NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
BLACKBERRY EDITION
Monday, September 19, 2005
INCIDENTS
Hurricane Katrina Recovery
Teams Continue Providing Support To Parks, Local Communities
Today's summary begins with a correction. The photo that originally appeared on the front page of InsideNPS on Friday as an illustration for that day's hurricane update was not of Hurricane Katrina coming ashore, as was thought, but of a severe storm in the Midwest. It was one of a series of photos that's been making the rounds on the internet as illustrations of the hurricane. As alert readers from all over the NPS have pointed out, you can find out all about these photos on one of the “Urban Legends” web pages, which can be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/storm.asp" http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/storm.asp . Thanks to the many of you who sent in notes pointing out the error. The mistake was entirely my own. If you look back on the Friday edition, you'll see that the picture was replaced by another illustrating damage caused by the hurricane at Chalmette. Bill Halainen, Editor.
Recent developments include the following:
Eastern National reports that NPS employees have come through with contributions to their fellow employees. As of Friday, they'd collected $62,077.07 and distributed $34,500 to 41 NPS employees to meet immediate, short-term needs.
Denny Ziemann's Pacific West IMT has assumed responsibility for the recovery operations at Gulf Islands NS. Rick Brown's East IMT has demobilized.
SER Regional Director Pat Hooks and acting ARD Judy Forte visited Gulf Islands on September 14th and Jean Lafitte on September 15th. During the latter, they attended the National IMT's morning briefing, visited the ICP, and met with employees from New Orleans Jazz and from all six units at Jean Lafitte in two sessions.
Director Mainella, Deputy Director Steve Martin, and Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection will be traveling to the Gulf Coast and visiting all affected parks later this week.
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 memo with a policy clarification on transportation of DOI employees in military aircraft.
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).
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
A Power Point entitled “Hurricane Katrina PPT For Watchstanders” (under WASO Documents).
A Power Point entitled “Hurricane Katrina Safety for Responders” (under WASO Documents).
Guidance on vaccinations and environmental health (under WASO Documents).
A guide to controlling infectious diseases in responders (under WASO Documents).
Park and IMT Updates
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.
Employee Assistance Branch
The two employee assistance centers in Louisiana have been consolidated. The single center is located at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux (985-448-1471). Peer support groups are also located both here and at the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette (337-232-0789). Actions included the following:
Staff continue to work with all employees to resolve assistance issues.
A list of employee housing needs is being developed based on the current housing condition assessment. A high priority for the branch is to continue to pursue leads for rental homes and office space for affected employees and possibly for relocated park administrative offices.
Critical assistance with hazard trees and debris removal was provided to 34 employees and partner families at Gulf Islands.
Staff have established a connection with FEMA in Jacksonville which will help facilitate employee claims at Gulf Islands. Contact was also made with the solicitor's office in Southeast Region to obtain claims advice for employees.
Resources and Facilities Branch
Actions over the past three days included the following:
Cultural resources from Decatur Street have been relocated to Natchez Trace Parkway, where they are being inventoried and inspected. The cultural resources group will assist with unpacking the collection and assessing its condition.
Branch members, the SER regional engineer and FMSS staff began collecting damage assessment data at Chalmette on Saturday. The assessment was largely completed by Sunday. Based on their findings, it appears that two out of five buildings have sustained damage severe enough to warrant total reconstruction.
Fans have been installed at 419 Decatur for ventilation. Efforts will be made to start the air conditioning system when water service is restored in order to limit moisture damage. A growing concern is the development of mold here and at other buildings.
Efforts were undertaken to preserve human remains unearthed by wind-blown trees at Chalmette National Cemetery. Archeological specialists were notified and reburial plans are being developed.
A six-person chipper/saw team is removing downed trees along the roads and near the educational center at Barataria. Due to the very hot and humid weather, crew members are consuming up to two gallons of water a day and are taking frequent breaks.
A deck, stairs and ADA ramp are under construction for the office trailers at Gulf Islands. Electrical service is being installed.
Sites are being prepared for motor homes for displaced Gulf Islands.
Contracted debris removal at Gulf Islands is underway.
Hazard tree and brush removal operations continue at the Davis Bayou visitor center. Heavy fuels are also being removed from the park's boundary with the neighboring community.
Law Enforcement Branch
Actions over the past three days included the following:
Incident personnel and a contractor were escorted to Jean Lafitte headquarters by rangers, who also assisted with packing and removal of cultural resources. Other escorts were provided to IMT staff and employees throughout the weekend.
Patrols were conducted on park properties in all areas.
LE staff continue to provide assistance to other agencies.
Community Services
Actions over the past three days included the following:
Assistance was provided to USFWS in finding aircraft for their mission and arranging for a critical incident stress management team to work with their staff.
Members of the law enforcement branch are providing security in downtown New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, St. Bernards Parish, Lafourche Parish, St. Landry Parish and Lafayette Parish.
