peninsular Joint Information Center) The U.S. Coast Guard Florida Peninsular JIC coordinated a flyover of the gulf coast out of Key West for offshore oil observations. There are no current reports of oil reaching shore on the Florida Peninsula. [Bobbie Altomare Visnovske, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service - both current employees and numerous retired employees - continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Plans are being developed with the South Florida Peninsular JIC on a press advisory for all public land managers on Monday, June 20th. More information will follow as plans develop. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites. Note that a new link has been added for the ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries prepared each day and posted on an NPS web page; among other things, these provide details on significant events, major problems and current resource commitments. HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" BP Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries [Bobbie Altomare Visnovske, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service - both current employees and numerous retired employees - continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries [Bobbie Altomare Visnovske, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The men and women of the National Park Service - both current employees and numerous retired employees - continue to be an integral part of the national federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All NPS units along the Gulf remain open and are conducting regular park operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - A media event was held at Everglades National Park's Key Largo Ranger Station to showcase different marine and coastal habitats that may be affected by the spill and also measures that will be taken to mitigate these effects. Five NPS boats were utilized for the field portion of the event. Approximately 15 media outlets participated. [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Some small tar balls and tar mats were reported at Gulf Islands yesterday, and a health advisory was posted for parts of the park due to oil coming ashore. A stranded dolphin was also rescued. Here are today's updates: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Scientists are analyzing baseline data that has been collected from five Florida national parks. This data will be important - if and when Florida parks receive oil impacts - in making damage assessments. [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Advisories remain in effect for beaches and offshore waters along Gulf Islands due to either significant amounts of oil coming ashore or oil-related chemicals in the water. Here are today's updates: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new report. [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The NPS Office of Public Health has prepared a video and public notices on the potential impacts of oil on human health. Tar balls have been found and recovered on Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas. Here are today's updates: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The regular watch for tar balls has turned up four more at Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas. These were found above the debris line over a period of 48 hours and were processed through the proper channels to the Coast Guard and have been sent for analysis. Though they are old and weathered, it is important to note that this discovery emphasizes the importance of Dry Tortugas as South Florida's "best all-weather outpost" for early warning should oil products move into the South Florida area, as weather keeps driving sentry vessels off station and into shelter, while observations continue unabated in the park. The sentry vessel program continues to augment this watch for potential oil impacts, though with tropical storm forecasts and small craft advisories in place the sentry operations may be interrupted depending on the weather. The Florida Peninsula Command Center, where Dan Kimball, lead DOI representative in Florida, is stationed, is gearing up for a media open house on Tuesday. Science advisors have been working with other trustees to track the approximately 125 natural resource-specific damage assessment studies being conducted. NPS scientists are participating in most of the 11 workgroups established across the country. The South Florida NPS team is working to ensure that these technical working groups are acquiring the appropriate research permits and supporting logistics for sampling efforts in the parks of concern. In addition, efforts are underway to assure that NPS resources are explicitly included in the baseline outcomes. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP on line oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/NPS%20-%20Public%20Health%20Notice%20SIGNAGE%206-26-10.pdf" Gulf Islands Public Health Precautions Notice HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/OilSpillSafety/index.htm" Public Health Service Oil Spill Safety Video [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Gulf Islands is currently experiencing its worst oiling to date. Here are today's updates: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The South Florida incident command PIO and a NOAA PIO travelled to Miami to participate in the Florida peninsular media availability event hosted by the JIC. The event went well, with Fox national, ABC local, CBS local, Channel 51 (Spanish), and the Miami Herald present. Dr. Erik Stabenau from the NPS provided the media with an update on the status of the oil and what the peninsula ICP is focusing on. The media were able to ask questions of the unified command representatives available, including BP, USCG, DOI, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The media was most interested in how far the oil was from any location along the peninsula, the number of land management areas that could be impacted, and the best projections on where oil might eventually wind up. South Florida parks continue to meet daily for a planning call with the incident team in place to ensure that NPS units in Florida stay coordinated and updated on the incident. PIO Linda Friar worked with the Florida peninsular JIC to be part of a local fishing show as part of last week's outreach/media event. [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Weather in the Gulf of Mexico pushed up oil products yesterday on several Gulf Islands beaches. A new oil spill response multimedia page has been completed and launched. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP on line oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/NPS%20-%20Public%20Health%20Notice%20SIGNAGE%206-26-10.pdf" Gulf Islands Public Health Precautions Notice HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/OilSpillSafety/index.htm" Public Health Service Oil Spill Safety Video HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/" Oil Spill Media Page [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
