NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Effigy Mounds NM
Fallout From Major Tornado Recovered In Park
Park staff have recovered several items that evidently were deposited in the park by the remnants of an EF5 tornado - the most severe type of tornado - that occurred approximately 100 miles southwest of Effigy Mounds. The tornado, which killed eight people, injured 70, and destroyed between 100 and 200 homes, occurred in Parkersburg, Iowa, on Sunday, May 25th. The National Weather Service has estimated that the tornado had wind speeds around 205 mph, making it the first EF5 tornado in Iowa since June 13, 1976. Recovered items consisted of personal photographs and what appeared to be legal documents. Park law enforcement is working with the Butler County Sheriff's Office to identify the affected parties and return the materials. [Bob Palmer, Senior Law Enforcement Officer]
Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Suicide Averted Through Prompt Employee Action
While conducting a stream survey in the remote Grotto Creek drainage at Circle X Ranch on May 28th, resource management employees Joanne Moriarty and Seth Riley encountered a 33-year-old woman who said that she'd drunk some antifreeze and needed help. They quickly determined that she was depressed and had attempted to commit suicide. Moriarty stayed with the woman while Riley ran more than a mile uphill along the only available trail to a spot where he could call 911 via telephone. The Ventura County Fire Department responded with an engine and a helicopter; Ventura County Sheriff's Department deputies and an ambulance were also dispatched. Rangers Darcy MacDonald and Tom Young joined the response. Campground VIP Tony Valois led the county fire engine crew down to the woman. Moriarty in the interim continued to keep her calm until county emergency responders and the helicopter arrived. The woman was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, where she was treated for ingestion of automotive anti-freeze and alcohol. She is expected to fully recover. The quick and decisive actions of Moriarty and Riley contributed greatly in assuring that the woman received prompt medical attention, which is crediting with saving her life. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigating agency in this incident. [Evan W. Jones, Chief Ranger]
Lake Mead NRA
Women Fatally Injured When Struck By Boat Propeller
L.J., 54, died on Saturday, June 7th, after being critically injured while swimming in Gasoline Alley. Witnesses reported that L.J. jumped into the water, then swam behind a vessel that was backing up and was struck by the propeller. L.J. was pulled from the water by bystanders, who transported her by private vessel to Katherine Landing. While en route, responding rangers met the vessel and provided advance life support. L.J. was taken to the Western Area Medical Center, then to University Medical Center, where she died from her injuries. Gasoline Alley is a popular boating area that is located on the Arizona side of Lake Mohave. The accident is currently under investigation. This was the park's 14th fatality this year. [Mary Hinson, Chief Ranger]
Rocky Mountain NP
Man Dies In 500 Foot Fall While Mountaineering
A 66-year-old Fort Collins man fell to his death above Emerald Lake on Saturday, June 7th. Witnesses said that he took a tumble fall of at least 500 feet on a steep snow slope above the lake's western edge. One of them called the park via cell phone at 3 p.m. When others reached him about 15 minutes later, they found he'd suffered massive trauma and had evidently died during the fall. Rangers were on scene by 5 p.m. and carried the body out. The man was mountaineering and was wearing crampons and a helmet. [Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer]
Rock Creek Park
Woman Assaulted On Bluff Bridge
On the morning of Tuesday, May 27th, a woman who was exercising on the trails adjacent to Beach Drive crossed Bluff Bridge, a pedestrian overpass over the creek, then stopped on the west end of the bridge. As she bent down to adjust her shoes, a man approached from behind and placed a knife at her throat. The woman began yelling and he fled from the area. The woman then ran towards Beach Drive, flagged down a motorist, and was able to contact the police. USPP investigators are searching for a Hispanic male with dark complexion, in his mid-20s, approximately 5'5” tall, thin build, with short black hair. He spoke broken English. At the time of the crime, he was wearing a white t-shirt with cut off sleeves and blue jeans. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, US Park Police]
Lake Meredith NRA
Three Charged With Manufacturing Methamphetamine In Park
On Saturday, May 31st, a confidential informant advised the Potter County Sheriff's Office that several people were heading to the Rosita Flats campground area with the intent of manufacturing methamphetamine. The sheriff's office notified rangers, who set up a covert surveillance operation with Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens. Around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, rangers saw three people in a vehicle similar to the one described in the intelligence report involved in a suspicious activity. During the ensuing vehicle stop, they saw items in the vehicle consistent with those used in the production of methamphetamine. All three were arrested on second degree felony charges. Additional charges are pending. [Paul D. Jones, Park Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP - A new partnership of private and public landowners - including the National Park Service - has been created to protect watersheds and natural resources across more than one million acres on Mauna Loa, Kilauea and Hualalai on the island of Hawai‘i.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6576" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6576
Intermountain Region - Grand Canyon fire management officer Dan Oltrogge was presented with a Southwest Coordination Group award on May 8th in recognition of his many years of leadership on Southwest incident management teams.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1951" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1951
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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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