NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date: Wednesday, March 18, 1998 

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-56 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Follow-up on El Nino Winter Storm Impacts

The park, which closed on March 9th when a major winter storm blanketed the
south end of Lake Michigan, reopened on Friday, March 13th.  The impacts of
the storm were considerable.  Park headquarters was without power or water
for almost 72 hours, and numerous trees and power lines were toppled
throughout the park.  Snow drifts and high winds trapped most employees at
home.  Major highways adjacent to the park were shut down for more than 24
hours, and hundreds of motorists were stranded in their vehicles.  The
Indiana National Guard was called in to assist in unsnarling the resulting
traffic gridlock on Interstate 80/94, which was more than 20 miles long. 
Massive power outages compounded problems by paralyzing the state's public
safety communication network.  The park's dispatch/communication center
remained open with the help of emergency generators.  Rangers made welfare
checks on many of the park's elderly reservation-of-use occupants, who were
cut off from the outside world.  Maintenance crews worked overtime to ensure
downed trees were removed and park roads were cleared of drifts.  Following
the storm, overnight temperatures fell to near zero; many of the park's
buildings accordingly had to be winterized and secured until power could be
restored.  Gale force winds caused considerable erosion along the shore of
Lake Michigan, and one occupied reservation-of-use home fell into the lake. 
At least three other reservation-of-use structures are in imminent peril of
falling onto the beach.  At the Port of Indiana, which is adjacent to the
park, a tugboat and barge full scrap iron were sunk by high waves.  Salvage
crews have placed oil booms at the mouth of the port to contain the resulting
fuel spill and prevent it from reaching park beaches.  Media interest has
been high, with most major networks and local radio and TV stations doing
on-site stories at one time or another.  It may take several weeks before the
park can assess the full extent of the damage caused by downed trees on the
trails, buildings and utility systems, but it appears that the park survived
the "Blizzard of 98" in remarkably good condition.  [Rich Littlefield, INDU,
3/13]

98-104 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Structural Fire

The park was notified of a structural fire in the resource management shop at
10:30 p.m. on March 15th.  The park's structural fire brigade responded along
with local fire companies.  When units arrived on scene, they found the
building's interior engulfed in flames.  The fire was quickly extinguished,
but the building suffered about $30,000 in damage.  The building was used by
the resource management division to store tools, ammunition, radios and other
equipment.  Contents lost included several radios, rechargers, kitchen
appliances and field equipment.  The total value of lost equipment has been
placed at $20,000.  The county fire department's fire inspector is assisting
with the preliminary investigation, which is focusing on some suspicious
activity.  No one was injured in the incident.  [Gail Minami, Operations
Supervisor, HAVO, 3/17]

98-105 - Chattahoochee River NRA (GA) - Search; MVA with Two Fatalities

Around noon on Saturday, March 14th, Fulton County authorities were notified
that a vehicle had apparently gone off a gravel road and into the
Chattahoochee River just upstream from the Island Ford unit of the park. 
Although the land and road were not in the park, the accident scene was
within the 48 continuous miles of river that the park manages.  At about the
same time, the county received word that two local men - K.P., 22,
and J.E., 23, both of Alpharetta - had failed to come home the
previous evening, and that one of their vehicles had been discovered at a
local sports bar.  Rangers Stuart Delugach, Todd Roeder, Kim Kirk and Steve
Reynolds searched the river for the vehicle and two men along with county
fire and rescue personnel.  The search was hampered and made more dangerous
by extremely high, fast water.  The search was suspended at dusk, but resumed
on Sunday morning.  The vehicle was found late that afternoon and removed
from the river.  Both men were found inside.  The incident was managed under
ICS, with Fulton County providing the incident commander.  [Mark Lewis,
Acting CR, CHAT, 3/16]

                            [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

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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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