High seas from now dissipated Hurricane Alex have pushed more oil ashore at Gulf Islands. Padre Island has reopened with the storm's passage. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Severe weather along the Gulf Coast on Sunday kept cleanup crews off park beaches. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Denise Robertson, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Well over a thousand workers were engaged in cleaning oil from several beaches at Gulf Islands NS on Tuesday. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Denise Robertson, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Although crews at some locations at Gulf Islands faced serious challenges in cleaning up oil from park beaches due to tide and surf conditions yesterday, a crew at Perdido Key was able to fully clean a section of beach for a wedding there on Tuesday. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The weather and surf conditions have improved at Gulf Islands, making it possible for crews to resume cleanup of park beaches. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
B.H., 23, was free diving with three companions along the outer reef tract near Fowey Rocks on July 5th when he failed to surface from a dive. His companion, P.F., dove down to where he'd last seen B.H. and found him lying face down in sand in about 40 feet of water. P.F. eventually recovered B.H.'s body and transported it to Miami. Police and the coroner's office are investigating the death. B.H. immigrated to the United States from Cuba about six years ago and was an avid spear-fisherman and free diver. Free diving is a sport involving deepwater diving without SCUBA gear. [Mark Lewis, Superintendent]
Cleanup at Gulf Islands went well yesterday due to good weather, but a survey team has found an unusually large pool of oil on Cat Island that will prove challenging to remove. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Gulf Islands National Seashore is planning for its first sea turtle egg relocation. Southern Florida reports that parks there are still oil free. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - All vessel and flight patrols continued yesterday and no oil was spotted in the Florida Peninsula Command area of responsibility. A total of 153 oil samples from around the peninsula have been processed to date and none are connected with the oil spill; another 35 samples are in process and not expected to be positive either. Community meetings and development of qualified community responder programs are underway in the St. Petersburg and Key West Branches and planning continues in all branches. A cultural resource plan is being developed at the Florida Peninsula Command Post for all branches and will become a part of the planning package that will be handed down to the branches to incorporate with the tactical planning they have done so that everything will be in place should oil hit a trigger point offshore and operations be initiated. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Gulf Islands has held an evening event to recognize volunteers who've been working to provide the public with current information on spill operations. The membership of the team managing the response in South Florida will be changing this week, with some new people coming on board. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The South Florida NPS incident command was set up to support the five south Florida parks. The team has evolved over the duration of the oil spill to respond to NPS-specific needs in the south Florida area and has extended its operations to support and coordination with Canaveral NS. The team began as a Type 3 team made up of park staff, transitioned to a Type 2 team from Intermountain Region, and then scaled down to a smaller team that includes an incident commander, PIO, lead resource advisor, chief of finance, document lead, and two liaison officers, one stationed at the Florida Peninsula Incident Command Post and one in Key West. The scaled-down team consists of retired NPS professionals who were willing to travel to south Florida for 30-day assignments. The team's other duties, such as safety, reverted to the individual parks. This scaled-back structure was put in place due to the uncertainty of oil product impacts on the south Florida parks and to make it possible to quickly ramp up should oil impacts be identified in the area of concern. The current team has been in place for 30 days and is now transitioning to new ADs who will also serve 30 day periods working closely with park superintendents and staff to coordinate activities, share information, and address park concerns and spill-related issues. This will be a transition week, with Phil Perkins replacing Jay Wells at Key West, Bob Panko replacing Fred Bird at Homestead, and Larry Murphy (retired submerged resources) going out to Dry Tortugas. Gary Davis, Julie Bell, Dan Kimball and Bill Pierce will still be on the incident. This team has been able to support extensive planning and preparations for the parks in south Florida so that response plans are in place and needed resources are clearly identified. These plans include baseline inventories for each of the five parks, including collection of field data and implementation of a data management plan. Team members have worked with the USCG to update the area contingency plans to address the full range of possible oil impacts, including tar balls, sheets of oil, subsurface oil, and other types of potential impact to park resources. The team has also developed a volunteer plan, modeled after the Gulf Island volunteer plan, that will be put in place as appropriate. The team PIO continues to communicate regularly with other PIO's working on the incident and to keep the team informed of the broader public information strategies being developed [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Crews totaling several hundred people continued removing oil products from locations throughout the Mississippi and Florida Districts at Gulf Islands yesterday. Here are the details: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
