NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Arkansas Post NM
Flooding Hits Park
Arkansas Post is the latest park in Midwest Region to experience flooding as a result of the recent storms that hit the Arkansas and Missouri area. The park weathered most storms because of its elevation, but due to its location on the Arkansas River minor flooding began on April 12th and has since crested. The picnic area, which had been under three-and-a-half feet of water, has now reopened, just in time for the April 19th special event commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Revolutionary War battle fought at the site. Facility manager David Evans, however, suffered heavy damage to his private residence, located outside the park, when a levee broke. Floodwaters previously reached five feet inside the home, and water was predicted to reach or top the roofline yesterday due to renewed flooding. Employees in Midwest Regional Office are donating money to help defray the family's many expenses caused by this disaster. If you would like to participate in this effort, please contact either Gary Krysl or Jackie Henman, both available via Lotus Notes. [Jackie Henman, MWRO]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
Search For Missing Fishermen Scaled Back
The search for fishermen T.P. and R.S., who have been missing since their boat overturned on the Delaware River two weeks ago, is continuing but has been scaled back. Although diving operations have been suspended, rangers are still conducting daily boat patrols of the search area, looking for signs of the missing men. Extremely cold water temperatures suggest that the bodies of the two men are submerged somewhere within the overall search area. The New Jersey State Police and Pennsylvania State Police plan to continue daily helicopter flights over the river corridor, as their schedules permit. On Monday, April 14th, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City conducted an overflight of the river corridor with a ranger on board. The Coast Guard flight provided a clear sense of the large scope and complexity of the search environment. Water clarity has improved to about six feet, but there are still many areas of the river where the depth exceeds that level of visibility. Numerous agencies and volunteer organizations have been involved in the intensive search effort since it began on April 3rd, including personnel from Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, Valley Forge National Historical Park, New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit and its dive team, New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Division, Bushkill Fire Company, Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Company, Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire Company, Northampton Fire Department, Port Jervis Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Pike County K-9, Ramapo Rescue Dog Association, and the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit. The NPS dive team completed more than 90 operational dives from Tuesday, April 8th, through Sunday, April 13th. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
War in the Pacific NHP - The park has acquired a very rare Type C Japanese midget submarine from World War II and placed it on display in front of its visitor center on Guam. The submarine was donated to the park by the U.S. Navy.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6400" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6400
Denver Service Center - DSC's annual report is now available. It describes the center's FY 2007 operations, including year-end analysis from the contracting services, design and construction, planning, transportation, and information management divisions.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6401" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6401
WASO - Stephen Whitesell has been named the new associate director of park planning, facilities and lands. He will assume his new duties in June.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=789" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=789
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
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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