NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
BLACKBERRY EDITION
Thursday, September 15, 2005
INCIDENTS
Hurricane Katrina Recovery
Recovery Operations Roll On
Summaries of yesterday's operations follow the information directory that appears below:
Information Directory
A web site has been established as a repository for official documents related to hurricane recovery operations: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=15&lv=1" http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=15&lv=1. Now posted there are:
Personnel Issues
A copy of the September 2nd Human Resources memo on “absence, leave, overtime pay and hiring flexibilities” (under WASO Documents).
A copy of the September 9th memo with “guidance on campground waivers for Hurricane Katrina evacuees” (under WASO Documents).
Information from the National Team on employee assistance for NPS employees affected by the hurricane (found under “Employee Information” on the left hand column on the main page).
Response Topics
A subsection entitled “National Response Plan” contains the emergency support functions (ESFs) found in that plan (found on the left hand column of the main page).
Infectious Disease Control - A guide to controlling infectious diseases in responders (under WASO Documents).
A copy of the NPS National Emergency Response Plan (under WASO Documents).
Incident management team delegations of authority, ICS 209s and incident action plans received to date (under respective team document folders)
Current reports on total resource commitments made through the National Interagency Fire Center (under Interagency Hurricane Response Documents).
A high-quality, reproducible map from NIFC showing the location of all teams dispatched from the center (under Interagency Hurricane Response Documents).
Health and Safety Issues
Guidance on vaccinations and environmental health (under WASO Documents).
Other Useful Sites
This is a major federal public site on the Katrina recovery which includes a wide variety of important links. HYPERLINK "https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml" https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml
Park and IMT Updates
Everglades NP/Dry Tortugas NP
An Eastern IMT (Gordon Wissinger, IC) is at Everglades NP, assisting the park staff with repairs to damage at Flamingo and Dry Tortugas NP.
The Flamingo maintenance staff hosted an appreciation gathering for the IMT crews who worked in the park for weeks under difficult conditions and long hours cleaning up the havoc left by Hurricane Katrina. The barbeque was held at the Flamingo chickee, the employee recreational pavilion located in the housing area that was one of the hardest hit areas. Good food and feelings of a job well done set the mood and marked the first phase of the park's recovery process.
At the height of the recovery effort over the past several weeks, there were 126 people assigned to the incident. Fifty-three of the 89 NPS employees were Everglades and Dry Tortugas employees. Before the IMT arrived, initial work performed by park employees included clearing roads, taking account of their employees' welfare, and making emergency repairs. At Dry Tortugas, the staff, many of whom rode out the storm inside Fort Jefferson, also took critical measures to initially deal with the storm's impacts. They continued to provide valuable support to the IMT throughout. It was this team spirit and comradeship that allowed the tremendous amount of work to be accomplished.
Park managers from all over the country sent their skilled and talented employees to help Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. Twenty-four units of the National Park Service responded to the call for help, as well as the U.S. Forest Service and three state forestry departments. These employees performed a variety of field duties that involved operating heavy equipment, sawing fallen trees, performing carpentry and electrical work, hauling debris, clearing roads and trails, repairing and stabilizing equipment and facilities, overseeing operations, supporting law enforcement functions, and a host of miscellaneous jobs.
As the operations come to a close, the demobilization of the team's resources continues and currently 58 people are assigned to the incident. Thursday will be the last day at the incident command post.
This is the team's final report.
Gulf Islands NS
A second Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC) is at Gulf Islands NS working with that park's staff on recovery operations in the Mississippi District.
“We are with you in our hearts,” said SER Regional Director Pat Hooks to park staff and neighbors yesterday in a too-brief visit to the Davis Bayou Unit. Hooks, SER Chief Ranger Judy Forte and JD Swed, IC, National IMT, came to a second employee gathering at the ICP held on Wednesday, September 14th. The regional director promised her continued leadership and efforts to get the park the help it needs. She thanked the employees and IMT for the amazing job they've done already. And she said that she deeply appreciated the way the people of Gulf Islands have propped each other up through these events.
More people and equipment rolled into the park in the past two days, bringing the total number of incident personnel up to 179. Tree work, of course, continues in and around the park. Carpenters and electricians are readying the two office trailers purchased so far by the IMT for the park. Katrina destroyed all offices on both West Ship and Horn Islands. The badly damaged visitor center included office space at Davis Bayou for both interpretive and law enforcement staff. The employee assistance group continued its work, now supplemented by a comps/claims specialist.
