NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, September 22, 2005

INCIDENTS

Texas/South Florida Areas

Hurricane Rita Preparations - and Recovery

The Branch of Ranger Activities in IMRO continues to monitor the Hurricane Rita situation and is communicating directly with the potentially affected parks, the National IMT in Louisiana, and WASO. The Central Incident Management Team and three SETs are available and on alert for immediate response to south Texas. Contact has been made with the Lyndon B. Johnson NHP and San Antonio Missions NHP superintendents to facilitate the rapid development of incident command posts in Austin or San Antonio. If necessary, the Central team will be diverted from its intended deployment to Hurricane Katrina prior to September 29th. The team will not be pre-positioned unless conditions in the area indicate a catastrophic event at any one of the South Texas parks.

Big Thicket NP

At noon yesterday, Jefferson County ordered a voluntary evacuation of the county. The park's IMT met shortly thereafter and elected to move operations from Beaumont to the park's maintenance complex 30 miles to the north by close of business. The park will be closed to visitor use as of 5 p.m. CDT today and will remain closed until post storm assessments determine that it is safe to reopen. A minimally-staffed ICP and shelter for park employees and their families was set up at Village Mills yesterday evening. Most park staff will be given administrative leave today to prepare for the storm and have been instructed to check in daily to the ICP through their supervisors or directly as they are able.

Lyndon B. Johnson NHP

If the prediction of a landfall on Saturday morning stays accurate, the park will begin preparations on Friday for securing park properties that are vulnerable to flooding. The emergency operations plan for the LBJ Ranch involves removal and storage of park signs and wayside exhibits, moving cattle from the river bottom, and elevating or removing vulnerable artifacts from the furnished Reconstructed Birthplace. Factors that will affect the level of damage to park resources will include amount and duration of rainfall, followed by strength of winds. The storm is still expected to track to the east of the park, leaving it on the storm's drier side. Predicted rainfall for Johnson City is two to four inches, with tropical storm winds up to 65 mph. The rainfall will probably not begin until Friday evening. Flooding of the Pedernales River is not expected to be a problem, as the watershed lies further west.

Padre Island NS

The park fully implemented its hurricane preparedness plan yesterday with Hurricane Rita looming in the Gulf. Current weather forecasting models show a projected landfall now moving Rita northeast and away from the park. The park, however, is still on the "funnel" edge of many model hurricane projections. If these projections hold, the park will escape hurricane force winds, but will likely sustain significant impacts along the entire gulf front.

The is operating under ICS with an in-park incident command team. Significant actions completed yesterday included the following: The public was evacuated from the gulf side of the park, key archives and files including administrative records and critical files pertaining to the Kemp's Ridley recovery program were boxed and prepared for transport, additional infrastructure protection was put in place, and preparations were completed for moving the park's light vehicle fleet, computers, servers, and critical files off the island.

Plans tomorrow include a total park closure planned for 3 p.m. CDT. Nonessential personnel will be released earlier in the day as preparations are completed. Essential park employees are expected to depart the island by early evening. After close of business today, all further contact for Padre Island staff should be made through San Antonio Missions National Historical Park or listed cell phone numbers found in NPS directories.

Numerous entities throughout the Coastal Bend area of Texas are issuing mandatory evacuation orders. The City of Corpus Christi has issued area evacuations for Padre and Mustang Islands. Additionally, many of the neighboring counties and cities where employees live are also under mandatory evacuations.

The park has planned to pre-position its mobile incident command post (a seized motor home), stocked with emergency provisions, a kayak, and other essential equipment, in an area north of Corpus Christi. After the storm's landfall and subsequent passage, key essential park personnel will reassemble at the mobile ICP and respond to the park to conduct initial assessments of the park's infrastructure and critical resources.

San Antonio Missions NHP

The management team met on Tuesday to discuss the park's emergency operations and continuity of operations plans and to go over the details of a potential park closing or city evacuation. The park maintains contact with FEMA through the Alamo Federal Executive Board. In the event of a closure, the park's commissioned staff will provide visitor safety and resource protection under the IMT. If there is city evacuation, Big Bend NP's dispatch center will serve as a point of contact for park employees reporting their status. The park has been in communication with Big Thicket and Padre Island to go over support services, communications, office space and use of the Kelly Warehouse. Neither park has requested housing assistance in the event of a evacuation.

Palo Alto Battlefield NHS

The park will activate its emergency operations plan today if they fall within the cone of Hurricane Rita's possible landfalls.

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Meanwhile, reports have also been received from three parks in Florida that were hit by the storm earlier this week:

Everglades NP

Assessments conducted today showed that Hurricane Rita caused minimal damage to Everglades National Park. The park experienced no significant sea surge or overwash, but there were areas of localized flooding from rainfall. Tree damage was minimal and clean up and stabilization work that occurred after Hurricane Katrina was not compromised. The power grid is intact throughout most of the park. The most significant damage was the loss of the entire aluminum/screened porch/break room attached to the Dan Beard Center. This structure collapsed, apparently due to the weight of water accumulation on its roof. An aerial survey of the Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico portions of the park revealed no disabled or derelict vessels found. All parts of Everglades National Park were re-opened to the public by 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

Dry Tortugas NP

Damages at Dry Tortugas National Park were more significant than at Everglades. Portions of the floating docks at Garden Key were damaged by the storm. The diesel fuel piping system, where fuel is delivered to the tanks on Garden Key, was damaged and will require immediate repair prior to fuel reserves for the islands generators being depleted in 12 days. The rainfall collection piping system that directs rainwater into the cisterns was also damaged. Minor damage was reported to the superintendent's quarters, all quarters received water damage from seepage, there is general debris and contractor debris on areas of the island, and a wooden bridge on the moat wall was destroyed. On a positive note, the radio tower re-installed after Hurricane Katrina remained intact and that enabled continual radio communications with the Everglades communication center throughout the storm. Continuing rough seas and squalls prevented Dry Tortugas staff from boating to Loggerhead Key to conduct assessments there. It is suspected that damages to the dock there can be expected. Plans are to assess the damages at Loggerhead tomorrow.

