NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, December 18, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-747 - Western Pacific Areas - Follow-up on Super Typhoon Paka

Super typhoon Paka hit Guam - site of War in the Pacific NHP - on December
16th, with the eye passing just over the northernmost portions of the island
(American Memorial on Saipan was spared from all but minor impacts).  The eye
had a double eye wall, which meant that most of the island received severe
winds twice on each side of the storm.  It also meant that the winds were
nearly continuous at 140 mph from 2 p.m. until after 1 a.m. on the 17th; only
the direction changed.  Numerous gusts were reported in the 175 to 190 mph
range, with some exceeding 230 mph.  Damage, accordingly, is extensive.  All
park staff and their families are safe.  Almost all homes had some flooding
from water that came through windows (some broken by the wind), doors, and
cracks.  Several employees reported major damage to personal belongings, but
no one is reporting any special needs.  The superintendent reports that "the
park has held together as a family to help each other."  The park itself was
devastated, with all units suffering major resource damage.  The visitor
center/administrative building was inundated by a storm surge which flooded
the basement with upwards of eight feet of sea water.  Wave action apparently
continued throughout the storm and swept away the locked chain link gates as
well as two storage areas.  In preparation for the storm, the building's
emergency generator was moved to higher ground; it survived the storm without
damage and is back in operation.  The first floor museum area was flooded
with two to three inches of rain water on the carpet.  The roof access door
was blown off, and a waterfall evidently flowed down the stairwell to the
basement, where another access door was ripped off its hinges by wave action. 
The administrative areas on the second floor suffered only minor water
damage.  The beach units of the park, comprising a total of a little over 150
acres, were completely washed over and are now covered with rocks up to two
feet in diameter.  Since these are all mowed areas, the rock will have to be
removed before the grass can be cut.  Most trees are either down (uprooted
and blown over) or completely denuded.  Even the stately old trees which
survived many storms in the past are gone.  A major portion of the Asian
Beach palm tree forest has been destroyed.  The Piti Guns unit suffered the
loss of almost all standing trees.  The high tension powerline which crossed
the area was destroyed, and the high voltage lines are strung across the
fallen vegetation.  The guns are covered with broken trees and the access
trail is virtually inaccessible.  The Agat units are largely underwater. 
Apaca picnic area has up to a foot of water on its trails, and all the picnic
shelters have been destroyed.  The large mango trees at Gaan Point have been
badly damaged, and a majority of their branches are broken or missing.  The
only unit that appears to have been spared from major damage was the Asan Bay
overlook and memorial.  The vegetation has been blown down, but all
structures and roadways there are in good shape.  The park was fortunate,
however, as a large number of the buildings on Guam were completely
destroyed.  All electrical power is out on the island and it may be months
before power is restored to some sections.  Water is also in short supply,
since the municipal system requires electricity for distribution.  Only the
telephone system (including park phones) has functioned throughout the
ordeal.  Roadways are strewn with debris.  The airport was damaged but has
reopened.  Apra harbor is badly damaged, so shipments of recovery supplies
may be delayed for weeks.  There are over 1,200 homeless families on the
island as a result of Paka, but most have found places to stay with neighbors
and friends.  Relieve agencies have emergency teams standing by for the first
available flights and should be on island within the next several days.  The
superintendent has sent along an additional note:  "Thanks to everyone who
has sent messages of concern and support.  It is a tough time for us all and
we appreciate knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.  We wish you
all a happy holiday season."  [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA, 12/18; Chuck
Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 12/17]

97-754 - Channel Islands NP (CA) - Storm Impacts: Scorpion Flood Incident

On December 5th, a storm dropped more than twelve inches of rain on Santa
Cruz and Anacapa Islands, causing serious flooding and damage to park
resources and facilities - sufficient to warrant the assistance of an
incident management team to help restore park operations and facilities.  The
Intermountain-Midwest joint regional incident team arrived in the park on
December 13th and is working closely with the park's staff to coordinate
repairs.  Historic structures and campgrounds on Santa Cruz Island suffered
heavy damage and will not be fully opened to the public until an assessment
can be made to determine the extent of the damage and ascertain what needs to
be done to make the area safe for both employees and visitors.  Anacapa
Island received more than nine inches of rain, and trails were cut to a depth
of more than three feet in some areas.  Rain and wind also damaged the roof
of the dive locker, flooded the ranger residence basement, caused extensive
damage to the trail system, and inflicted some minor damage on a lift crane. 
The incident objectives in the delegation of authority from the
superintendent are as follows:

o locate and identify imminent and potential safety problems and threats
and make recommendations for immediate actions that can be taken to
reduce life risk;

o locate and identify vulnerable park resources and recommend immediate
actions that can be taken to protect these resources against further
impacts or deterioration;

o ensure that the scientific community, park employees, management, the
public, park users, neighboring communities, political leaders and
others can use the assessment information;

o develop recommendations for properly disseminating assessment
information to the media, regional and Washington offices,
congressional staff, and the public; and

o minimize disruptions to normal operations.

William Holda (GRTE) is IC on the incident.  Additional reports will follow. 
[Rich Littlefield, IO, Scorpion Flood Incident, 12/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

Mule Available - Saguaro NP is looking for a home for a ten-year-old gelding
mule named "Roscoe."  Roscoe suffers from chronic lameness in his left front
leg, although it is not always visible.  The veterinarian discourages use of
the mule for packing, but says that Roscoe could be used at a park with "a
less aggressive life style."  If you're interested, please contact Pat Haddad
(520-733-5131) or Robin Stoddard (520-733-5106) at Saguaro NP.

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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