INCIDENTS

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East Coast Areas
Hurricane Isabel Cleanup Moves Into High Gear

Damage assessments and the organization of repair and rehabilitation operations are underway at parks throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. Assisting with and supporting these efforts are JD Swed's Type 1 team (currently relocating from Charlotte to Williamsburg), Rick Brown's Type 2 team, and Clay Jordan's Type 3 team at Shenandoah. Here's a rundown on the current status of affected parks (south to north):

Cape Lookout NS

Initial damage assessments were conducted over the weekend. They revealed damage more extensive than was apparent during the overflight made on Friday, particularly in Portsmouth Village. All of the numerous historic structures in the village were seriously damaged. All of the rest of the park's infrastructure — excepting Harkers Island — was also seriously damaged:

• Access to all areas of the park is hampered by the loss of almost every dock and ramp. This loss of access has resulted in an immediate loss of income to two major concessions and about 15 incidental business permittees.
• The two concession areas were extensively damaged, with most buildings and utilities beyond repair.
• About 40 private vehicles were destroyed.
• About 40 septic systems were destroyed, raising serious environmental concerns.
• Five water systems and four park solar electric/generator systems were destroyed.

Cleanup has begun at the Harkers Island HQ and visitor center and at the Cape Lookout lighthouse and Cape Village areas. On Sunday, Shackleford Banks was reopened to the public; the Cape Lookout area of South Core Banks was reopened yesterday. Ferry services to these areas has resumed, except for the 150-passenger Lookout Express, which relies on the dock at the lighthouse. South Core Banks north of the lighthouse, Middle Core Banks and North Core Banks — together, about 40 miles of the 56-mile-long seashore — remain closed to the public.

Outer Banks Group (Cape Hatteras NS, Wright Brothers NM, Fort Raleigh NHS)

Almost all employees from the three parks have been contacted, and so far no serious problems have been reported, with one exception — an employee injured his arm while clearing debris at home, underwent surgery Sunday evening and is expected to do well. Several employees had damage to homes and vehicles, and others will be without power for several weeks. Some park housing is still uninhabitable due to power outages, flooded septic fields, and lack of drinking water. Here's a rundown on damage to the parks, based on an initial assessment conducted over the weekend:

• Within the seashore, many stretches of N.C. Highway 12 are impassable, covered with deep sand from major ocean overwash and dune breach. That highway is the only transportation corridor for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Sections of the road just north of Hatteras Village and on the north end of Ocracoke Island have been damaged or washed completely away. Three breaches of dune line just north of Hatteras Village have taken out a section of the highway, forming a new inlet between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound. On Ocracoke Island, the Try Yard Creek Bridge, part of Highway 12, is gone. Ocean overwash also occurred in numerous other section of the highway along Cape Hatteras. Close, cooperative work with the NC Department of Transportation will be needed to restore the road.
• Cursory assessment of structures showed damage throughout the three parks to various structures, particularly in the seashore. The Bodie Island maintenance shop lost 35% of its roof (roofing and decking), leaving only bearing walls standing. The Hatteras Island ranger station, Coquina Beach bathhouse, Little Kinnakeet lifesaving station boathouse, and several of the Ocracoke pony pen buildings lost roofing materials. One of the pony pen horse stall structures was partially turned over by the storm and received extensive damage, and the horse barn received some water damage to its interior. Approximately 70% of the pony pen fencing is gone or extensively damaged. One pony was killed. The Oregon Inlet fishing senter needs safety inspections before boats can reenter. The park is current performing more extensive assessment of structures to determine the actual extent of the damage.
• There was damage to portions of the beach access boardwalks throughout the seashore, with the boardwalk and deck at the pony pen ocean-side access totally washed away. Two parking lots were washed away completely in the area of the newly formed inlet north of Hatteras Village. These were the Sandy Bay sound-side parking and the Austin ocean-side parking lot. The beach parking lot just northeast of the Cape Point campground was also destroyed. The campground is totally flooded. Much of the entrance road into the Cape Hatteras lighthouse area, including roadways to the Hatteras Island ranger station and Cape Point campground are underwater. The Hatteras Island ranger station parking lot is also currently flooded with water. There is standing water surrounding the Cape Hatteras lighthouse and part of the adjacent parking lot. All seashore ORV beach access ramps were overwashed and have much sand and debris to remove from the ramps and associated parking pulloffs.
• At the Wright Brothers National Memorial, there are large areas of standing water. The maintenance shop lost roofing and siding. Roll-roofing materials were blown off both replica camp buildings.
• There are many downed limbs and debris at Fort Raleigh NHS.

For a map of the park, go to http://www.nps.gov/caha/map.htm.

Colonial NHP

Park staff have met with members of the Type 1 team. Maintenance folks have done a great job in clearing Colonial Parkway of many downed trees, and it may open as early as today. About 80% of Tidewater Virginia is without power, as are many park employees. The dispatch and maintenance buildings are running on generators. Storm surge damage occurred at the Jamestown VC and a historic building near the James River.

