East Coast Areas
Isabel Recovery Effort Makes Substantial Headway
The following reports reflect the status of operations through late Tuesday. Please note that a number of new photos of the impacts of Hurricane Isabel have also been added to the photo gallery found at http://inside.nps.gov/ people/hurricane/
Type 1 Team (JD Swed)
Crews continue to make good progress in all areas, including Colonial NHP, Petersburg NB, Richmond NB and Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP. The crew clearing the Jamestown tour road discovered that two of the bridges on the loop road have been moved from their original locations and are impassable. One bridge is approximately 200 feet in length and the other about 400 feet long. This damage had not been seen during aerial overflights of the site on Saturday.
The relocation of the Jamestown artifact collection to Fort Lee is on schedule, and is expected to be completed by mid-day Tuesday. Triage of the artifacts will be continued there. The materials will be stored there until they are shipped to other facilities for restorative treatment.
Assessment field teams continue to assist parks with condition assessments. Parks being assisted include Colonial NHP, Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP, Petersburg, NB, George Washington Birthplace NM, Richmond NB, and C&O Canal NHP.
Six additional crews and other resources arrived on Monday, which significantly increased the people and equipment that will be working in the various divisions. Some of these crews had just been released by FEMA. One hotshot crew will begin cleanup work along the Colonial Parkway in non-traffic areas, clearing away fallen trees and other debris from parking lots, interpretive pullouts, and off-road areas. Cleanup work along the road itself will begin later in the week. Traffic delays of up to 15 minutes may occur, as both lanes may need to be closed during some of the clearing operations.
A total of 216 people are currently assigned to this portion of the recovery efforts. The cost to date is $1,606,910.
Cape Lookout NS
A total of 106 people are currently assigned to the Cape Lookout recovery efforts, including 20 local Down East residents laid off after the storm that the park has temporarily hired to help with recovery efforts. The park is open to pedestrians, with the exception of the immediate areas around Portsmouth Village, Morris Marina Kabin Kamps, and Alger Willis Fishing Camps. Most passenger ferry service to the Cape has been resumed. Owners of vehicles in the parking lot at Great Island may go out to check their vehicles between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.daily. Vehicle owners must show their identification to the ranger on duty. Currently, there is no way to get vehicles on or off the islands. Ramps were destroyed, docks for vehicle ferries were damaged, and roads have been washed away. Crews are working quickly to rebuild docks and open the park to vehicle traffic as soon as is safely and logistically possible. For daily updates, refer to the official park website: http://www.nps.gov/calo.
Outer Banks Group
Some facilities at Cape Hatteras reopened yesterday morning after a thirteen-day closure due to Hurricane Isabel. Opening of park lands and facilities will be a phased operation. Areas will be open on a case-by-case basis as safety and resource protection issues are resolved. Opened so far this week are:
- Bodie Island Visitor Center
- Oregon Inlet Campground
- Whalebone Information Station
- Coquina Beach Public Use Facility
- Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
- Ramps 27 and 34 and the section of beach between them
- Haul Over Day Use Area
- Hatteras Island Visitor Center
Wright Brothers NM and Fort Raleigh NHS reopened last week.
Colonial NHP
The encampment tour road at Yorktown Battlefield reopened yesterday afternoon, as crews completed clearing the several hundred trees that had blocked the nine-mile wooded drive. The historic Moore House, scene of surrender negotiations between British and American officers at the end of the siege of Yorktown, also reopened, as power was finally restored to the house. Most of the public use areas on the battlefield are now open as they were prior to the storm. Only the Beach Picnic Area and the Nelson House, which still has not had power restored, remain closed. Since both parkway and battlefield tour roads are open, crews will now begin the process of removing the hundreds of trees that have been moved to the sides of the road. Historic Jamestowne, the hardest hit unit of the park, remained closed and without power, as park staff and members of the IMT continue to assess the damage at the site of America's first permanent English settlement.