The team is providing ongoing but limited logistical support for military operations at Chalmette.
Staff at Gulf Islands are assisting the Southern Mississippi University research lab in their preparations to move a complex herbarium.
Staff visited more than ten local business in Thibodaux to discuss NPS recovery efforts, hired four local community members as drivers, and put into place agreements with community businesses, with special attention to small businesses - car rentals, fuel and supply providers, hotels, restaurants and pressure washer businesses.
Arrangements were made with a University of Louisiana professor to document the preservation of Jean Lafitte's cultural resources for a future presentation.
Interagency Activities
The Gulf Islands IMT arranged for 20 Coast Guard families to use the park's campground housing in order to facilitate their return to work in Pascagoula.
Arrangements were made with the Public Health Service to provide risk analysis and mitigation for NPS employees and coordinate with USGS for mapping data.
Staff continue cooperative efforts with the military regarding cleanup work at Chalmette, including security, debris removal and the removal of downed trees.
There are currently 145 people assigned to the incident.
Gulf Islands NS
The Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC) has assumed management of the response from the Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC).
Activities over the past three days were as follows:
Friday - The new team spent the day transitioning into management of the incident. Cleanup crews continued their work on campgrounds and other damaged infrastructure now that district roads are reasonably clear. Debris removal and stabilization began on the islands.
Saturday - All park property in the visitor center was waterlogged and damaged by the hurricane. Crews concentrated on removing exhibits, computers, furniture, carpeting, file cabinets, records, and everything else from the building. The VC contents are being moved to shelter from the weather so that park employees can go through everything to see what they can salvage. Temporary office space is being established in an effort to provide park employees with a place to work when they return.
Sunday - Work continued on the cleanup of campgrounds and infrastructure. Crews worked under challenging conditions - high temperatures and humidity resulting in a heat index of over 100 degrees.
The park remains closed to the public including the islands.
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; Shauna Dyas, IO, IMT, GUIS]
North Carolina Areas
Parks Take Stock Following Ophelia's Passage
Initial reports from parks affected by Hurricane Ophelia have been received:
Cape Lookout NS - Although the park did not suffer the level of damage that it did from Hurricane Isabel in 2003, Hurricane Ophelia's slow passage over the length of the seashore exerted tremendous force on the barrier islands. A damage assessment overflight conducted by the park last Friday revealed that Ophelia's fury cut a channel across Cape Lookout Point, created a new inlet a mile-and-a-half south of New Drum Inlet, and significantly widened Old Drum Inlet, which had been almost closed. In addition, there is evidence everywhere that the seashore experienced a significant amount of storm overwash. The passage of Hurricane Ophelia's eye over the cape and the rest of the seashore are dramatically shown by the wind speed and barometer graphs from the weather station located near the Cape Lookout lighthouse. On Wednesday, September 14th, as Ophelia approached, the barometer dropped steadily and the wind speed peaked at 8 p.m. at just over 90 mph. With the approach of the eye, the wind quieted down to 20 mph, while the barometric pressure continued to fall. Early Thursday morning, it was quiet, but the barometer began to rise again as the eye moved on and the winds increased steadily to a second peak of 70 mph at 7 a.m. In all, from one peak to another almost 12 hours had passed, and about 24 hours for the entire storm.
Outer Banks Group - Facilities that were temporarily closed during the hurricane's passage began to reopen on Friday morning. Fort Raleigh NHS resumed normal operations. Wright Brothers NM and Cape Hatteras NS, however, remained temporarily closed. No significant damage has been reported so far.
Moores Creek NB - The park reopened last Thursday. Other than several downed trees, there was no damage. All employees were reported okay and none had serious property damage.
[Wouter Ketel, Chief Ranger, CALO; Mary Doll, Outer Banks Group; Ann Childress, Superintendent, MOCR]
Yellowstone NP
Investigation Underway into Double Fatality
A park visitor contacted a ranger around noon on September 16th to report a possible incident at the Gardner River High Bridge, located on the Mammoth-to-Tower Junction road approximately one mile from Mammoth Hot Springs. A language barrier prevented the ranger from fully understanding the nature of the report, other than that some sort of incident had occurred or was occurring there. The ranger immediately checked out the report. At the bridge, he contacted a woman who reported that her husband and teenage son had gone to take a picture two-and-a-half hours earlier and had not returned. She had hiked a short distance looking for them, but without luck. The ranger began searching the area and subsequently discovered two bodies below the bridge near the river embankment, a 200-foot drop from the top of the bridge. Efforts to find the person who originally reported the incident so that an interview can be conducted through an interpreter have so far been fruitless, and nobody else has been found who might have seen what happened. The bodies have been retrieved and positive identification has been made. Forensic autopsies are being completed to determine the official cause of death. Names of the victims are being withheld pending further notification of family members. The investigation is continuing. [Public Affairs]
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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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