NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, March 21, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On President's Day Incident
The park continues to deal with the President's Day Incident - the previously reported rapid increase in sulfur dioxide emissions from a new vent on the volcano, plus a small explosive eruption that occurred on Wednesday. In the latter event, rock debris from a small explosive eruption inside Halemaumau damaged the crater's fenced overlook, and rocks fell on Crater Rim Drive and trail and Halemaumau trail. The area impacted by this explosion has been closed since February 20th due the elevated SO2 levels. Management of the incident is transitioning to the Western Incident Management Team, lead by incident commander Denny Ziemann. Team members heard employee concerns and were introduced to park staff at an all employees meeting yesterday, their first full day in the park. The team attended a briefing by USGS scientists from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory on the increased sulfur dioxide emissions and the explosive eruption. Discussions on the transition process were also begun. The transition to the team is planned for today. [Mardie Lane, PAO, Hawaii Volcanoes NP; Patti Wold, IO, Western IMT)
HYPERLINK "http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_19_08.html" http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_19_08.html
Grand Canyon NP
Follow-up On Search For Missing Resident
Rangers have begun to scale back their search for 29-year-old E.S., a resident of Grand Canyon. A search has been underway since late on the evening of Friday, March 14th, when E.S. was reported missing. The search, which included high probability areas throughout the Grand Canyon and the adjacent community of Tusayan, has not yielded any additional clues, and it's not known whether Eric is still in the area. Rangers will continue to focus their efforts on the investigation. Eric is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He has short brownish blond hair, a goatee and a mustache. He was last seen wearing either blue jeans or kaki pants and a button-down dress shirt. Flyers with information about E.S. have been distributed throughout the community and information has been entered into both the Arizona and national law enforcement networks. [Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer]
Mount Rainier NP
Hiker's Body Found After Extended Search
A three-day search for a missing hiker culminated on Wednesday morning with the discovery of his body about a mile from the Kautz Creek trailhead. D.O., 45, of Mukilteo, Washington, evidently arrived in the park on Monday morning for a day hike. He was not planning to be out overnight and was dressed lightly in blue jeans, a flannel shirt and a jacket. Conditions were wet, with temperatures in the 30s and several feet of snow on the ground. Ranger Dan Camiccia found D.O.'s car parked at Kautz Creek late on Monday. When he investigated further, he found that his wife had reported him missing that afternoon. With daylight dwindling, there was time for only a cursory check of the area. A search was mounted the next day and by Wednesday morning had expanded to include more than 20 park staff and volunteers, with two dog teams assisting from German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington. Rangers found and followed a single set of tracks to an elevation of 4,200 feet. The tracks then descended east of the trail to about 3,000 feet, where D.O.'s body was found. [Lee Taylor, Information Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
US Park Police - Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne enjoyed a Sunday motorcycle ride with the Park Police Motor Unit during Washington's Saint Patrick Day's Parade last weekend.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6317" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6317
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the NPS and its partners across the nation. Today's additions include three more equipment operator safety courses (Rocky Mountain, Denali and Yellowstone), an interview and interrogation course at Mammoth Cave, an ICS command and general staff course at NCTC, and several new FLETC courses (both on and off-site).
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775
Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. New this week are the “Music of the Mountains” festival next week at Great Smokies and a biennial research conference at Rocky Mountain in April.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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