Initial Hurricane Recovery Operations Near Completion
The following reports reflect the status of operations through Thursday.
Central IMT (Sherrie Collins)
Historic Jamestowne was reopened to visitors on Thursday. An interim visitor contact station and porta-johns are in place to provide basic services to visitors. Among the first visitors — a school group from Camden County, North Carolina, taking their first field trip since the 9/11 tragedy.
Branch I, which had been overseeing the recovery work at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Richmond National Battlefield Park concluded work Wednesday night. Some of the people and equipment were shifted south to Branch II to help complete the clean-up of Colonial Parkway. The rest were started on the demobilization process — checking in radios, checking out equipment and finalizing time and travel plans. A total of 102 crewmembers, 23 overhead, 48 equipment operators and 31 different pieces of equipment were slated for release by Thursday night.
Crews are on the homestretch clearing debris along Colonial Parkway. The remaining stretch is on the north and west side of the road between Williamsburg and Historic Jamestowne. The only other ongoing work connected with the incident is the artifact triage underway at Fort Lee.
As of late Thursday afternoon, there were 322 people still assigned to the recovery effort. The cost to date is $7,604,234.
East IMT (Bob Panko)
A transition plan in draft form was presented to Cape Hatteras NS management today in preparation for Saturday's transition from Panko's Type 2 team to a Type 3 team under command of Richard Devenney, finance chief on the current Type 2 team. The meeting with park management went well and all indications suggest a smooth transition on Saturday.
The Cherokee National Forest crew and squads comprised of local residents as AD hires continued to make significant progress. Archeological sites exposed by the storm and covered yesterday were documented by GIS and GPS technical mapping. Ramp 67 is graded, but needs additional surfacing work, and personnel continue to work on opening ramp 70. Work continued on the boardwalks at Ocracoke Lighthouse and on rebuilding the corral fencing for the historic Banker Ponies.
The crew from Cherokee National Forest will demob tomorrow. Effective Sunday, the park is replacing AD hires with thirty day emergency hires for recovery work on Ocracoke Island. All law enforcement resources have been demobilized to home units or are now back under park management.
IC Bob Panko traveled to Ocracoke Island yesterday with the park's chief ranger to survey recovery efforts and discuss future planning.
Over the duration of the incident, personnel from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Geologic Survey, and National Park Service personnel from nineteen states were assigned.
There are currently 67 personnel committed to the incident.
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://www.nps.gov/hurricane
- NPS IMT Web Page — Home page for NPS incident management teams: http://www.nps.gov/fire/allrisk/
Reports compiled from submission by Al Nash, IO, Central IMT; Shauna
Dyas, IO, Pacific West IMT; Peter Givens, IO, East IMT.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Follow-up on Drug Smuggling Case
On October 28, 2002, rangers stopped a 1980 Chevy truck with an
overhead camper shell suspected of illegally entering the country.
S.M.D. Jr., 22, and Stephanie Tingle, 20, both of
Louisville, Kentucky, were arrested for possessing 218 pounds of
marijuana. Both later admitted to being offered $1,500 to deliver the
truck to Phoenix. On October 1st, S.M.D. was sentenced to 48 months in
federal prison and Tingle was sentenced to 24 months in jail. Assisting
agencies include Customs and the Border Patrol. The case is being
handled by a Customs special agent and NPS special agent Susan Morton.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug Interdiction at Dripping Springs Pass
A park employee at Dripping Springs notified rangers of suspicious
activity in the area on September 30th. The rangers hiked about five
miles into the area and came upon four men, who immediately fled in
different directions. Rangers were able to apprehend one of them, and
soon found eight backpacks in Dripping Spring Pass containing 437 pounds
of marijuana. Another ranger arrived to assist and soon spotted more
suspects on higher ground within the pass. Rangers were unable to round
them up, though, due to lack of personnel. The smuggler and contraband
were turned over to Customs.
[Submitted by Grant Stolhand, Park
Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Budget Analyst- GS-0560-12
Dates: 10/16/2003 - 10/27/2003
Incumbent serves as the principle staff person in dealing with external and internal budget issues and activities that impact Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Tracks expenses, obligations, disbursements, and performs year-end close out procedures. Is responsible for program planning ananlysis aspects of budgetary work and supervising the financial managment activities. Serves as consultant and advisor in all phases of budget and related financial matters. Provides technical direction and leadership to managers of budget formulation and execution. Formulates and executes broad financial plans and policies affecting the authorization and use of funds for current and future years. Directs the preparation of fund allocation tables and summaries. Reviews and anyalizes financial plans and summaries prepared for comparison of budgets to allowances. Coordinates special reports required by OMB, GAO, DOI or NPS regarding expenditures/accountability of funds. Supervises three individuals who are responsible for the day-to-day budget entry and accountability. This position is located at the Headquarters office in Page, Arizona[Submitted by Connie Noel, 928-608-6244] More Information...
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Program Manager (Deputy Superintendent) GS-0340-14
Dates: 10/16/2003 - 10/27/2003
Incumbent serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Along with the Superintendent, is responsible for managing the natural, cultural, scenic, ecological, and recreational values of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument and for making these units of the National Park Service accessible for visitor use and enjoyment in accordance with the park's purpose. In addition, the incumbent provides direction to the Superintendent of Navajo National Monument. The incumbent supervises a multi-level park organization and is responsible for planning and implementing personnel management functions including Equal Opportunity programs. The position is located in the Headquarters building located in Page, Arizona. [Submitted by Sue Hackethal, 303-969-2335] More Information...
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.