There are approximately 250 people working 24 hours a day to clean the beaches along the gulf shore. Some worked this past weekend under a black flag warning and a heat index of 137° F. They are armed with shovels, plastic bags and improvised tools as they work their way along Perdido Key in Gulf Islands National Seashore, scraping oil stained sand off the beach, one shovel scoop at a time, and putting each into a plastic bag. Once filled, each bag weighs 10 to 12 pounds. A pile can reach 80 bags before it is picked up by utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). In the three days after Tropical Storm Alex, these crews filled over 18,000 bags - a total of 216,000 pounds of oiled sand, all collected by hand. Dave Stout, task force leader for Perdido Key, makes a point of saying "thank you" to each and every one of the workers as he greets them. He also tells them that the work that they are doing is important, that endangered species including sea turtles and nesting birds are depending on them to get the sand clean, and that 300 million Americans are cheering them on. Visitors to the beach are starting to notice how clean the sand is looking and Stout is quick to remind them that the progress is due to his crews working 12 hour shifts in difficult conditions. It might also be in part to Dave Stout's leadership on the beach. Meanwhile, here's what's been going on in the affected parks: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Staff at the South Florida incident command post continue to monitor oil spill impacts and keep the south Florida parks informed. Over the past few days, incident managers have developed a plan to continue to consolidate incident resources and identify continuing roles of incident and regular NPS employees involved in the oil spill operation. No oil is expected to make landfall in the near future. There are now 29 samples awaiting analysis at or en route to the USCG Marine Safety Lab. None of the previously submitted 174 samples have shown any association with the current spill. Two boats - the Fish Finder and the Ocean Star - continue on sentry duty northwest of Dry Tortugas. Another, the Becker, is in Key West re-provisioning and will put to sea on Tuesday. Observation flights were made yester by two HH-60 helicopters along the western coast of the Florida Peninsula, an HC-144 over the northern part of the gulf, and a Falcon flight along the Keys and to the west of the Tortugas. A C-130 flight was cancelled due to a maintenance problem. Neither boats nor aircraft spotted any oil. [Andy L. Fisher, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Towed sand sifters have been tested at Gulf Islands and have worked so well that they are now being employed in cleanup operations. Here are the details of yesterday's operations: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
The Department of the Interior recognized from the very beginning of the oil spill event that the cleanup effort had the potential to create additional impact on the fragile shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico. Early on, the NPS and other federal agencies, specifically the US Fish and Wildlife Service, created a "sensitive lands" branch as part of overall incident management. The keystone of the sensitive lands approach to the cleanup effort is the cooperative effort between work crews on the beach and the resource advisors (READs) assigned to accompany them. READs are specially-trained natural resource professional employed by land management agencies, including the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, who are on the ground with the crews to identify known nesting sites and dune vegetation as well as looking for new nesting sites of sea turtles, birds and beach mice. READs also assist when new ecologically sensitive resources are documented, assist managers in the sensitive lands office to develop amended recommendations for the critical area, and communicate those recommendations back down to the people doing the work. The Department of the Interior believes in using techniques and tools that are effective to get the job done while impacting the landscape the least. According to JD Swed, branch chief for the sensitive lands office at Mobile Incident Command, the national parks and wildlife refuges are being treated like the sea pods of the future. If these areas can be cleaned up while still preserving the biology and ecology of the area, they can be the catalysts to speeding natural recovery of other coastal areas which have been impacted more deeply. The goal of the sensitive lands branch is to clean these areas effectively, and carefully. Meanwhile, here's what happened in the parks yesterday: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Personnel at areas around the Gulf of Mexico are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Bonnie and making preparations for its arrival. Eggs will be removed from an endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nest at Gulf Islands today and sent to the Kennedy Space Center for incubation. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites: For more on Tropical Storm Bonnie's probable course, click on the link below. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response] HYPERLINK "http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/085015.shtml?5-daynl#contents"
After a stand down for Tropical Storm Bonnie, workers and equipment will head back to the beach today to resume cleanup operations. South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Jeff Wolin and Ken Wires, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Cleanup operations continued at Gulf Islands, but operations in South Florida began winding down to the low probability of oil impacts there. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - Operations are beginning to wind down in South Florida, as the probability of impact from oil has been deemed to be low. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Many NPS retirees have been called out to assist in the agency's response to the oil spill, or to assist other DOI agencies. Among them is the retired superintendent of Kenai Fjords, who was at that park during the big Exxon Valdez spill of 1989. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Buckets are now being used by workers cleaning up beaches, thereby reducing the number of non-biodegradable plastic bags deposited in landfills. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Despite climatic and operational constraints, crews are becoming steadily more efficient in cleaning up beaches, with daily collection totals more than tripling since early July. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Brigid Jennings, Alyse Cadez, and Jeff Wolin, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Despite fears that oil would have a serious impact on nesting birds on West Ship Island, a normal number of chicks have hatched and fledged. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP online oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites: HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response HYPERLINK "http://www.restorethegulf.gov/" Restore The Gulf HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/NPS%20-%20Public%20Health%20Notice%20SIGNAGE%206-26-10.pdf" Gulf Islands Public Health Precautions Notice HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/OilSpillSafety/index.htm" Public Health Service Oil Spill Safety Video HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/" Oil Spill Media Page [Ken Hires and Mary McBurney, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Cultural resources of all types at Gulf Islands NS have so far been spared by the spill, partly due to the placement of booms. Current estimates are that no oil will reach parks in South Florida. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The South Florida parks have not been impacted by oil from the Gulf oil spill. Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the east coast of the Florida peninsula are not likely to experience any effects from oil remaining on the surface of the gulf, as it continues to degrade and remains hundreds of miles away from the loop current. This analysis assumes the Deepwater Horizon/BP wellhead will remained capped. [Anne Castellina and Mary McBurney, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
Interpretive rangers at Gulf Islands NS have changed their programs to deal with the realities of the oil spill and to discuss related issues. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Ken Hires and Mary McBurney, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
A cleanup crew that found a moving letter in a bottle on the shore at Horn Island in mid-July has sent a letter and a T-shirt with all their names on it to the author in Wales. Here are the particulars: South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Kelly Moore, Lynette Sprague-Falk and Mary McBurney, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - No new developments. [Barbara Dougan and Mary McBurney, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]
While conducting surveillance for wanted individuals on August 28th, Chief Ranger Didier Carod and Law Enforcement Specialist Wayne Rybeck arrested two individuals in Miami-Dade County who had arrest warrants out on them. The first had fines exceeding $1,000; the second had been convicted of poaching. A federal judge had issued arrest warrants for both of them. Biscayne has had an active arrest warrant program since early 2009. Since then, rangers have arrested 11 suspects in various cities within Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Three others have been arrested by local agencies after absconding from the park's warrant/arrest team. They have been turned over to the rangers and taken to a federal detention center. Biscayne has developed a detailed warrant standard operating procedure and has developed examples of arrest plans. Today, Biscayne has only two active arrest warrants not served yet out of dozens issued since January of 2009. The park worked closely with the assistant United States attorney's office and federal judges when putting this program together. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
Over Columbus Day weekend, Biscayne, Everglades and Big Cypress protection rangers took part in the yearly multi-agency effort to manage the huge boat gathering in the park. This operation is mainly a public safety event. Over 100 law enforcement officers and EMS individuals from many federal, state and local agencies took part, including the NPS, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Miami-Dade Police, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, City of Miami PD, City of Coral Gables PD, City of Bal Harbor PD, City of Miami Beach PD, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. They patrolled a large anchorage area with hundreds of boats and people. Most of the visitors come during this weekend to engage in heavy drinking, nudity and rowdiness. The event ended with 17 people arrested for boating under the influence, three for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, and one for domestic violence. EMS personnel responded to 57 calls during the event, a few serious, but there were no fatalities this year. The event is the largest event that takes place in the park on an annual basis. Biscayne has an excellent working relationship with its partners, which enables the park to save thousands of dollars in coverage and other expenses during this event. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of January 1st, rangers Scott Johnson and John Herrod - the former a field training ranger, the latter a trainee currently assigned to the park - were conducting surveillance on Mowry Canal, an area subject to frequent poaching, when they saw a man wheeling a wheelbarrow out of the area. The man admitted to having two plastic grocery bags full of oysters. The rangers found 477 oysters inside the bags, with 474 of them under the legal size limit. Officers from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission responded and the man was charged with violations of both federal and state regulations. The case was forwarded to the prosecutor as a mandatory appearance since the total fines, if collateral fines had been written, would have been close to $24,000. Protecting oysters is essential because changes in freshwater flow in South Florida have reduced or eliminated many oyster reef areas that provide essential habitat for other estuarine inhabitants. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Monday, January 10th, park resource management employees reported that they'd spotted a group of Cuban migrants on Elliott Key. Rangers Didier Carod and Bradon Falls responded and found 14 men standing on the eastern shore of the key near Sands Cut. The men, all of whom were in good condition, reported that they'd arrived the previous night. Customs and Border Protection officers responded and took them to shore to be processed. Under the Cuban Reclamation Act, these migrants will more than likely be paroled into the country and then become legalized residents, since they made it to land - only those intercepted on the ocean can be repatriated. There was no vessel nearby when the rangers arrived, leading them to believe that the men were smuggled in. The average rate for smuggling a migrant from Cuba has hovered around $10,000 each. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Scott Johnson received a call from dispatch on December 31st relaying a report from a fishing guide that two men were firing automatic weapons in Biscayne Bay. The guide said that he was within a quarter mile of their vessel and could see rounds hitting the water near his boat. The dispatcher could also hear automatic weapons fire in the background during the conversation. The boat was subsequently seen leaving the area, heading west towards Miami. Ranger Jared Brierley responded by vessel from Adams Key and headed towards Matheson Hammock Marina to locate the two men. The Coast Guard and Coral Gables PD Marine Patrol also responded by vessel to assist in the search. Coral Gables police were able to locate a boat matching the description of the one involved in the incident at the boat ramps at Matheson Hammock Marina and found one man on board. He admitted to firing weapons from his boat while on the water. Brierley arrived shortly thereafter and determined through questioning that the man had been discharging his weapons in the park. The GPS unit onboard the vessel confirmed the man's statements. Items seized as evidence were a fully automatic .223 AR-15, a 12 gauge pump shotgun, four boxes of .223 caliber ammo, seven spent 12 gauge shotgun shells, eleven spent .40 caliber shell casings, and 27 spent .223 shell casings. The man said that a friend had told him it was OK to travel offshore and shoot guns from his boat. Further questioning revealed that there was another man on board who was firing his .40 caliber handgun and that he'd been dropped off at another location. On January 2nd, Brierley contacted the second man. Both men have been charged with discharging a firearm in Biscayne National Park and with discharging a firearm in a manner that endangers persons and/or property. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
Rangers Didier Carod and Bradon Falls responded to a report of a vessel sinking near a reef on the ocean side of Elliott Key this past Monday. When they arrived, they found no one near the sunken boat, so a search was begun with assistance from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Park volunteers soon reported finding a man walking around Elliott Key harbor who said he was from the sunken boat. Carod contacted the man, identified as D.M., and found that he was the boat's only occupant. D.M. said that the boat started taking on water once he cleared the bay and headed east into open ocean. He made some calls before the vessel went under, then wrapped himself in four life jackets and swam about two miles to shore in the middle of the night. D.M. said he spent the rest of the day walking around the island, trying to find someone who could help him. Further investigation revealed that the sunken vessel was a 27-foot-long Wellcraft that did not belong to him and that it had six 30-gallon drums full of gasoline on the bow - a frequent hallmark of boats employed in smuggling aliens and/or drugs, as they need additional fuel to make the journey to Cuba or the Bahamas. Because of this and because Biscayne is known for smuggling operations, the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection are investigating this incident as a smuggling incident. [Didier Carod, Chief Ranger]
Parks from Big Cypress to Acadia are in the midst of completing preparations for Hurricane Irene. All three East Coast regions - Southeast, National Capital and Northeast - held regionwide telephone conferences yesterday that collectively included representatives from the scores of potentially affected areas. Without exception, they reported that they were putting hurricane or emergency plans into effect, mobilizing local incident management teams, making or planning closures as needed, and otherwise taking all necessary steps to protect facilities and assure public and staff safety. The following reports are from areas where there have been closures and/or are from locations potentially most exposed to the storm, particularly parks bordering the ocean. They are listed from south to north: Biscayne NP - Due to expected severe marine weather associated with the outer bands of Hurricane Irene, all park islands (including Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, and Adams Key) have been closed to the public. Park waters remain open, but mariners are strongly encouraged to monitor NOAA weather reports and err on the side of caution. The park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center and park headquarters (on the mainland, nine miles East of Homestead) will remain open. The island closure will remain in effect until further notice. The regions have incident management and damage assessment teams on standby for deployment as needed. The National Interagency Fire Center has prepared a list of available resources, which include an area command team, a NIMO team, five Type 1 and five Type 2 incident management teams. [Regional, WASO and FAM reports]
Due to severe weather (25 to 30 mph winds and heavy rain), only 200 to 300 boats showed up for the annual Columbus Day weekend event at Biscayne this year. One man was killed when his legs were severed by the propeller of a large boat that he'd been riding on. [Mark Lewis, Superintendent]
After spending Independence Day installing mooring buoys and removing invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, park resource management intern Allen Wilson spotted a man less than 300 feet away waving his arms for help and alerted crew members Terry Helmers, Cornelia Lowerre and Melissa Wollangk. They circled back to find a man wearing only swim trunks and a whistle, but very much alive. After being helped onboard, he explained that he'd fallen from a yacht, unnoticed by anyone onboard, and had been treading water in the ocean for over an hour a couple of miles south of the Fowey Rocks Light Station. Eventually, the three persons remaining onboard the Scrappy, a yacht hailing from Coral Gables, did notice that they were down a man and radioed the Coast Guard. Park law enforcement specialist Wayne Rybeck heard the "man overboard" call and was responding when the stranded swimmer was reported to dispatch. After verifying the swimmer's identity, Rybeck transported him back to the Scrappy. Thanks to Wilson's keen eye, a tragic ending to an Independence Day boating adventure in Biscayne National Park was averted. [Christiana Admiral, Chief of Interpretation]