Petersburg NB

A comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the hurricane has led to the discovery of more damage than previously thought. The City Point area of the park was devastated. The fishing dock was destroyed and tossed inland. Over a thousand trees are down within the main unit. Park crews have opened the main tour road and made public thoroughfares around the park passable. No assessment has yet been completed of the twelve miles of park trails. Some historic structures were damaged, but no historic buildings were hit. Power and phones are out; there's no firm estimate on when either will be restored.

Richmond NB/Maggie Walker NHS

Richmond NB is still without power, and has only one working phone — which rings in the maintenance shop. The park has hundreds of trees down in main areas and along the battlefield road. One of them is leaning against a neighbor's house. Power is back on at Maggie Walker NHS. The Type 1 team will be sending up a team to make a full assessment.

Shenandoah NP

Clay Jordan, IMT for the park's Type 3 team, estimates that it will be a long time before the park is fully operational again. Efforts are focused on opening up Skyline Drive from the Thornton Gap entrance and Route 211 to Skyland, then on to Big Meadows. They hope to open Skyland by the weekend. Power will be available to Skyland by that time, but there's no estimate yet on when it will be returned at Big Meadows. An assessment of historic Camp Hoover revealed probable minor damage from a falling tree.

George Washington Birthplace NM/Thomas Stone NHS

The parks have been closed since Thursday. Power is still out and will likely be out through most of this week. About 180 trees were blown down and park roads are closed. The roof of the visitor center was damaged, as were several historic structures.

Prince William FP

The park has reopened Scenic Drive to pedestrians and bikers. Power remains out in most of the park, and about 90% of park roads, fire roads and trails are blocked by downed trees. Cabin camps #1 and #4 and the travel trailer village have reopened.

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Seven tree crews were en route to the park to remove downed and hazard trees by Sunday evening. Clara Barton, Glen Echo, Great Falls, and the HQ compound at Turkey Run were all without power. Belle Haven Marina is destroyed and is having problems with looting. Trails have suffered extensive damage, as have 50% of the park's trail bridges. Teddy Roosevelt Island is closed.

National Capital Area

Damage was substantial throughout the DC area:

• NCRO is still inaccessible due to flooding of road approaches.
• Many trees are down or damaged in Rock Creek, and some roads are still blocked. The park has no power or phones. Headquarters remains closed due to the lack of power and downed trees. The nature center is also closed.
• Crews continue to work on cleaning up the National Capital Park Central (NACC) annex.
• Isolated parts of NACC were still without power as of Sunday.
• An assessment of the District 1 substation is underway; efforts are being made to procure over 7,000 feet of space as a temporary station for USPP officers.
• All NACC roads are open, except for Ohio Drive and those on Haines Point.
• Anacostia and Greenbelt suffered significant damage, as did the NACE headquarters building. Staff and contractors are developing a plan to make headquarters usable.
• Greenbelt campground is closed until further notice.
• Fort Dupont reopened on Sunday, but without electricity.

Chesapeake and Ohio NHP

The lower 24 miles of towpath reopened to the public at noon on Sunday. The remainder of the canal — from Seneca Creek to Cumberland — is closed. Great Falls entrance road remains closed due to downed power lines. About half of the park had been assessed at the time of the report on Sunday.

Harpers Ferry NHP

Tree crews were expected to finish their work on Sunday. Park buildings were scheduled to reopen yesterday afternoon. Power is back on at the park. Personnel are monitoring river levels. One minor employee shoulder injury has been reported.

Catoctin MP

The park was reported to be 80% operational as of late Sunday. The visitor center and adjacent quarters were operating on backup power. All roads were passable, but most trails had significant blockages. Saturated soils contributed to significant erosion to trails, road shoulders and developed areas. Two historic cabins suffered extensive damage; one suffered moderate damage; one had minor damage. Two other park structures have damaged roofs. Camp Misty Mount was still closed.

Assateague Island NS

The Toms Cover visitor center is still without power, but it may be restored today. The ORV zones have reopened on a limited basis. The storm took out a lot of the beach, and it will take several weeks for it to wash back in. Large quantities of sand need to be removed from the parking lots and access road at Toms Cove. The extent of the damage to the shell-over-clay parking lots and roads themselves won't be known until the sand is removed. The park will probably not try to do a complete cleanup until late winter or early spring, as they still have to get through a winter's worth of storms.

Hampton NHS

Power was restored on Monday morning. The park sustained significant tree damage; some trees that were 250 years old fell. A tree fell on a modular building rented by the park's cooperator, Historic Hampton.

Hopewell Furnace NHS

Most of the downed trees have been cleared, but it will take time to attend to the remaining trees and the massive amount of brush needing removal. Efforts were underway to get a temporary tarp over the roof of the damaged historic Tenant House #2 before forecasted rain arrived Monday night. A professional damage assessment will be needed.

