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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, September 20, 1999
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Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 08:15:40 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, September 20, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-476 - Wind Cave NP (SD) - Follow-up: Death of Employee and Son
Services for maintenance employee J.M. were held in Hot Springs, South
Dakota, on August 21st. J.M. and his nine-year-old son, L.M., were killed in
an airplane accident on August 17th. J.M. is survived by his wife, D.M.,
and daughter, S.M., age 11. Letters of condolence and remembrance may be
sent to them c/o Wind Cave National Park, RR 1 - Box 190, Hot Springs, SD
57747. An education fund has been established for S.M. Contributions may
be sent to M. Memorial Fund, Community First Bank, PO Box 999, Hot
Springs, South Dakota 57747. D.M. extends her thanks to all of those who
have donated to the fund and have responded with an outpouring of condolences
and sympathy during these difficult times. [Denny Ziemann, WICA, 9/16]
99-543 - Southeast/Northeast Region Areas - Follow-up: Hurricane Floyd
The following updates have been received from parks affected by Hurricane
Floyd (north to south):
o Cape Cod NS (MA) - The park received a half inch of rain and winds
averaging 35 to 40 mph (with higher gusts) over Thursday night. An
inspection was conducted of all park buildings, utilities, roads and
trails the next morning. No damage was found. The park began
reopening at 8 a.m. The north oversand corridor and self-contained
unit area at Race Point was to remain closed on Friday due to high
winds. Sand blasting of vehicles and windshields was the primary
concern. The strong northwest winds actually reduced high surf on the
outer beach and prevented more serious coastal erosion.
o Saratoga NHP (NY) - A tree fell on an occupied park residence, but
caused no injuries.
o Sagamore Hill NHS (NY) - The park was closed on Thursday. Although
heavy rains caused flooding throughout the area, damage was confined to
small downed limbs and the park reopened on Friday.
o Fire Island NS (NY) - Rangers assisted Suffolk County with the
mandatory evacuation of the communities within the park's boundaries.
o Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Between eight and twelve inches of
rain fell on the park, largely on Thursday. The four earthen dams
currently being reconstructed all held, but two significant leaks had
to be stemmed at one (Little Egypt) and a second (Pickerel) came only
inches from being overtopped. Aggressive pumping and/or shoring of all
four began on Thursday and continues. Remaining damage stemmed largely
from road erosion caused by heavy runoff. The road to the Depew
recreation area will be closed indefinitely.
o Valley Forge NHP (PA) - The park received almost eight-and-a-half
inches of rain in a short period of time on Thursday. Areas of the
park were closed due to flash flood conditions on two waterways that
bisect the park - the Schuykill River and Valley Creek. The state
highway that runs along the western border of the park was inundated
and closed. A second route was closed later in the day, effectively
closing the park to all vehicle access. The Betzwood picnic area and
several miles of hiking and recreational trails were still covered by
flood waters on Friday. There were several instances of disabled/
stranded vehicles, power outages with downed wires, and downed trees -
but no reported injuries. The flood plan for the Washington's
Headquarters complex was put into effect. Artifacts were moved, sand
bags were placed, and other measures were taken to mitigate the effects
of flooding. All waters in that area had receded by Friday. Park
staff continue to assess impacts to trails, cultural and natural
resources, and other park infrastructure.
o Hopewell Furnace NHS (PA) - Significant flooding on Thursday washed out
sections of dirt road in the village and flooded several buildings.
The historic village was closed to visitors on Friday but expected to
reopen on Saturday. Building damage appeared to be minor, but the Cast
House will be closed for a week to clean up debris and mud washed into
the structure from French Creek.
o Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - Storm effects were surprisingly light.
Two parking lots in the South District were overwashed and were
inaccessible on Friday, but the remainder of the district was open.
Overwash damage to district beaches was insignificant. The North
District ORV zone was still closed due to standing water on the beach
at the access point. There was little erosion to beaches, but there
was standing water in a third of campsites. The district and adjoining
Maryland State Park reopened Friday morning.
o Prince William Forest Park (VA) - The park received over six inches of
rain from the storm; winds peaked at 41 mph. A preliminary damage
assessment was conducted on Friday. Park Scenic Drive remained closed
while crews removed trees. Power was lost to half the park on
Thursday; it resumed at most locations by Friday, but one loop at Oak
Ridge campground was still out. Neither the South Fork of Quantico
Creek or the creek itself rose above their respective banks. The
basement at park headquarters was flooded, the sewer line backed up,
and seepage was occurring through concrete basement walls. An
assessment of trails, fire roads, dams and cabin camps continues.
o Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP (VA) - The park was closed for
about 24 hours and reopened on Friday. A few trees fell, but the park
had only a short period of very heavy rain. There's no known damage to
resources.
o Colonial NHP (VA) - The park received very heavy rain - between 15 and
20 inches - from the storm, and strong winds on Thursday afternoon
felled a number of trees. There was no power to either the park or
surrounding area during much of Thursday and Friday except for a backup
generator at dispatch. Some specifics, as of noon Friday:
* The Yorktown VC reopened with resumption of power on Friday
morning. Tour roads in Yorktown remain closed. The visitor
center and park headquarters sustained some damage from roof
leaks.
* All facilities at Jamestown were still closed, as the island,
which operates on an NPS well, has no water. Since the entire
area was under a "boil water" advisory, facilities on Jamestown
Island won't be reopened until alternative water and rest room
facilities can be found. The island was still inaccessible at
the time of the report due to downed trees, but an employee
walked in and made an initial assessment. There doesn't appear
to be any major structural damage to park buildings, and the
visitor center did not flood. A large tree fell across part of
the water system pump and electrical controls for the Glasshouse
and destroyed a shed owned by Eastern. The roof of a historic
church on the island was also damaged by a large tree.
* Colonial Parkway has dozens of downed trees across it. The
parkway was to reopened from Yorktown to Williamsburg on Friday,
and was expected to reopen for most of the area from Williamsburg
to the entrance to Jamestown by late Friday afternoon. Flood
waters from Papermill Creek were across the parkway, as there was
major damage to a culvert under the road at that location. That
section of the parkway will therefore be closed indefinitely.
* A 15-foot-high earthen dam at Wormley Pond in the Yorktown area
was overtopped by flooding and sustained major damage. Although
a previous safety analysis of the dam and 16-acre impoundment
showed that there was no major risk to property downstream other
than a few private piers and boats moored along the stream, the
county - at the park's request - notified all private land owners
downstream. The dam was still intact on Friday morning, but just
barely. The water level was being lowered as quickly as
possible.
No visitors or employees were injured by the storm, but several
visitors who drove around barricades and gates on the closed Colonial
Parkway became stranded Thursday evening and had to be rescued.
o Cape Hatteras NS/Outer Banks Group (NC) - The hurricane passed to the
west of the three parks during the late morning hours on Thursday.
Maximum winds recorded on Roanoke Island were around 115 mph, but
little rain fell in the area. By evening, winds had subsided enough to
allow people to venture outside to assess damage. Severe soundside
flooding was beginning to occur, with the water rising very quickly.
Downtown Manteo on Roanoke Island was under about four feet of water.
Three to four miles of NC Highway 12 on the north end of Ocracoke
Island are under three or four feet of sand. Roads on Hatteras Island
are open and passable, with some shallow flooding remaining. The
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center was flooded, displacing the boardwalk and
fuel tanks (no spills are evident). Several large shop and hanger
doors were lost from various park buildings. The Cape Hatteras
lighthouse again fared well, as expected. Cape Hatteras NS was closed
on Friday to allow for a complete damage assessment and initial
cleanup; Wright Brothers NM opened on Friday, Fort Raleigh NHS on
Saturday. Ferries to the island were expected to resume during the
weekend.
o Moores Creek NB (NC) - The park was closed on Friday. NC Highway 210,
the only access road to the park, was under eight to twelve feet of
water in many places and the road was completely washed out just west
of the park. All flood waters eventually drain into the Cape Fear
River, which is not expected to crest until Tuesday. Water levels in
the park are expected to continue rising. The VC, admin building and
quarters are well above flood waters. The condition of other park
structures and features is not yet known. All employees are fine; most
have telephone service and generator power available at home. All have
food and water, but only enough for three to five days. Outside
support can't reach the park or employees until road conditions across
the area improve.
o Charles Pinckney NHS (SC) - Assistance has been requested from Fort
Pulaski NM via ICS to help in removing downed trees from the park.
Visitor use areas will be cleaned up today and the park will reopen
tomorrow.
o FLETC (GA) - The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center had a few
limbs and trees down, but that was the extent of the hurricane's
impact. Classes resume this morning.
o Castillo de San Marcos NM/Fort Matanzas NM (FL) - About 300 feet of
boardwalk was destroyed or missing at the fort, and about 40 yards of
dunes were lost. There was no damage to structures. All visitor areas
in both parks were reopened on Saturday.