Jean Lafitte NHP&P/New Orleans Jazz NHP
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) is in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and is charged with both assisting the employees of the two parks and with overseeing the overall NPS response to the hurricane. The operation is divided into three branches:
Employee Assistance Branch
The branch determines the urgent needs of affected NPS employees and provides appropriate immediate assistance. Branch staff have gathered and refined information about housing loss and damage. The most up-to-date information is as follows:
Total loss, 29 - Jean Lafitte (17), New Orleans Jazz (2), Gulf Islands (9), Gulf Islands partner/VIP (1)
Severe loss, 10 - Jean Lafitte (8), Gulf Islands (2)
Moderate damage, 14 - Jean Lafitte (7), Gulf Islands (7)
Unknown loss, 51 - Jean Lafitte (10), New Orleans Jazz (4), Gulf Island (1), Gulf Island partner/VIP (36)
No damage, 16 - Jean Lafitte (10), New Orleans Jazz (1) and Gulf Islands (5).
Branch members made 14 follow-up phone calls to Jean Lafitte and New Orleans Jazz employees and four personal contacts at the Wetlands Arcadian Cultural Center. They continue to help employees replace their losses, establish bank accounts, and stabilize their lives. A total of 59 critical incident stress management (CISM) contacts were made throughout affected parks. Employee assistance centers are located at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, 250 West Park Avenue, Eunice, LA and at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, LA. Please call 337-250-2161 or 2184. Peer support groups are also located at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center and the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette at 337-232-0789.
Resources and Facilities Branch
The Chalmette Battlefield site of Jean Lafitte NP&P may have been impacted by toxic materials from a nearby superfund site and a municipal sewage treatment plant on site. More detailed hazardous material assessments will need to be conducted. Generators and fans were delivered to New Orleans Jazz. A generator was ordered for 419 Decatur Street, the headquarters building for both parks, to power fans for air circulation. Utilities at Barataria were tested and are in service.
Nineteen Chalmette Battlefield artifacts, such as muskets and bayonets, were removed from the visitor center and delivered to Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Upon receiving the artifacts, Springfield Armory took steps to halt further rust and mold and stored them. At 419 Decatur Street, the removal of cultural resources has been completed.
Law Enforcement Branch
This branch, which provides security for all personnel throughout the recovery and evacuation process, escorted staff and a contractor to Jean Lafitte headquarters and assisted with packing and removing cultural resources. They escorted a New Orleans Jazz employee to the park to complete a damage assessment and assisted with that assessment. They provided a security escort for one employee returning home for personal effects and damage assessment and conducted over-flights of park units for team members needing an overview of the damage. They also provided roving security for park properties.
Intra and Interagency Support
The team has assigned a number of liaison officers to facilitate coordination and communications within and among the National Park Service, the Department of Interior and with the many agencies on this major incident. Sean McGuinness functions as the liaison officer with the Department of the Interior and the Director's Office. J.T. Reynolds is liaison officer with the Southeast Regional Director and her staff. Charles Cuvelier is the Southeast Regional Director liaison officer with the team. Chip Davis is the liaison officer with the Eastern IMT at Gulf Islands. Mike Hill serves as liaison officer with FEMA, the Louisiana Emergency Operations Coordination Center, the city of New Orleans, the emergency operations centers in affected parishes, and with numerous agencies working in and around New Orleans. Personal contacts have been made with key officials in all of the above-listed agencies and many more. Jim Northup is liaison officer with Jean Lafitte and New Orleans Jazz.
The National IMT provides assistance to other agencies as requested. For instance, law enforcement officers have conducted investigations to assist Minerals Management Service in locating missing employees. They assisted the New Orleans Police Department with a felony arrest, and provided assistance to park neighbors by opening roads, removing trees, and securing homes. The employee assistance branch provided critical incident stress management sessions for U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees involved in body recoveries and for Mississippi State University research staff (a park partner).
Contacts and arrangements with other agencies have resulted in support for NPS operations. These include fuel for law enforcement officers in New Orleans from FEMA (eliminating hazards of carrying fuel) and boats and support from Federal Protective Services for accessing and assessing employee's homes in flooded portions of New Orleans. There was an offer from Federal Protective Services to reimburse the NPS up to $500,000 for air support provided by the air operations branch and flights and photographs in support of an NPS GIS unit from USGS. A cooperative working agreement was established with the military at Chalmette for security, debris removal and removal of downed trees.
The IC, deputy operations section chief, and information officer made an aerial reconnaissance of the New Orleans operational area. The Southeast Regional Director and Acting Associate Director will visit Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte NHP&P and New Orleans Jazz NHP between September 14th and September 16th.
Currently, 133 employees work on the National IMT.
For more information, NPS employees can visit Inside NPS. The public can access information at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/" www.nps.gov/morningreport. For further information, contact the NPS National Incident Management Team Information Office at HYPERLINK "mailto:Katrina_info_nps@yahoo.com" Katrina_info_nps@yahoo.com
Employee Relief Fund
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is an avenue for federal employees to donate to relief funds for all hurricane victims and is recommended by the Department of the Interior. The CFC in the Department will begin soon.