Big Cypress

The park reopened yesterday. Damage assessments were underway.

[Mark Foust, Chief, Branch of Ranger Activities, IMRO; Mark Peapenburg, CR, BITH; Brian Carey, CR, LYJO; Randy Larson, CR, PAIS; Dan Steed, CR, SAAN; Bob Panko, FMO, EVER; Ed Clark, CR, BITH]

Hurricane Katrina Recovery

Today's Update on IMT/Park Recovery Operations

The following reports were submitted on Tuesday's and Wednesday's operations. Please note that the information directory has been moved to the bottom of the report.

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.

Larry Broun from the Department of the Interior's Office of Law Enforcement and Security toured portions of Jean Lafitte and other hurricane-impacted areas administered by other DOI agencies on Wednesday. The planned visit of Director Mainella, Deputy Director Steve Martin and Associate Director for Resource and Visitor Protection Karen Taylor-Goodrich later this week was cancelled yesterday due to preparations being made for possible impacts from Hurricane Rita. Incident managers are closely monitoring forecasts on the status of the storm and are preparing contingency plans to either evacuate or bring incident personnel to safe zones and remain in place if Rita's path brings it toward New Orleans.

Employee Assistance Branch

Staff continue to make contact with employees and assist them with their needs at all of the units impacted by the hurricane. This includes assessing the immediate needs to provide tools necessary for law enforcement rangers to return to their jobs at Gulf Islands. A realty specialist is now on site to facilitate the location of temporary and long-term lodging for displaced employees at Jean Lafitte.

The Employee Assistance Center is located at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, LA (985-448-1471). Peer support groups are also located at the center.

Resources and Facilities Branch

Members of the cultural resources branch are in the process of finishing up their reports. Most of the team will be demobilized shortly, but some have been reassigned to assess cultural resources at Gulf Islands.

Record heat and humidity are creating challenging operational conditions for crews in the field working on park facilities in all areas. Crews at Gulf Island are proceeding with debris removal and clean-up of the entire park, including the outer islands. A temporary office facility for park staff is being constructed using trailers and should be ready for use in a few days.

The air conditioning is now operational at 419 Decatur Street and fans are moving air through New Orleans Jazz offices, limiting further damage. The military assistance at Chalmette National Battlefield and Cemetery has been suspended due to the approaching hurricane. No additional activities took place there yesterday. The saw crew at Barataria is making headway on clearing trees from access points to the park. There are hundreds of downed trees at the site. A temporary headquarters office is being set up at Barataria until conditions allow for the use of 419 Decatur Street.

The FMSS crew has completed all the facility condition assessments at Chalmette, Barataria and New Orleans Jazz and has begun data input.

Law Enforcement Branch

LE staff continue to make contacts with park employees, follow up on requests to provide security for employees retrieving belongings, and provide security for park properties. Law enforcement and emergency medical services at Gulf Islands are being provided by the Southeast Region SET. The park is closed to visitors until further notice due to ongoing cleanup operations and safety concerns.

There are currently 124 personnel assigned to work with the NPS National IMT and 224 personnel assigned to the Pacific West IMT at Gulf Islands.

Gulf Islands NS

The Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC) is charged with assisting employees and helping with the rehabilitation of the Mississippi District.

Crews continue debris removal and clean-up in the park. Operations on the islands were suspended yesterday due to heavy seas expected with the arrival of Hurricane Rita in the Gulf of Mexico. Island crews will work in the Davis Bayou area until it is safe to return to the island. Potential hazard trees are being identified and marked. Utility specialists are working to restore electricity and water to the campground and boat dock and working to restore power to the temporary park office trailers.

An FMSS specialist has been added to the incident to document all asset damage information into FMSS. The specialist will use the cost estimating software system (CESS) to obtain a cost estimate for replacement or repair of each asset. This should assist the park in prioritizing their recovery projects.

An emergency evacuation plan has been developed, approved and distributed in case of impact from Hurricane Rita.

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.

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 15th memorandum from the directorate entitled “Employee Volunteers for the Katrina Recovery Program.”

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 section entitled “SERO Documents.” Within it, you can find a link to a copy of the region's report on its initial response to the hurricane.

A section for the Pacific West Team (Ziemann, IC) for reports from that IMT.

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).

[Debbie Santiago and Kris Fister, IO's, IMT, JELA/JAZZ; Shauna Dyas, IO, IMT, GUIS]

Grand Canyon NP

Search in Progress for Missing Camper

Rangers began searching for overdue camper R.R., 46, on the evening of Sunday, September 11th. R.R. came to the attention of rangers when his rental car and camping equipment were found in his campsite at Mather campground following his expected check-out date. On Tuesday, searchers aboard the park's helicopter spotted a body 300 feet below a popular viewpoint. A technical rescue team retrieved the victim, but soon determined that it was not R.R. The remains were evidently those of a suicidal person from El Paso, Texas. The effort to find R.R. is continuing with limited ground and aerial searches. An active investigation is underway as rangers work to identify persons who may have been camped near or seen R.R. To date, over 3,000 hours have been logged in the effort to find him, with few substantial clues developed. On the ground efforts will be scaled back as areas of interest are searched to a high probability of detection. Activities related to the investigation are expected to continue and have expanded into the states of Colorado and Utah. [Marc Yeston, Acting Canyon District 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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