Additional reports will appear daily during recovery operations, which will likely go on for some time. Current information and essential documents from the incident management teams will be available at the IMT web page: http://www.nps.gov/fire/allrisk/. Please check if for additional details.

Reports compiled from submissions by Kris Fister, IO, Type 1 IMT; Ken Garvin, SERO; Don Boucher, NCRO; Bob Martin and Doug Wallner, NERO; Mary Doll, PIO, Outer Banks Group; Wouter Ketel, IC/Chief Ranger, and Donna Tipton, PIO, CALO; Laura Joss, Superintendent, FOMC; Vidal Martinez, Superintendent, GEWA/THST; Cindy MacLeod, Superintendent, RICH/MAWA; Bob Kirby, Superintendent, PETE; Laurie Coughlan, Superintendent, HAMP; Clay Jordan, IC, Type 3 IMT, SHEN; Tom Nash, Chief Ranger, COLO; Bill Sanders, Superintendent, HOFU; Mike Hill, Superintendent, ASIS.

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Short-Haul Rescue from Boat Stuck on Rock

On Thursday, September 11th, dispatch received an emergency call via satellite phone from Wilderness River Adventures. A boatman reported that he and his companions had pinned their 37-foot motor boat on a rock at Unkar Rapid on the Colorado River. The boat's engine had failed as they'd entered the rapid; it traveled to the left side of the river and got lodged on rocks towards the base of the rapid. Seventeen passengers were on board. For the next three hours, the boatman and crews from two other Wilderness River Adventures' boats attempted to free the boat. At 5 p.m., they determined that their efforts were not going to be successful and called the park. Rescue personnel flew to the site with less than two hours of daylight left. Two rangers were inserted onto the boat via helicopter short-haul, a technique for moving rescuers via a rope attached to the helicopter. Rescuers evacuated six passengers by short-haul before nightfall. Air operations were suspended at dusk due to safety protocols. Rangers stayed on the boat with the remaining passengers throughout the night. In the morning, the passengers were short-hauled to safety. The rescuers and boat crew remained on the raft to assist with efforts to free it. Attempts were made throughout Friday; although they weren't able to free the boat, they succeeded in moving it to a location ten feet downstream and also rotated it 180 degrees. On Saturday, the boat crew finally got the raft free using engine power. It continued down the river without further incident.
[Submitted by KJ Glover, Incident Commander]

Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Arrest of Wanted Concession Employee

Rangers and special agents assisted FBI agents from Los Angeles and Denver on September 14th in the arrest of B.F., an employee with Xanterra, the park concessioner. B.F. was wanted on a kidnapping charge. The case involved the abduction of two Israeli men who have been missing since last December. Neither has yet been found. B.F. faces a life imprisonment term if found guilty. Agents and Old Faithful rangers did an outstanding job of intelligence gathering, surveillance and pre-planning the execution of the search warrant, which was done in concert with the FBI agents. The investigation continues; B.F. may be charged with other non-related felonies.
[Submitted by Dick Divinie, Special Agent]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Report - Monday, September 22, 2003

Preparedness Level 3

Initial attack was light everywhere on Sunday, with only 69 new fires reported. A Type 1 IMT and three Type 2 IMT's are assigned to the Hurricane Isabel recovery operation in North Carolina and Virginia.

Fire Danger

Day	9/15	9/16	9/17	9/18	9/21	9/22
Arizona	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
California	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Colorado	--	--	VX	VX	VX	--
Hawaii	VX	VX	VX	VX	--	VX
Idaho	--	--	VX	VX	VX	VX
Montana	VX	VX	VX	VX	--	VX
Nevada	VX	VX	--	VX	VX	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Wyoming	VX	VX	VX	--	VX	VX

VX = Very high to extreme danger

National Resource Commitments

Day	9/12	9/15	9/16	9/17	9/18	9/21	9/22
Crews	362	241	244	216	196	182	168
Engines	594	315	380	318	261	206	248
Helicopters	153	96	96	83	70	64	55
Air Tankers	0	1	1	0	3	1	1
Overhead	3,502	2,740	2,728	2,153	2,174	2,719	2,736

National Team Commitments

Teams are listed alphabetically by type. New team commitments or changes in teams (as of this report) are indicated in bold face.

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
MT	T1	Bennett	Blackfoot Lake Complex Flathead NF
VA	T1	Ferguson	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
NC	T2	Collins/ Col. Holt/ Hendricks	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
NC	T2	Custer	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
CA	T2	Dietrich	Grindstone Complex Mendocino NF	8,019	82	9/24
WA	T2	Furlong	Needle Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF	17,600	39	UNK
OR	T2	Hoff	B&B Complex Deschutes NF	90,769	95	UNK
CA	T2	Szepanik	Loma Fire Shasta-Trinity NF	3,890	95	9/22
NC	T2	Wathen/ Pearson	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
CA	ST	Hawkins	Canoe/Honeydew Fire Humboldt-Del Norte RU	11,950	40	9/28

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.