Several reports have been received by parks affected or potentially affected by Tropical Storm Isaac, which passed by Puerto Rico yesterday and is forecast to become a hurricane by this weekend and make landfall somewhere between Florida and Louisiana: Biscayne NP - Shutdown measures have begun, with non-essential boats pulled out of the water and dry-docked in the boneyard, loose gear and equipment around Convoy Point being relocated and/or secured, water quality meters pulled from Manatee Bay, and near-complete shuttering of island residences. Additional reports will be posted on Monday and thereafter, as appropriate. [Ernesto Padilla, SAJU; Leslie Velarde, EVER; Vanessa McDonough, BISC]
Tropical Storm Isaac has moved into the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to become a hurricane shortly. Landfall is expected along the Louisiana-Mississippi coastline on Wednesday. Since last week and through this past weekend, Southeast Region has held daily hurricane planning teleconferences with forty or more participants, including all affected and potentially affected parks, key central office staff from WASO, SERO and NERO, the Eastern Incident Management Team, meteorologists and other principals. All necessary preparations have been made and actions taken. Here's how things stood as of late Sunday night: Biscayne NP - The park was closed over the weekend. Because Isaac has moved past South Florida and is no longer a threat to the park, it will reopen this morning. The incident commander has reported that the park has not sustained any damage as a result of the heavy rains and strong winds that Isaac brought over the weekend. The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks needing assistance after the storm's passage. [Compiled from IMT and park reports]
Tropical Storm Isaac, which was on the verge of becoming a hurricane early this morning, continues on its steady course toward a landfall along the Gulf Coast. It should be near or over the Louisiana coast tonight or early on Wednesday. The following is a summary of reports received from parks that Isaac has already passed by or that are in the storm's probable path: Biscayne NP - With the immediate threat of Tropical Storm Isaac having passed, employees reported to work yesterday morning and began reopening the park. It soon became apparent, though, that ongoing severe weather would persist, with heavy rain, 30 mph winds, and 40 mph wind gusts making it unsafe to continue outdoor reopening operations. The IMT therefore decided to keep the park closed yesterday and to send non-essential employees home on administrative leave. The security and reentry team remained on duty to assess and secure the park. All regularly scheduled employees will report to work this morning for an anticipated completion of reopening activities and a subsequent return to business as usual. The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks needing assistance after the storm's passage. [Compiled from IMT and park reports]
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: 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. 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]
The park came through the recent Columbus Day weekend - traditionally one of the busiest and most dangerous of the year - relatively unscathed. An estimated 700 to 800 boats gathered in the clear shallow waters off Elliott Key beginning as early as Friday night. The park was enforcing its so-called "Five Boat Rule," which limits to five the maximum number of boats tied together and requires a minimum of 100 feet in between rafts of boats and individual, non-rafted boats. The separation allows for emergency access while at the same time decreasing interaction among attendees in the crowded anchorage. This year marked a return to a focus on the park's resources and a considerably stronger NPS presence in planning, coordination, enforcement and public education. Recent years had seen a lessening of all of those things in favor of allowing partner agencies to take on much of the responsibility for what was happening in the park, with little change in reducing the actual impacts on the park's resources. Wayne Rybeck, incident commander over the weekend, says that early enforcement and strong coordination among participating agencies are being credited with the fact that there were few injuries and no deaths this year (six people have died at the event over the past ten years). Notable incidents included a woman who was removed by helicopter after falling on her chin while pole dancing and a man who received CPR from a ranger at one of the marinas that empties into the park. Ranger Gretchen Messa had just received CPR training two weeks earlier when she was called to assist the man who was lying unconscious in the bottom of his boat. Paramedics took over, and the man was taken away by ambulance. Messa reports that the man arrived back at the marina by taxi two hours later, ready to rejoin the party. Other significant incidents include 12 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests, four unauthorized commercial operations cases, and multiple incidents of minors in possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, violations of the Five Boat Rule and excessively loud music. There were also several drug seizures, including cocaine, Ecstasy and over ten pounds of marijuana, the largest drug haul in the history of Columbus Day weekend in Biscayne National Park. In total, over 200 cases were pulled in the four days. A multipronged public information campaign in the weeks leading up to the event included a heavy ranger presence at marinas to distribute information to boaters, a Facebook series on what is appropriate in a national park, and tripling the presence of NPS staff at the annual news conference, which was held in the park this year rather than at the Coast Guard Station in Miami Beach. Large flashing traffic signs at two of the marinas summarized the regulations while boaters waited to launch. Staff searched the internet for commercial operators advertising trips into the party, and contacted the operators before they arrived. Another addition this year was a trial run of water quality testing. If the tests show increased levels of ammonia, fecal coliform and other indicators of water pollution, the park will seek to do additional testing next year. The park is indebted to the US Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Fish and Game Commission, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and rangers from Everglades, Big Cypress, Canaveral, and Gulf Islands for their assistance in keeping the event under control and protecting park resources. One particularly bright spot occurred early Monday morning when approximately ten visitor boats combed the anchorage collecting trash and lost valuables, such as anchors, sunglasses, jewelry and the like from the sea grass beds. More background on Columbus Day Weekend in Biscayne National Park is available on the park's website at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/columbus-day-weekend.htm" www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/columbus-day-weekend.htm. [Gary Bremen, Park Ranger]
