NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

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INCIDENTS

South Florida Areas

Hurricane Damage Assessments Begin

The logistics chief and operations chief from the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) traveled to south Florida early Tuesday morning to gather information and deal with the logistical arrangements necessary to support the people needed to assist Everglades, Big Cypress, Biscayne and any other NPS units or cooperators/volunteers who need it. Updated damage assessments were received by the team, regional director and WASO on Tuesday morning. Some employees at Everglades, Big Cypress and Biscayne have still not been accounted for. Cellular communications and land phone lines are still spotty or non-existent and it's likely that employees are fine but still having trouble connecting with their park. Park staffs are working very hard to contact every NPS employee, volunteer and concession employee and check their condition. Tuesday morning's updates on the parks follow. Power, water and communications are still or spotty in all areas. Wind damage to roofs, structures, docks, power lines and downed trees are widespread throughout south Florida. The incident commander, plans chief, finance chief and safety officer traveled on Tuesday afternoon to join the team members at Everglades. The rest of the team will follow as soon as they can be supported logistically.

Big Cypress NP

As of Tuesday morning, there were still 40 park employees unaccounted for. Park staff was preparing to physically visit the homes of employees who hadn't been heard from. A maintenance crew was heading into the park to do a more detailed assessment of damage and report on mitigation needs. Cell and land line communications are still either unreliable or non-existent.

Everglades NP/Dry Tortugas NP

Eighty-four employees have been accounted for. Sixty-two employees were still unaccounted for on Tuesday morning. There are still no or few reliable communications in the park. Thirty power poles on the road into the park have been snapped off at ground level by Wilma. The communications center at Homestead has no electricity but it does have phones operational. It will be used by the park to track down unaccounted employees. The trams at Shark Valley have been damaged and are turned onto their sides. There are trees down on the loop road to Key Largo. There is no power at Key Largo. No damage report was given for Dry Tortugas. Plans call for an overflight of the park today.

Biscayne NP

As Tuesday morning, four more employees had been heard from and five were still not accounted for. Again, communications issues could be the primary cause. Park staff planned to travel to headquarters and the islands on Tuesday to assess damage.

De Soto NM

De Soto did not participate in the Tuesday morning conference call, so there was no report from them.

Canaveral NS

Canaveral did not participate in the Tuesday morning conference call, so there was no report from them.

[Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]

Gulf Coast Areas

Update on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Operations

Jean Lafitte NHP&P/New Orleans Jazz NHP

A Type 3 team (Greg Stiles, IC) is managing the incident.

The stabilization of the historic buildings at Chalmette National Cemetery and Battlefield continued yesterday. Equipment for the demolition of the Chalmette Battlefield visitor center was mobilized and arrived on site. The latter will likely be demolished this coming weekend.

Gulf Islands NS

A Type 3 team (Rich Degnan, IC) is managing the incident.

Over the weekend, the IMT began supporting the NPS response to Hurricane Wilma. Supplies that will be crucial to south Florida were cataloged and packed for transport. An inventory of provisions was forwarded to the National IMT in Orlando.

Monday's welcome cold front, unfortunately, brought enough wind to knock down an apparently healthy tree into the newly installed temporary visitor contact station. A day's work should make things right again. Electricians ran lines to power up the contact station and lift station. Trenching is complete and PVC electrical piping has been installed. Sewer and water lines were installed and are ready for hook-up to the Ocean Springs water supply.

Interior painting by a contractor continues in the NPS housing that remains at Davis Bayou. Out on the islands, debris consolidation is complete. The park's landing craft has been out of service for repairs for over a week. Its return is eagerly awaited so that debris removal can be completed.

Additional Information

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.

[Barb Stewart, IO, IMT, GUIS; Greg Stiles, IC, IMT, JELA/JAZZ]

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

Overnight Rescue of Seriously Injured Climber

On Saturday, October 22nd, a 37-year-old male climber fell approximately 60 feet while leading the third pitch of the Escape Artist (III, 5.10-) in SOB Gully. The climber hit a small ledge midway through the fall and was caught by his belayer approximately 25 feet above the belay ledge. The climbing party then began a self-rescue, aided by another party on the route. Two other climbers passed the injured party and finished their climb in order to notify park staff. The injured climber was lowered several hundred feet to a ledge in SOB Gully to await rescue. At approximately 6 p.m., a hasty team of park climbing VIPs descended the gully and began initial treatment of the injured climber. At approximately 9 p.m., a second team, led by two ranger/EMT's and a Montrose County paramedic, descended the gully. The injured party was stabilized and treated through the night. On Sunday, a team of six climbing VIPs descended the gully to assist with lowering operations. The injured climber was lowered 100 feet off a ledge and approximately 1,200 feet down the gully to the Gunnison River, then carried a quarter mile downstream to a helicopter landing zone. He was airlifted out of the canyon and transported to Montrose Memorial Hospital, where he is in an ICU recovering from surgery. The total extent of injuries is still unknown, but he suffered multiple femur fractures, significant internal bleeding, and fractures in both feet. Patient care and the speed of the rescue operation substantially reduced further injuries. The successful rescue would not have been possible without the efforts of several groups of climbers staying in the park over the weekend. The work of park staff, local agencies, climbing volunteers, and the climbing party involved in the accident without question led to a life saved. [Linda Alick, Chief Ranger]

Yellowstone NP

Four Arrested After Brawl at Saloon Spills Into Park

Just before 1 a.m. on October 20th, park dispatch received a report of a fight involving guns in the street outside the Blue Goose Saloon in Gardiner, Montana. The Blue Goose Saloon is located approximately five feet outside of the park's boundary. The incident began when four people got into an argument over a pool game at the Blue Goose. When the foursome, accompanied by several other bar patrons, walked out the front door of the bar, they entered Yellowstone National Park. A fight involving several people ensued and escalated when one of them struck another in the head with a beer bottle. That person responded by pulling a knife, and his assailant further escalated by pulling a handgun. Three people sustained minor injuries, but nobody was injured by either gun or knife. The one on-duty ranger and a Park County SO sergeant responded. The two primary suspects were taken into custody minutes later following a felony car stop inside the park. Charges included criminal endangerment, DUI, assault, possession of a loaded firearm and disorderly conduct. Following an investigation, two other people involved in the fight were also charged. The prosecution is being handled by the US Attorney's Office, as the principal events and the arrests occurred inside the park. (Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge)

JOBS

Hot Springs NP

Two GS-025-09 LE Rangers

Hot Springs National Park is seeking qualified applicants interested in a lateral reassignment for two GS-025-09 law enforcement ranger positions. Hot Springs National Park, the first unit receiving designation in the National Park System, is a 5,500-acre park located in the scenic Ouachita Mountains. Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a rapidly growing city with a multi-cultural population. Numerous lakes, mountain trails and other natural features are located in the vicinity. The park is seeking dynamic, self-motivated individuals interested in joining an expanding law enforcement operation. Duties involve a mix of urban and resource law enforcement activities. Moving expenses will be paid by the park. Check out the park and the area by going to these websites at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/hosp" http://www.nps.gov/hosp and HYPERLINK "http://www.hotsprings.org" http://www.hotsprings.org . For more information contact Tricia Horn, HR assistant, at 501-624-3383 ext 605 or e-mail her at HYPERLINK "mailto:tricia_horn@nps.gov" tricia_horn@nps.gov.

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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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