NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
BLACKBERRY EDITION
Friday, October 28, 2005
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INCIDENTS
South Florida Areas
Hurricane Recovery Operations Get Underway
Southeast Region
Under the coordination of regional chief ranger Judy Forte and regional fire and all-risk coordinator Ken Garvin, Hurricane Wilma response actions at the regional level have occurred in an efficient and timely manner, in accord with the protocol outlined in the NPS 2005 Southeast Region Emergency Operations Plan. Forecasts were distributed to SER parks from the time the storm first formed. The regional office remained in close communication with parks as they implemented their hurricane plans, weathered the storm, and began initial assessments. Since the preplanning stages of the storm, regional staff have attended daily agency and interagency conference calls to share information, coordinate efforts, and ensure the needs of the parks are being met. On Monday, October 24th, parks were able to conduct preliminary damage assessments and convey their needs for outside assistance. Southeast RD Pat Hooks took immediate action to direct the National IMT (JD Swed, IC), staged in Orlando, to respond to South Florida in the capacity of a Type 2 IMT, to work under park delegation in coordination with the regional office to assist Biscayne NP, Big Cypress NP, Dry Tortugas NP, and Everglades NP with Hurricane Wilma recovery operations as needed. Regional staff continue to coordinate with Florida parks and the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) on a daily basis. Numerous regional resources (FMSS specialists, a hazmat specialist, a landscape architect, etc.) are on standby and ready to respond. Regional staff are also able to provide assistance remotely, including helping to ensure that payroll operations for the affected parks will be processed on time. For more information, go to HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/regions/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&rgn=594&id= 3877" http://inside.nps.gov/regions/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&rgn=594 &id=3877
National IMT
The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) has established an ICP at the Miccosukee Resort, which now has electricity. A delegation of authority was signed on October 26th and the National IMT has begun transitioning with the parks. IC JD Swed has met with Miccosukee tribal leader, the chief of police, and FEMA. The IMT also helped facilitate the delivery of ice and water for the tribe.
Big Cypress NP
The park reports that all of their employees have checked in and are safe. One employee residence in Everglades City was damaged due to high water; one employee's mobile home residence is a total loss; other employees report minor roof damage and downed trees. Power was restored to the park on Tuesday night. Telephones and email are back up at park headquarters. Headquarters is undamaged, with some damage to the screened pool area. There is significant roof damage (missing shingles) to park structures. Highway signs on Highway 87 are all down. There are down trees parkwide. A SET team and hot shot crew should be arriving soon. A contract is in place for catering and for lodging in the Naples area.
Everglades NP/Dry Tortugas NP
Both parks sustained major damage and remain closed due to impacts of high winds and storm surge from Hurricane Wilma. So All park facilities are currently without power and telephone service. Trees are down in areas throughout the park, with many blocking access to roads, trails and boat channels. Numerous power line poles are down in the East Everglades and along State Road 9336 leading to the main park entrance. Communications at the park are still a serious issue. Lack of fuel, power and logistical support are creating difficulties all over south Florida, including Everglades. Park staff are still using the communications equipment at Krome Center to attempt to contact employees and manage the incident. The center has no electricity or air conditioning, but it does have a land line phone with an answering machine, fax and computers cooled by generator. High water affected much of the park's Gulf Coast and Flamingo areas. Flooding has added to problems already being addressed following Katrina. For example, all water and electrical systems are down at Flamingo and further damage has been sustained at the lodge and campground. In some cases, earlier post-Katrina recovery efforts have been wiped away by the affects of Wilma. Flamingo suffered a six to seven-foot storm surge (much worse than the three to five-foot storm surge sustained during Katrina). Flamingo is now very salt-laden and covered with mud. Of the three concession-owned thousand-gallon propane tanks at Flamingo, one is missing and one of the remaining tanks is leaking. Flamingo residents who were evacuated to park headquarters will be allowed back to their homes when the area is declared safe. High winds caused structural and equipment damage at Flamingo, Gulf Coast and Shark Valley. The canoe launch at Everglades City is wrecked. Structural damage to residences consists mostly of damaged screening and porches ripped off. A park curator has been checking on the park collection. The park superintendent was told that it might be mid-November before power is restored. As of Thursday morning, all but about 20 NPS employees at Everglades NP had been accounted for. Park staff planned to go out into the community to attempt to locate the unaccounted for individuals in person. Park staff are also working with interagency partners to locate researchers who have not yet checked in. A CISM team should arrive in the park by Friday. One crew is working on employee needs and community assistance. Employees are trying to tarp roofs in anticipation of forecasted rain showers over the next few days. Some park staff are able to work out of the Krome Center, where everything is working but the AC. Fans were brought in today to help cool the facility. The park fuel supply is running low. Two crews worked yesterday to clear hazard trees along State Highway 41. Two public open house meetings planned for October 26th and 27th regarding airboat tour operations have been cancelled.
Impacts on Dry Tortugas appear to be significant and at least as much damage has been observed as was the case following Hurricane Charley last year. All eleven people who remained on Dry Tortugas during the storm have been accounted for and are OK. Due to the park's remote location, the superintendent has not been able to contact Dry Tortugas site supervisor Willie Lopez, but it is expected that there is damage to the moat wall and dock at Loggerhead. The park reported a high wind speed during Wilma of 134 mph. On Wednesday, a seaplane flew from Key West to Dry Tortugas. The crew confirmed damages to docks and missing sections of the moat wall. Damage assessments for Loggerhead are still pending, but are expected to be similar to past storms.