Land access to Biscayne National Park was closed yesterday because of a wildfire burning just outside park boundaries along the park's access road, Canal Drive. Rangers also closed the Dante Fascell Visitor Center and escorted visitors out of the park. Although the extent of the fire was not known, these precautionary actions were taken to ensure visitors' safety. It's not yet known when the park will reopen. Updates are being posted to Biscayne's website: HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/bisc". [Christiana Admiral]
Land access to Biscayne National Park at Convoy Point reopened yesterday after being temporarily closing on Wednesday due to a fire burning alongside Canal Road. Local authorities have reopened Canal Road, although drivers are being advised to be alert for smoke and fallen limbs. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center has reopened and concession boat tours are again being offered. The park will post updates on its web site HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/bisc". [Christiana Admiral]
On January 26th, Biscayne National Park Ranger Robert MacKarvich and Big Cypress National Preserve Ranger Luke Conrad, who was in the park on a detail, conducted a vessel stop on a 36-foot-long sport fishing vessel. Following interviews and an inspection of the vessel, rangers discovered that the occupants were in possession of illegal fish product, including 119 wrung lobster tails, 57 of which were undersized. They also had HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_conch" queen conch shells, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahoo" wahoo fillets (wahoo is considered a protected pelagic species), and a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Triggerfish" queen triggerfish (a protected marine species). The occupants of the vessel were transporting the product illegally from the Bahamas back into the United States through Biscayne Bay. The captain was issued mandatory citations and is currently awaiting federal prosecution. [Willie Lopez, Chief Ranger]
Two vessels collided near Elliott Key around 10 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, May 25th. Three people were rushed from the accident scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and transported to local hospitals. One person died and the other two were seriously injured. Biscayne National Park rangers responded to the accident along with personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue, the United States Coast Guard, Coral Gables Police and City of Miami Fire Rescue. [Matt Johnson, Public Information Officer]
On May 9th, rangers and Florida Fish & Wildlife officers arrested three people who have had a history of illegal commercial fishing activities. Rangers Robert MacKarivich, Adam Mehlhorn and Daniels Helmers were conducting a regulatory marine fisheries inspection on a commercial fishing vessel in conjunction with Florida Fish & Wildlife officers when a a lobster carapace was spotted inside one of the traps. Occupants of the vessel claimed that there were no lobsters on board. The boat was inspected and a total of 87 wrung spiny lobster tails were found hidden on the vessel. Spiny lobster season is currently closed and only open between August 6th and March 31st. Three people were arrested and charged with 35 state misdemeanors. Stiffer federal charges are to follow. The charges involve the wrung spiny lobster tails, 66 undersized spiny lobster, possession of spiny lobster during closed season, illegal traps and other violations. [Robert C. MacKarvich, Park Ranger]
Hurricane Irma's long path from the Leeward Islands to the interior Southeast carried it over numerous parks. Reports are still coming in, but some early submissions are now available (below). The National Park Service's Eastern Incident Management Team has mobilized in Atlanta to begin coordination of recovery operations in the affected South Florida and Caribbean parks. The team's focus is on ensuring the safety of employees at impacted parks, organizing for the work ahead, and bringing in additional staff resources to conduct damage assessments, coordinate debris removal, and provide access to park areas. An operational branch has been established specifically for the Caribbean parks, and personnel to provide peer support for employees and damage assessments are en route. The IMT's advance team headed to South Florida on Monday afternoon; the remainder of the team will tentatively follow on Wednesday. The NPS is also coordinating closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the federal response to Irma. Here's what we currently know, sorted by area: Florida Parks All non-essential NPS employees in Dry Tortugas, Everglades, and Biscayne National Parks were released before the storm, and all parks on the Florida peninsula are closed to visitors. The Eastern Incident Management Team will establish operations in South Florida on Wednesday to begin information systems, peer support, damage assessments, and recovery operations. Source: NPS Hurricane and Severe Weather Response webpage.
The Service's Eastern Incident Management Team, now in its second week of operations, is working in parks throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, and along the Atlantic coast, coordinating the bureau's response to Hurricane Irma. Immediate objectives are to support employee emergency needs, conduct damage assessments, and remove debris in the affected areas. Biscayne National Park — Assessment teams are continuing to assess islands and underwater resources. The water treatment plant is down; staff are overseeing water system repairs and addressing water treatment. A Southeast Region Arborist Incident Response team is working in the islands. Debris removal continues. Additional closures exist throughout Southeast Region, but local park employees are handling cleanup efforts. A full list of affect parks and updates on the status of these parks can be found at http://go.nps.gov/irma. Source: NPS Incident Management Team Hurricane Irma Update for September 18th, found at the NPS Hurricane and Severe Weather Response website.