Another relief fund - the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund - has also been established to assist National Park Service and cooperating association employees who have experienced catastrophic loss or damage from Hurricane Katrina. Donated funds will be distributed immediately to provide for basic, daily needs, such as food, water and temporary housing. Please help members of the NPS family by making a donation to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund today. Checks can be made payable to E&AA and sent to: E&AA, Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please direct questions on this fund (applications or donations) to Jack Ryan or Chesley Moroz at 215-283-6900.
[Debbie Santiago and Morgan Miller, IO's, IMT, JELA/JAZZ; Nancy Gray, IO, IMT, EVER; Barb Stewart, IO, IMT, GUIS]
American Memorial Park
Typhoon Nabi
Although Typhoon Nabi's center was projected to pass about 30 miles south of Saipan, the Category II typhoon suddenly took a northerly path and the eye passed about 30 miles north of Saipan on the morning of August 31st. Park buildings and infrastructure came through with little damage, and there was no damage to the park's marinas. There was localized flooding and downed trees. The island suffered without power for about two days and experienced a critical water shortage due to the lack of power to fill surface reservoirs for four days. Unfortunately, the annual island-wide Labor Day picnic, which draws from 1,500 to 2,000 residents to the park, had to be cancelled due to hazardous tree safety precautions in the picnic grounds. Park crews had the park back to normal within a week. [Chuck Sayon]
Lassen Volcanic NP
Car Clout Arrest
On August 29th, the park began experiencing a string of auto burglaries and attempted thefts from coin operated vending machines. Investigative interest focused on subject T.R., who was camped in the Manzanita Lake campground. T.R. was seen "casing" cars by rangers and was a suspect in several previous auto burglaries at park trailheads in 2004. In a special operation led by ranger Gabe Asarian, a bait car was placed at a park trailhead, with additional rangers at an observation post and on an arrest/interdiction team. On the first night of the operation, T.R. was observed by rangers breaking into the bait car and removing several items, including a purse and camera. T.R. was arrested, and the stolen items, along with methamphetamines and paraphernalia, were recovered from his car. A federal search warrant was then served on the tent belonging to T.R. and stolen items linking T.R. to the previous auto burglaries were recovered. Items included a road bike, laptop computer, 35mm camera, cell phones, and personal items. A small quantity of methamphetamine was also found. T.R. is in custody and facing multiple felony counts of auto burglary, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, and possession of stolen property. [Ron Martin, Ranger Operations Supervisor]
Olympic NP
Missing Hiker Found by Searchers
B.G., a 39-year old Port Angeles resident who had been missing in the park since last Sunday night, was spotted by park rangers in a helicopter at about 2:20 yesterday afternoon, then rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter crew who hoisted him from the ground. Although he was apparently not seriously injured, he was transported to the Olympic Medical Center for evaluation and possible treatment. The search for B.G. began late Tuesday afternoon after he was reported missing by coworkers when he did not show up for work on Tuesday. B.G. told a friend that he was planning a day hike on Sunday, but did not give details about his destination or other plans. Rangers located his car at the Boulder Creek trailhead on Tuesday evening. The Boulder Creek trailhead is at the end of the Olympic Hot Springs road in the Elwha Valley, about ten miles southwest of Port Angeles. The critical clue in the search came when a park ranger contacted a hiker in the Sol Duc Valley who reported having seen B.G. on Sunday evening at Appleton Pass between the Elwha and Sol Duc Valleys. This information enabled rangers to focus the aerial search on a specific area and B.G. was found shortly thereafter along Boulder Creek about one mile upstream from Olympic Hot Springs. B.G. is an avid runner and has been training for a high elevation marathon by running trails in the park. It is believed that he was planning a one-day training run on Sunday. He is a reporter for the Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, Washington. Approximately 35 people were involved in the search, including nine volunteers from Clallam County Search and Rescue, a volunteer search dog team from Aberdeen and about 20 Olympic National Park staff members. A helicopter joined the search effort this afternoon; additional dog teams and ground searchers had also reported for duty. [Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer]
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Exposure Death
On the morning of September 2nd, a Border Patrol agent reported that he had found a body about five miles east of the Lukeville Port of Entry and about three-and-a-half miles north of the international boundary - a location within the park. The victim was a man in his mid-20s. The Pima County Sheriff's Department was notified and conducted the on-scene unattended death investigation. The man's identity and nationality are unknown, but he appears to have been a Mexican national. Evidence at the scene, corroborated by the coroner, point to exposure and dehydration as the causes of his death. The area in which the body was located is a route heavily used by illegal aliens and drug smugglers entering the United States. [Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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