Petersburg NB
The NPS Type I IMT and laborers (28 as of yesterday) have arrived in the park and begun working with park staff (15 total) to open roads, complete damage assessments, and clean up debris and other damage caused by hurricane Isabel. More damage and impacts to the park have been discovered than previously reported. The initial estimate of 900 to 1,000 trees down turned out to be somewhat conservative, as 1,847 fallen trees were subsequently counted — and that number does not include trees that fell but had no impact on roads, trails or park resources. Although the bulk of the costs identified to date have been for tree removal and clean up operations, there were several instances where both cultural and non-historic resources were damaged:
- Cave-ins continue along the crater tunnel route. The 139 year-old tunnel has experienced cave-ins before, but the 7.4 inches of rain that soaked the ground in the 24 hours surrounding the arrival of Isabel exacerbated the tunnel's demise. Based on guidance received from NPS archaeologists, sand was poured into the open void. Several comprehensive archaeological assessments of the tunnel have been done in the past. An NPS archaeologist has been called to render advice on data recovery and stabilization treatment.
- Large sections of the bluff face at City Point in Hopewell sloughed off during the storm. The saturated ground made it easy for winds to blow down tress on the bluff. As the trees fell, they took with them large root balls and sections of earth, further exposing the steep slope to the heavy rains, thus promoting the loss of more soil. An NPS engineer and archaeologist have been called in to provide damage assessments, assist with inventorying and monitoring, and provide advice on measures to mitigate further erosion activity.
- Several cultural landscape features were lost or damaged in the storm. A section of the wall at Poplar Grove National Cemetery was smashed by a falling tree. Many other plantings and trees were lost or damaged at both Poplar Grove and at City Point. Of significant concern was the loss of a 300-year-old cedar tree at City Point that was there when Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln and innumerable Civil War soldiers passed through the area. An NPS cultural landscape specialist has been called in to provide advice and to document the damage and loss.
- Wind-thrown trees have damaged earthen fortifications at Forts Wadsworth, Fisher, Wheaton, Welsh, Urmston, and Gregg. Many of the falling trees pulled out large sections of fortification walls, breastworks, ramparts and parapets. NPS archaeologists have been called in to conduct preliminary archaeological assessments and repair advice.
- The City Point waterfront park was nearly demolished. The boardwalk fishing pier was completely destroyed by the storm, surge which lifted the deck off the pilings and deposited it on the beach about 30 yards away.
The park received great assistance from its friends and neighbors at Fort Lee. The Army provided critical assistance by permitting the park to dump tons of trees and wood debris at their dump site. Without this generous assistance, the NPS would have had to expend significant sumes to haul the debris to more distanct locations for disposal. Fort Lee also provide assistance to Type I IMT managers who sought to relocate the flooded Jamestown curatorial collection. After the storm, Colonel John Angevine, the fort's commander, came to the park headquarters office and offered assistance. The park also extends its thanks to the Type 1 team and to all the folks assigned to the incident who provided so much assistance to the park. Bob Kirby, the park's superintendent, had this to say: "This park would not have been able to serve the public and open its doors for months without the tremendous assistance provided by these able and efficient NPS and USFS folks. It hard to imagine that 'competitive outsourced' resources could demonstrate the kind of dedication, sensitivity to cultural and natural resources and esprit de corps I have witnessed over the past 10 days."
George Washington Birthplace NM
In-house assessments of damage to trees and structures has been completed. All main park roads have been cleared and opened, but the park remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions and lack of electricity. The regional support office has been contacted with a request for specific assessments of damaged resources — shoreline erosion, loss of archeological sites, erosion to the 17th century ice pond dam, and structural damage to six historic structures. LE and IMT support has also been solicited.