The Service's Eastern Incident Management Team continues to prioritize support for employee emergency needs, especially for staff in the six national parks in the Caribbean. Support staff have responded to the parks in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to help establish communications and provide critical supplies. An IMT will likely be dispatched to the Caribbean later this week, when travel conditions improve. The IMT currently has 392 laborers, saw team members, arborists, heavy equipment operators and other employees on the ground in South Florida, along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, clearing debris and working to safely reopen parks damaged by Hurricane Irma. The team is beginning its third week of operations and is composed of NPS employees from 111 national parks in 38 states. Biscayne National Park — Boca Chita Key is now open, but all other facilities remain closed, including the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Elliott Key, and Adams Key. Park waters are open for navigation, although boaters are advised to use extreme caution. A saw crew is removing damaged trees and clearing debris on Elliott and Adams Keys. Repairs are in progress at University Dock and Convoy Point. A crane is removing a displaced section of dock along with boardwalk pieces. Source: Incident Management Team Hurricane Irma Update, Monday, September 25th
In addition to the primary objectives of caring for park employees and providing emergency stabilization of park sites, the National Park Service IMT has also deployed a team of resource specialists to assess natural and cultural resource damage. Specialists are surveying resources in park museums, unique natural habitats (including coral reefs), and archaeological sites on park lands and underwater. Resource teams have been assessing damages to cultural resources ranging from shipwrecks and cannons to archives and historic maps. Divers have been assessing resources along reefs and shipwrecks at Dry Tortugas National Park and Biscayne National Park, which can be especially vulnerable to damage caused by sand and debris movement. Natural resource specialists have also been studying potential impacts on threatened and endangered species, including the Florida panther. More than 244 NPS employees from 90 national parks and offices across 36 states continue to support seven parks in South Florida and the Atlantic Coast to help them ready for reopening. Parks plan to open more areas throughout the week as stabilization work continues. The following update was prepared on Monday: Biscayne National Park — The park is partially open. Employees returned to work on Monday in preparation for reopening this week. Source: IMT Update, October 2, 2017.
Several reports have recently come in from across the Service regarding unsuccessful (as of yet) searches for missing persons. Rather than itemize each individually, here's a summary, including the relevant parks and links for additional information: Biscayne NP — Rangers, assisted by the Coast Guard, conducted a search of the waters near Caesar's Creek on September 5th after another mariner spotted a capsized 20-foot boat and called it in. Searchers found a floating, empty flare box and a diver found fishing gear, a cooler and a fresh chum bag underneath the vessel, but no sign has been found of the occupant(s). Source: Miami Herald. Sources: As indicated above.
The owner of a 34-foot commercial fishing boat has surrendered it to the United States following the conviction of its captain for poaching nearly 300 spiny lobsters and stone crabs in the park last summer. In August, a park marine patrol officer stopped the Silvita for a routine inspection and discovered 231 illegally wrung tails stashed in an anchor locker, along with more than two dozen egg-bearing or undersized lobsters. Another 22 out-of-season stone crab claws were hidden in a pair of fishing boots. The officer also discovered an undersized mutton snapper and hogfish. Under the federal Lacey Act, poaching lobster and other fish out of season can carry fines of up to $250,000 and five years in prison. Organizations can face up to $500,000 in fines. Capt. A.S.G. pleaded guilty to two felonies and is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court next month. He has also been banned from commercial lobstering in the park and ordered to remove his traps. The boat's owner, D.A., Inc., agreed to forfeit the boat as part of a consent agreement. The park may keep it or sell it. Source: Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald.
Forecasters continue to predict that Hurricane Dorian will closely follow the coastline from Florida to North Carolina before it moves out into the open ocean. Watches and warnings have been issued for portions of the Florida coast and evacuation orders are in place for coastal areas in the Southeast. National parks from Big Cypress to Cape Hatteras are preparing for potential impacts and implementing storm plans. The parks below have closed or will soon close in preparation for the storm: Florida — Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Canaveral National Seashore, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Everglades National Park, Fort Caroline National Memorial, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Source: National Park Service.
From September 25-30, many parks around the southeastern United States enacted closures due to the forecasted path of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ian. Biscayne, Fort Pulaski, Gulf Islands, and Timucuan have reopened for normal operations. Canaveral National Seashore, Carl Sandburg, Everglades and Dry Tortugas partially reopened some areas. Other parks remain closed and have not yet publicly disclosed the effects of the storm, as of October 2. Source: WALA, Everglades National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Congaree National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Fort Frederica National Monument, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Canaveral National Seashore, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, National Parks Traveler
Biscayne remained open, but with minimal services available. As of November 10, there were no updates as to hurricane damage. Source: Biscayne National Park
Many parks were affected by Hurricane Helene, up and down the Eastern seaboard. The following updates are as of Tuesday, October 1. For the latest update, please see each park's website. Closed temporarily, but now re-opened after clean-up: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Everglades National Park, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park | |||||||||||||||||||||||||