Based on information received from parks in both Southeast and Northeast
Regions, the NPS Type II team (Bob Panko) was released on Friday afternoon.
[Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 9/17; Mike Shaver, ACR, SAHI, 9/17; Sandy Rives,
FRSP, 9/17; Bob Woody, IO, CAHA, 9/17; Ann Childress, MOCR, 9/17; George
Liffert, IC, PRWI, 9/17; Jim Burnett, CR, COLO, 9/17; Paul Henry, NPS
Superintendent, FLETC, 9/17; John Burns, CR, ASIS, 9/17; Jeffrey Collins, CR,
HOFU, 9/17; Kevin FitzGerald, CR, CACO, 9/17; John Tucker, FOSU/CHPI, 9/17;
Scott Kalbach, VAFO, 9/17; Martin Zweig, RLES, NERO, 9/17; Gordie Wilson,
Superintendent, CASA/FOMA, 9/19]
99-564 - Padre Island NS (TX) - Serious Employee Illness
Ranger Gary Carroll suffered what appeared to be a cardiac arrest while on
duty on Thursday, September 16th. He was taken by ambulance to a local
hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit where he was to
undergo further testing. Additional information will appear in future
Morning Reports. [Mike Wood, RLES, IMRO, 9/17]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Thu Sun % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 9/16 9/19 Con Con
CA Shasta-Trinity NF Big Bar Cx T1/2 38,557 47,199 55 UNK
Los Padres NF Kirk Cx T1/2 16,931 25,200 16 UNK
OR Willamette NF Monteith Rock T2 300 369 100 CND
Ochoco NF * Elk Drive -- - 600 100 CND
TX State Beaver Creek -- 300 300 100 CND
ID Upper Snake District * Squaw 2 -- - 1,200 100 CND
* Grandview -- - 23,730 100 CND
IN State * Chrisney -- - 640 100 CND
FL State * Five Mile Swamp -- - 870 60 9/20
SC Shaw AFB Hurricane Floyd T1 Receiving/distribution
center operations
NJ McGuire AFB * Hurricane Floyd T2 Receiving/distribution
center operations
Heading Notes
Unit Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
BLM field office; District = BLM district; NWR = USFWS wildlife
refuge
Fire * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex
IMT T1 = Type I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con Percent of fire contained: UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con Estimated containment date: NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no
report; RBF = resource benefit fire, no containment action being
taken; LR = last report unless significant activity occurs
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Thursday, 9/16 0 1 10 0 392 30 433
Friday, 9/17 3 10 18 0 398 33 462
Saturday, 9/18 2 3 23 0 175 58 261
Sunday, 9/19 2 4 14 2 215 38 275
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Thursday, 9/16 195 253 84 17 2,769
Friday, 9/17 138 280 63 8 2,688
Saturday, 9/18 164 239 76 2 3,481
Sunday, 9/19 173 244 74 2 3,521
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack was moderate in the South yesterday, but minimal elsewhere.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, California, Idaho,
Montana, Utah, Nevada, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Texas.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/18-20]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
INTERCHANGE
No entries.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Hubbell Trading Post NHS - The park and local youth were awarded a bronze
plaque by EPA in late July for work done on the Pueblo Colorado Wash
enhancement project. The National Association of Counties, the National
Association of Service and Conservation Corps, the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and the Wildlife Habitat Council awarded $395,000 to about 40
community-led conservation projects that had at least five collaborative
partners. The park was the first site to receive this distinctive award.
The project is a low-tech, low-cost stream channel enhancement and riparian
improvement utilizing local materials and labor. Its currently in its third
year and will likely continue for several more years. The project is a
partnership among six groups - the park, the Arizona Water Protection Fund,
the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, the Navajo Nation Water
Resources Department, the Public Land Corps, and the Student Conservation
Association. For details, contact Nancy Stone, superintendent, at 520-755-
3475. [Mary Furney, CR, HUTR]
Lassen Volcanic NP - Russ Lesko, chief of natural resource management, is
retiring on September 30th after more than 30 years of federal service. A
retirement party will be held on September 29th. The potluck gathering will
take place at Mineral Ballfield. If you'd like to contact Russ, you can
reach him at 530-595-4444 x5170; if you have questions about the party or
related activities, contact superintendent's secretary Don Trent (x5101) or
resource management program assistant Mary McCutcheon (x5173). [Mary
McCutcheon]
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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