Additional Information
- NPS Interactive Map Center — Select maps of parks affected by the hurricane: http://maps2.itc.nps.gov/nps/parkatlas/jsp/atlas.jsp
- Hurricane Photo Gallery — Photos showing impacts of hurricane on parks and recovery efforts: http://inside.nps.gov/people/hurricane/
- NPS IMT Web Page — Home page for NPS incident management teams: http://www.nps.gov/fire/allrisk/
Reports compiled from submissions by Kris Fister, IO, Type 1 IMT;
Barb Stewart, IO, Type 2 IMT; Karl Merchant, Plans Chief, Type 2 IMT;
Dave Lattimore, Plans Chief, Type 1 IMT; Bob Kirby, Superintendent,
PETE; Mike Litterst, PIO, COLO; John Storke, GEWA; Michelle Fidler, PIO,
CALO.
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Rescue Of Climber After 200 Foot Fall
At quarter of ten on the evening of Thursday, September 18th, Valley
District rangers received a report of an injured climber high in North
Dome Gully. The climber had taken a 200 foot tumbling fall while
carrying a 50-pound haul bag as he was traversing unroped from the top
of Washington Column to the start of the North Dome Gully descent route.
An initial response team was immediately dispatched, and they were
followed with technical evacuation and medical teams. The rescuers
ascended North Dome Gully on foot. The first team reached the patient,
35-year-old S.G. of Yosemite, at 12:25 a.m. the next morning. The
evac and medical teams arrived on scene at about 1:15 a.m. S.G. was
stabilized in a vacuum body splint and litter and given ALS care through
the night. The litter was raised approximately 20 feet to a large ledge,
where S.G. and medics waited until morning. At approximately 7:50 a.m.,
Yosemite's contract helicopter shorthauled S.G. to the Ahwahnee Meadow.
There he was transferred to a waiting medical helicopter and flown to
Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Miraculously, S.G. walked out of the
hospital with only bruises and abrasions.
[Submitted by Jack
Hoeflich, Park Ranger]
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (CA)
Marijuana Plantation Eradication
On August 1st, eleven members of the park staff joined a Ventura
County Sheriff Department's task force in removing 3,800 marijuana
plants from an area near Rancho Sierra Vista and within the boundaries
of the park. The plants had an estimated sale value of $11.4 million. A
week later, Ventura County officers removed 760 plants valued at $2.3
million from a canyon just outside of the park's boundaries. Both of
these plantations were well maintained and found in drainage areas close
to springs. Both had the same type of irrigation and fertilizer systems,
suggesting a common grower.
[Submitted by Bryan Sutton, Chief, Law
Enforcement Branch]
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (CA)
Special Event: Presidential Visit
President Bush visited the park at Rancho Sierra Vista on August
15th. His two-hour visit included a stop at the native plant nursery,
meeting with park staff and a park volunteer, and a meeting with the
Wilson High School summer interns assisting with some trail
construction. President Bush then spoke to approximately 200 invited
guests and news media at the Satwiwa Culture Center at Rancho Sierra
Vista. Park staff; protection rangers from the park and Pacific West
Region's special events team; law enforcement rangers from the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservation Authority and California State Parks; and
officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and California
Highway Patrol assisted the Secret Service with protection duties. No
major incidents occurred, but rangers were kept busy with approximately
75 demonstrators. The incident was managed under ICS by Pacific West
Region's IMT.
[Submitted by Bryan Sutton, Chief, Law
Enforcement Branch]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Body of Illegal Immigrant Found in Backcountry
Rangers and Pima County deputies found the body of an illegal
immigrant in the park's backcountry near Sweetwater Pass on September
13th. The 18-year-old male had been missing since July, when average
daily temperatures ran from 115 to 120 degrees. Two one-gallons water
bottles (both still full) and two bottles of electrolytes were found
inside his daypack, which he was still wearing. Fatalities of this sort
generally occur from exposure to extreme heat, not dehydration. The Pima
County Sheriff's Office assumed responsibility for the investigation of
the death.