Biscayne NP
As of Thursday morning, all but one employee have been accounted for. Park staff have gone to the employee's residence several times. His car is gone and they suspect he left to stay with friends or relatives elsewhere, but will continue to try to contact him. The park is bringing in sawyers, swampers, and construction workers to rebuild damaged facilities and clear trees and debris. An initial damage assessment for Stiltsville revealed mostly minor to moderate damages, including missing stairs and damaged roofs. All structures, however, are still standing. Island LE residents reported primarily roof damage on the islands and have begun clean-up efforts. The park has acquired tarps and begun tarping roofs. The park's gas tank is underground and requires power to operate. Park staff are limiting operations in order to conserve fuel. The park hoped to install a generator to restore power today.
Canaveral NS
All employees have been accounted for. The park is open, but the causeway sustained structural damage. Visitors and employees must access the park the long way from the north. There is some damage to boardwalks and the comfort stations are flooded. Brevard County officials advise that the Max Brewer bridge sustained structural damage during Hurricane Wilma, and will be closed for repairs a minimum of three weeks.
De Soto NM
High winds from Wilma resulted in loss of power, damage to a wayside display and closure of trails due to downed tree limbs. High surf caused substantial erosion to the berm adjacent to the visitor center, removing two to three feet of sand from the seven-foot, six-inch tall barrier along its entire 300-foot length. Erosion to the berm continues as a strong northwest wind associated with the cold front that drove Wilma eastward continues to pile up waves against it. The entrances to both Mangrove Forest tidal canals were damaged and partially filled with sand. Seven mangrove trees recently planted as part of the ongoing mangrove restoration project were uprooted and destroyed. Several mangroves awaiting planting were also damaged. The park reopened at 9 a.m. on October 26th while park staff worked to clear major obstructions on the trails. All trails were open by noon. Work to repair the berm and waysides will require more time.
[Michelle Fidler, Fire Education Specialist, SER; Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT; Mark Lewis, Superintendent, BISC; Susan Gonshor, Chief of Interpretation, BISC; Dan Kimball, Superintendent, EVER/DRTO; Eric Lugo, Chief Ranger, CANA; Rick Cook, PAO, EVER; Karen Gustin, Superintendent, BICY; Kevin Walsh, FMO, BICY; Charles Fenwick, Superintendent, DESO; Carol Clark, Superintendent, CANA]
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 work on the three Chalmette National Cemetery and Battlefield historic structures will be completed shortly. Today is the team's final operational period; incident staff will be released for travel on Saturday. Five overhead personnel will remain to rehabilitate incident facilities, complete the documentation package, and prepare for close-out with the park. Close-out is scheduled for Monday, October 31st.
Gulf Islands NS
A Type 3 team (Rich Degnan, IC) is managing the incident.
Electrical lines were installed to the Cave House and sewer and water connections have been completed to the Ritz House. Base cabinets were installed in the kitchen and bathroom at the Brick House. The park's LCM has finished picking up the debris piles on West Ship Island. The IMT conducted a transition planning meeting with the new project manager, the superintendent and park staff. Management of the incident will pass from the IMT to a project manager at 4 p.m. this afternoon.
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.
[Rich Degnan, IC, IMT, GUIS; Greg Stiles, IC, IMT, JELA/JAZZ]
Buffalo NR
Multiple Assaults, Including Stabbing
During the early morning hours of October 16th, rangers were dispatched to a stabbing incident at the Erbie Campground in the Upper District. The suspects had already left the area when the rangers arrived and discovered a young man had been stabbed in the upper chest. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The wound was not life threatening. Investigation has revealed that a group of five locals arrived at the campground around 1:30 a.m. and started harassing a group of campers who were not from the area. The primary suspect assaulted one person with his fists, an attack that resulted in broken facial bones. When a friend of the first victim got the suspect in a head hold, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the upper chest. A middle-aged woman who was upset about the stabbing confronted the suspect and he threatened to use the knife on her. Witnesses said that the primary suspect had a wound to his right hand and was bleeding significantly when he left the scene. Although his vehicle had no license plate, good descriptions were obtained of the suspects and their vehicle. Friends of the victims lived in Harrison and heard information on the street as to the identity of the prime suspect. On October 18th, rangers contacted him and he agreed to be interviewed. On arrival at the Boone County Sheriff's Office, rangers noticed that his hand was bandaged. He eventually admitted to being at the campground that night. He claimed that he was so drunk that he didn't remember what happened. The main suspect is 23 years old and has an extensive criminal history. He voluntarily turned his bloody knife over to rangers and has a truck matching the description given by the witnesses. More interviews are planned with four other suspects. Felony assault charges are expected to be presented in federal court. [Bob Howard, Upper District Ranger]
JOBS
Yellowstone NP
Summer Seasonal LE Rangers
The summer (2006) LE seasonal announcement for Yellowstone National Park will be out from November 7th to November 28th. This will be for GS-5 and GS-7 law enforcement rangers. Duty stations include any of the park's 13 subdistricts. [Lisa Helms, Budget Analyst]
San Antonio Missions NHP
GS-7 or GS-9 LE Ranger
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is seeking a team-oriented ranger for a lateral reassignment into a GS-025-7 or 9 law enforcement position. The ranger selected for this position will be assigned to the Division of Resource Management and Visitor Protection and will provide a full spectrum of resource/visitor protection functions and assist on a variety of resource management projects. Protection rangers at San Antonio Missions work closely with other federal, state and local law enforcement and land management agencies in both urban and rural settings. Most of the park is located within the city limits of San Antonio, which is the ninth largest city in the U.S. The park contains the largest concentration of Spanish Colonial resources in the country, including four 18th Century Missions with active Catholic churches and related parish activities, a functioning aqueduct and dam, two acequias (irrigation systems), and a historic ranch site. The cost of living in San Antonio is considered moderate and the city has all the amenities associated with a large metropolitan area. Summers are generally hot and humid and winters are mild. Housing is not available. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Dan Steed, chief ranger, at 210-534-8875, x224. [Dan Steed, 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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