NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, December 30, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-767 - Mid-Southern Areas - Winter Storm Impacts

Reports have been received from two more parks which were struck by the ice
storm of December 22nd through the 24th:

o     Vicksburg NMP (MS) - Freezing rain began falling in the park and
      surrounding area on Tuesday night and continued through Thursday night. 
      Sub-freezing weather continued until Sunday.  The park was closed on
      Wednesday due to downed or dangerously hanging trees and did not reopen
      until yesterday.  All areas were without power on Thursday, but service
      is being gradually restored.  A complete damage assessment is underway. 
      It's estimated that there are thousands of downed or damaged trees, and
      that a major cleanup effort will be required.  

o     Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - There was no snow accumulation in
      the park, but ice felled upwards of 200 trees.  A number of park roads
      remain closed.  Some employees are still without electricity.

Reports from other parks in the Mid-South that were affected by this storm
are solicited.  [William Nichols, VICK, 12/29; Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 12/29]

98-772 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Pursuit; DUI Arrest

Park dispatch received a report of a drunk driver on Lake Mead Boulevard on
the afternoon of December 27th.  Ranger Wes Houk intercepted the vehicle, a
26-foot, 1975 Tioga motorhome, at the point where the boulevard intersects
with Northshore Drive.  Houk attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver -
subsequently identified as R.F., 56, of Las Vegas - accelerated
away, striking a guard rail and damaging the vehicle in the process.  Houk
pursued along with rangers Bob Carnes and Andy Coriell.   As Coriell
attempted to pass the motorhome, R.F. veered the motorhome toward him in
an apparent attempt to run Coriell off the road.  The pursuit left the park
and continued towards Henderson, Nevada.  Officers from that jurisdiction
joined the chase.  Coriell was able to get ahead of R.F. on Lake Mead
Drive and place a spike stick on the road.  The spikes deflated the
motorhome's right rear dual wheels, but R.F. continued down the road at
speeds of about 50 mph as the motorhome's tires began to disintegrate.  The
motorhome finally came to a stop in front of a residence in Henderson. 
R.F. was ordered out of the vehicle, but refused to comply.  Coriell and
a Henderson officer opened the passenger side door and found that R.F.
was armed with a small camping axe.  Coriell disabled, disarmed and
extricated R.F., then placed him under custody.  There were no
passengers in the motorhome.  Investigation revealed that R.F.'s license
was suspended and that he had a prior conviction for operating under the
influence (OUI).  His two breath alcohol tests indicated breath alcohol of
.27 and .28%  R.F. was charged with DUI, DUI with a breath alcohol above
.10%, driving without a license, interfering with an agency function,
damaging government property, and possession of a controlled substance. 
[Paul Crawford, SPR, Boulder Basin District, LAME, 12/27]

98-773 - Zion NP (UT) - Search and Rescue

V.G., 25, and his climbing partner, L.E., 20, were
attempting a technical climb near Moonlight Buttress late on the afternoon of
December 27th when V.G. fell between 20 and 30 feet and sustained a major
head injury.  L.E. reported that V.G. went into an immediate seizure,
then was unconscious for about 15 minutes while hanging in his climbing
harness.  L.E. rappelled off the wall, contacted another group of
climbers, asked them to go for help, then climbed back to the accident scene
and lowered V.G. to a ledge.  A four-person technical SAR team led by
assistant chief ranger Dave Buccello began a night technical rescue
operation.  They were supported by another dozen members of the park staff. 
V.G. was provided with advanced life support while being lowered over 600
feet from the ledge.  The rescue operation was completed at 3 a.m.  V.G. was
taken by park ambulance to St. George, then flown to Las Vegas by air
ambulance.  He remains in critical condition and in a medically induced coma
to help him recover from his brain injury.  V.G. was not wearing a climbing
helmet.  In addition to the complicating factors of a technical rescue at
night, rescuers had to deal with freezing temperatures, wind, rock fall
hazards, and evacuation across numerous rivers.  [Steve Holder, CR, ZION,
12/29]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

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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