[Submitted by Bo Stone, Park Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Report - Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Preparedness Level 3
Initial attack was light everywhere on Monday. Nationally, there were only 93 new fires — one of which escaped initial attack.
A Type 1 team and three Type 2 teams are committed to Hurricane Isabel recovery operations in North Carolina and Virginia.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
9/22 |
9/23 |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Colorado |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Hawaii |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
|
Idaho |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
|
Montana |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Oregon |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Wyoming |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX = Very high to extreme danger
National Resource Commitments
|
Day |
9/22 |
9/23 |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
|
Crews |
168 |
153 |
153 |
148 |
209 |
206 |
218 |
|
Engines |
248 |
226 |
299 |
274 |
339 |
338 |
353 |
|
Helicopters |
55 |
60 |
52 |
53 |
102 |
107 |
113 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Overhead |
2,736 |
2,676 |
2,654 |
1,052 |
1,625 |
1,877 |
1,973 |
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 |
|
VA |
T1 |
Ferguson |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
NC |
T2 |
Collins/ Col. Holt/ Hendricks |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
NC |
T2 |
Custer |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
WA |
T2 |
Furlong |
Needles Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
18,990 |
40 |
UNK |
|
CA |
T2 |
Rios |
Kibbie Complex Yosemite NP |
8,431 |
78 |
10/2 |
|
CA |
T2 |
Walker |
Spanish Fire Mendocino NF |
1,800 |
0 |
UNK |
|
NC |
T2 |
Wathen/ Pearson |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
WA |
ST |
Berndt/ Baarspul |
Crystal Creek Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
800 |
40 |
10/18 |
|
CA |
ST |
Hawkins |
Canoe/Honeydew Fire Humboldt-Del Norte RU |
21,666 |
85 |
10/6 |
|
WA |
ST |
Johnson/ Barnett |
Isabel Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
2,440 |
20 |
UNK |
|
CA |
FUM |
Bonefeld |
Homers Nose 2 Sequoia-Kings NP |
230 |
40 |
10/20 |
|
CA |
FUM |
Bonefeld |
Kaweah-Kern Complex Sequoia-Kings NP |
8,000 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
AZ |
FUM |
Rath |
Poplar Complex Grand Canyon NP |
NR |
N/A |
N/A |
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Poplar Complex (Wildland Fire)
The Poplar Complex, consisting of the Poplar, Big, and Corral Fires, is being managed under a suppression strategy on Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim.
These fires are burning at various intensities, in a mixed conifer ecosystem, with heavy fuels on the ground and wind variations. Fire behavior primarily consists of low intensity surface flames, with some torching of single trees or groups of trees.
There is not a formal evacuation in place on the park's North Rim. However, North Rim visitors are being encouraged to gauge their immediate plans on the high possibility that fire behavior will increase again today. There is a strong possibility that, when this occurs, Highway 67 will be closed to both north and southbound traffic, eliminating the opportunity to travel in or out of the park for the next several days. Highway 67 will be reopened as soon as fire behavior has moderated and the area is safe for travel. (full report)
Status
Grand Canyon National Park has temporarily closed Highway 67 southbound to the North Rim at the park boundary. Northbound traffic is free to travel with the potential for restrictions pending fire behavior.
Acreage: Poplar Fire: 30/Sep/03 = 6,855 acres; 29/Sep/03 = 3,065 acres; 28/Sep/03 = 1,730 acres; 26/Sep/03 = 1,121 acres; 16/Sep/03 = 15 acres
Resources Committed: A Type 2 Incident Management Team, under the command of Van Bateman, assumed responsibility for management of the Poplar Complex as of 6:00 am September 30, 2003. This is a larger organization than the Fire Use Management Team that had been assisting with the fires. Additional crews, equipment, and support personnel are expected to arrive today. An estimated 300 personnel should be in place by the evening of September 20, 2003.
Estimated containment date: unknown[Submitted by Donna Nemeth, Donna_Nemeth@nps.gov, 928-638-7944]
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.