NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, June 13, 2008
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INCIDENTS
National Capital Region
Parks Still Recovering From Severe Storms
On Wednesday, June 4th, a series of powerful thunderstorms passed through the National Capital Region, prompting the National Weather Service to issue 70 severe thunderstorm, marine, and tornado warnings in the Baltimore/Washington area. While none of the tornados struck any parks in NCR, virtually all NCR areas suffered damage from downed trees and power lines. Here's a follow-up report on recovery efforts:
Antietam NB - The park was hit by a severe storm with straight-line winds in excess of 100 mph. The storm lasted for about 35 minutes before moving off to the northeast. Damage was most severe in the national cemetery and on the northern end of the battlefield. The towns of Sharpsburg and Keedysville were also heavily impacted, and Maryland Routes 65 and 34 were closed due to fallen trees. All park staff were involved in responding to needs of visitors and to helping out with emergency operations in local communities. Park staff reopened Route 65 for fire and EMS traffic, provided manpower to assist in opening Route 34, and provided traffic control in the town of Sharpsburg. Over 140 trees were lost across the battlefield, including 15 at the national cemetery (none of the ‘witness trees' from the battle have been lost). Structural damage was reported at the Miller, Roulette, J. Poffenberger and Parks farms, including major damage to outbuildings and barns at the latter two. The 78-foot steel flagpole in the national cemetery was bent by the wind. Over 3,000 linear feet of historically accurate fencing was damaged, as were battlefield trails and historic roads. Electricity and phone service were out for two days, with phone service yet to be fully restored. Damage assessments continue in areas that were closed due to fallen trees.
Prince William Forest Park - Both the park and concession-run campground (Travel Trailer Village) lost power for over 24 hours. The loss of power knocked out the sewer lift station serving the concessioner and two camp cabins. Generators were used at maintenance to keep the phone system operating and for the radio repeater. Generators were also used at park housing for food refrigeration and lighting. A large tree fell on park-owned electrical lines in Camp 2, and another large tree fell on the roof of a cabin in that camp, causing major damage. Burma Road will need riprap installed downstream of the bridge abutment due to excessive erosion. A low area of Liming Lane was underwater and experienced some washout. Many areas, including roads, have hanging or damaged trees that will need to be removed.
George Washington Memorial Parkway - The storms knocked down many trees, but maintenance crews were able to clear all roads. Numerous tree limbs still have to be cleared from road shoulders, and several trails remain closed. Tree and grounds crews are continuing to clean up the park. Power remained off at the Turkey Run headquarters area for 96 hours. Electrical damage was inflicted on the HVAC system and hot water heater in the headquarters building. Park fencing and twelve privately-owned motor vehicles were damaged by downed trees, but no other federal government property damaged.
[Donald C. Boucher, Fire & Emergency Manager, NERO]
Buffalo NR
Woman Drowns In Buffalo River
Rangers received a report of a possible drowning at the Tyler Bend canoe launch on the evening of Saturday, June 7th. When they got to the launch, the found that the victim - M.N., 41, of Cleveland, Arkansas - was unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. Family members and bystanders assisted rangers with resuscitation efforts until a North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC) ambulance arrived on scene. M.N. was transported to NARMC, where she was pronounced dead around 9 p.m. M.N. had been swimming near the Tyler Bend Campground in chest-deep water. Sudden cardiac arrest is suspected as a contributing factor. [Lee Brumbaugh, Middle District Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Servicewide - In response to a call from Congress, the National Park Service has identified and documented 677 significant places associated with the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. The resulting report - just released - presents information about at-risk battlefields and associated properties for consideration by governmental and other entities.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6586" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6586
Northeast Region - Tadgh D. McNamee, 58, security and intelligence manager for Northeast Region, passed away last Tuesday. A wake will be held today and a funeral tomorrow, both on Staten Island.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1959" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1959
Northeast Region - Lucy Lawliss has been selected as the superintendent of two parks, George Washington Birthplace NM in Virginia and Thomas Stone NHS in Maryland.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1956" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1956
Pacific West Region - Vicki J. Snitzler is the newly-appointed superintendent for Oregon Caves National Monument. She replaces Craig Ackerman, who moved in March to Crater Lake National Park as its superintendent.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1955" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1955
DSC - Denver Service Center project manager Carol Whipple is part of a four-person women's cycle team participating in the Race Across America from June 11th through June 20th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6581" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6581
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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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