NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
BLACKBERRY EDITION
Thursday, November 3, 2005
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INCIDENTS
South Florida Areas
Hurricane Wilma Recovery Update
It was reported yesterday that the National IMT (JD Swed, IC) attended an all-employee meeting held at a “chickee” near park headquarters at Everglades. A chickee is a thatch-roofed, over-water shade structure originally used by the local Native Americans for ceremonial purposes and housing. In south Florida, any covered, open-air or screened structure where people gather is referred to by the Native American term of “chickee.” This is true especially in areas within or close to Native American tribal lands.
As a continuation of today's Native American theme, Canyon de Chelly National Monument has sent a 30-person crew to assist in hurricane relief efforts in Everglades National Park. The crew, which specializes in exotic plant removal, fuels reduction and search and rescue, is a locally-based Navajo crew hired and trained by Canyon de Chelly to address issues in the park, across the Navajo Reservation and within Intermountain Region. The crew was deployed within a matter of hours and included the technical expertise of an arborist, electrician and heavy equipment operator. The Canyon de Chelly crew is providing support to Everglades in the clean-up of debris on roads and around facilities, removal of downed trees, and restoration of electrical and other operational services.
Big Cypress NP
The Oasis Visitor Center opened on Wednesday and the Environmental Education Center will open today. The park will also resume school group programs within Big Cypress. Much of the work lost during Tuesday's rain event was fixed on Wednesday. A second work crew reported to the park to assist with debris removal and tree hazard mitigation. One squad continues to address off-road vehicle trail clean-up issues, while a second squad has been working on Bear Island removing debris, cutting down hazard trees, and disassembling weakened chickees. After the trails are cleared and park staff have assessed water level conditions as they relate to wildlife, a determination will be made on opening the backcountry for ORV access and hunting. The FMSS team is continuing it's assessment at Big Cypress.
Biscayne NP
A skilled maintenance crew began making repairs to ceilings and safety handrails in the headquarters area yesterday. A crew on loan from Everglades cut hazard trees and chipped them at Convoy Point and on the park access road. Park headquarters still has only intermittent phone, electrical and internet service. Park staff have finished surveying their navigational aid devices, and surveying has now begun on water monitoring buoys. The branch director, working with park staff, prepared a five-day plan for immediate facility needs of Boca Chita, Elliot and Adams Keys. The plan was presented at the NIMT planning meeting in which logistical needs, communications needs and finance needs were worked out.
Everglades NP/Dry Tortugas NP
A second all-employee meeting was held at Everglades' Gulf Coast Visitor Center. The superintendent, deputy superintendent and key members of the National IMT were in attendance. An employee assistance specialist was also on hand to answer employee questions and address immediate employee needs. Debris clean-up on Key Largo has been completed. Three employee assistance assessments are complete with the delivery of a generator to all three. The Gumbo Limbo and the Anhinga Trails are now complete. Royal Palm VC parking area is now clear of debris and Hidden Lake access is cleared. Ninety percent of facility initial assessments are complete. Roads, trails and waysides are still in need of assessment. Hydrologists have been using a helicopter to assess damages to hydro stations in Florida Bay. A fixed wing flight was operated today to monitor panthers and manatees.
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. Note: An important addition has been made under the heading for the National IMT. Employees at affected parks can find a comprehensive FAQ sheet there that will answer many of their most important questions. The specific URL to that document is HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/FAQ%20Sheet%20-%20Hurricane% 20Wilma%2010-30-05.doc" http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/FAQ%20Sheet%20-% 20Hurricane%20Wilma%2010-30-05.doc
[Shauna Dyas, IO, National IMT]
Boston NHP
Ranger Injured in Fall During Foot Pursuit
In the early evening hours of October 31st, a park law enforcement ranger was injured in a fall during a foot pursuit in the park's Dorchester Heights unit. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for facial and head injuries, then held overnight for observation and released the following morning. Doctors determined that he'd suffered a concussion and fractures of a check bone and an eye socket. Details are to follow. [Suzanne Smith, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Canyonlands NP
Falling Fatality
Shortly after midnight on November 2nd, a dispatcher at the San Juan County Sheriff's Office was contacted via an On Star system vehicle distress call. The caller reported that a man about 37 years old from Nederland, Colorado, had accidentally fallen over a 40-foot cliff within the park (inside San Juan County) and sustained fatal injuries. The sheriff's office contacted the park's chief ranger and a coordinated response was begun. The victim had been on a bike ride with 13 friends and acquaintances on the White Rim Road within the park. They were camped at Murphy's campsite when the accident occurred. The site is reachable by ground via a difficult six-hour drive in a four-wheel-drive vehicle or by a strenuous two-hour hike. Responding rangers completed the hike around 4 a.m., contacted members of the group, secured the scene and began an investigation. Two San Juan County officers responded after first light in a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter, which was used to recover the victim's body via a long-line operation. It was delivered to the county coroner at a helispot at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. Alcohol consumption may have contributed to the accident; the investigation is continuing. [Peter Fitzmaurice, Chief Ranger]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Suicide in Pisgah District
While investigating an unattended vehicle at a park overlook on October 18th, a ranger discovered the remains of a man about 100 feet downslope from the overlook. The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the weapon found nearby. A suicide note was recovered from the vehicle. The victim has been identified as a 34-year-old man from Bryson City, North Carolina. [John Garrison, 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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