Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Accident with Sixteen Injuries
Rangers were called to the Lukeville port of entry on April 17th to
assist with treatment of several people who had been injured in a
single-vehicle accident in Mexico and were being transported to the
United States. According to the first report, there were four injured
parties, two of whom were in critical condition. Rangers, Customs
officers and Ajo ambulance personnel established a triage operation and
began evaluating and working on the victims as they arrived. The total
number rose from four to sixteen. Three medevac helicopters, six
ambulances and a dozen emergency medical personnel were required to
manage the incident. All of the victims were citizens from Belize who
were en route to the United States. The driver of the tour vehicle was
the only one who wasn't injured in the accident. Five minutes after
clearing from this incident, rangers arrested an undocumented alien as
he entered the park housing area and sought but were unable to find
smugglers who'd been seen loading eight backpacks of marijuana into a
vehicle between Lukeville and the park's ranger station while the above
response was underway.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief
Ranger]
Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Felony Drug Arrests
Field training ranger Joe Mangino and trainee Rachel Strain stopped a
vehicle for speeding just before 6 p.m.on April 17th. Strain asked the
driver to get out of the vehicle because she believed he was operating
under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. A joint was seen in plain
view and led to a search of the vehicle and the passenger's purse. In
the purse were a dozen "rocks" of crack cocaine. A check on the driver
revealed that he was a convicted felon and that he had an extensive
history of possession of controlled substances and five prior DUI
convictions. Although wanted in Georgia for previous violations,
authorities in that state declined to extradite him. An unloaded 12
gauge shotgun was removed from the trunk. Charges are pending against
both driver and passenger, including felony possession of controlled
substances, felon in possession of a firearm, felony DUI, driving while
license suspended, and speeding. Forfeiture proceedings are
pending against the vehicle.
[Submitted by Charles Cuvelier, Chief
Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Illegal Aliens Arrested
Over a period of eight days in April, rangers on routine patrol and
engaged in special operations arrested 147 illegal aliens in eight
incidents. In a separate operation on April 7th, three vehicles were
stopped after illegally crossing the border and another 35 undocumented
aliens were apprehended. A stolen vehicle was also recovered. Later that
day, another eight illegal aliens were caught. On April 18th, rangers
spotted two vehicles that entered the U.S. illegally and pursued. Both
were able to get back to Mexico due to the lack of additional units to
assist in interdiction.
[Submitted by Fred Patton , Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
El Malpais National Monument (NM)
Twin Fire (Wildland Fire,Wildland Fire Use)
Lightning sparked a fire in a remote wilderness area of the monument on Saturday, April 17, 2004. Instead of suppressing this fire, we are using a naturally started fire to restore fire's natural cycle in the malpais ecology and reduce unnatural fuel accumulations. Managing this type of fire requires specifically trained personnel to ensure its effectiveness. A fire use manager, fire behavior analyst, fire effects monitors, NPS and BLM staffs are all involved in this effort. Weather conditions will be closely monitored as wind, temperature and humidity all affect how this fire behaves. (full report)
Status: All park areas remain open.
Acreage: 23 acres
Resources Committed: Bandelier Fire Use Module (8); Fire Use Manager Type2 (1); Fire Behavior Analyst (1); RERAP Technical Specialist (1); Overhead assistance from El Malpais/El Morro National Monuments (9).
Estimated containment date: 05/04[Submitted by Leslie DeLong, Leslie_DeLong@nps.gov, 505-285-4641 x18]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Risk Management Division
Guidance On Dealing With Hantavirus
On March 30th, Jerry O'Neal, a longtime NPS employee at Glacier National Park, passed away from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
HPS was first recognized in the United States in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the country. All Hantaviruses that are known to cause HPS in the Western Hemisphere are carried by the New World rodents of the subfamily "Sigmodontidae". Two Sigmodontine peridomestic rodents known to carry Hantavirus that are found in close proximity to human dwellings are the deer mouse (Peromscus maniculatus) and the house mouse (Mus musculus). Recent scientific studies from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirm that infected deer mice are present in every habitat type from desert to alpine tundra.
Although the chance of contracting HPS is very low, all NPS employees should be aware of this health issue. Each year, employees in many National Parks get ready for summer operations by opening and cleaning many cabins, buildings and backcountry facilities that have been closed for the winter. Employees who are involved in these opening activities may be at higher risk of Hantavirus exposure.
The Hantavirus can be spread to humans through the inhalation of infectious, aerosolized saliva, urine or excreta, or dust contaminated by these materials. Hantavirus can only survive outside the body of the rodent host for a few days, but unless the age of rodent droppings, nests, or dead animals is known with certainty, all rodent material should be considered to be potentially infectious. Preventing rodent infestation in and around the home or worksite remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus exposure.
For additional information on Hantavirus, the potential risks of exposure and what specific work procedures and precautions NPS employees can take at home or work to prevent exposure, click one of the following websites:
http://www.nps.gov/public_health/zed/hanta/hanta.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/index.htm
For additional information on rodents that carry hantavirus visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/rodents.htm
[Submitted by Louis Rowe, Deputy Chief]
Chief Information Officer
Update on WASO Eye Street Voicemail System
The voicemail system at 1201 I St., Washington, DC, has been experiencing problems with static to the point that it is impossible to decipher incoming or outgoing messages for nearly all users. The National Information Technology Center (NITC) is aware of the problems that this causes. Many offices rely on voicemail to receive input, requests, and disseminate information.
Affected offices are reminded that calls can be forwarded to a phone where a person is available to answer the call. Normal telephone calls, incoming and outgoing, are not affected by the static. It may be helpful to notify frequent callers and critical callers, that it is best not to leave a voicemail message if they don't reach you in person, and we suggest e-mail, or a fax message as an alternative. You should notify them in a personal call, as they will be unable to understand your outgoing message.
The cause of the problem appears to be electrical in nature. NITC requested the PBX (phone system) to be powered by a dedicated circuit, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. However, we recently discovered that this was not accomplished, and, as a result, the voicemail system is being affected by noise generated from a yet unknown source also connected to this circuit. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) and NITC are involved with the vendors and building management to resolve the electrical issue. Simultaneously, we are expecting expedited delivery of new voicemail equipment that has been ordered to replace the current equipment.
The CIO, Dom Nessi, and his staff at the NITC, will continue to work to give you the quality of service NPS employees deserve. You may direct telecommunications-related matters to Jesse Johnson, 202-354-1461 (Jesse_Johnson@NPS.gov), Tiffany Small, 202-354-1462 (Tiffany_Small/Contractor/NPS@NPS.gov), or Jackie Baum, 202-354-1466 (Jackie_Baum@NPS.gov). The Deputy CIO for Technology is John R. Snyder, 202-354-1421 (John_R_Snyder@NPS.gov).
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Interpretation/Education Division
Tim Manns Presented Sequoia Award
On March 30th, Tim Manns, Chief of Interpretation for North Cascades National Park Service Complex was presented the Sequoia Award by Regional Director Jon Jarvis at the Pacific West Region's Interpretive Manager's Workshop held at the Dumas Bay Conference Center, Federal Way, Washington.
[Submitted by Charles (Corky) Mayo, corky_mayo@nps.gov, 202-513-7137] 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.