NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
INCIDENTS
Timpanogos Cave NM
Rocks And Debris Close Cave Trail After Major Storm
A major storm with lightning, hail, and heavy rain swept across American Fork Canyon and Mount Timpanogos on the afternoon of Saturday, June 13th. Heavy rain poured down on the park and washed tons of rocks, gravel, and debris onto the cave trail. The trail was covered in six locations and rocks were scattered extensively elsewhere. Two of the piles were over six feet high and each covered 30 to 40 feet of trail. During the storm, a 15-year-old girl on the cave trail was hit in the head by a rock. She was able to get down the trail on her own and was transported to the hospital to receive stitches. Another visitor came from a nearby reservoir in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest complaining of chest pains, and visitor center staff got a nearby paramedic team to respond. Eighteen staff members worked throughout Sunday to clear the tons rocks and debris from the cave trail. Several divisions were represented, but most were maintenance and interpretive staff. This was a great cooperative effort, with everyone remaining upbeat and positive while performing hard manual labor. Because of the larger rocks in the piles, they could not be shoveled easily. The piles had to be worked with picks to loosen the material before it could be shoveled off the trail. After a seven hour effort, the trail was finally opened to the public at 2 p.m. [Denis Davis, Superintendent]
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Boats Burn And Sink At Wahweap Marina
Dangling Rope district ranger Laurie Axelsen and park ranger Jamey Brazell were returning from patrol just before midnight last Friday when they noticed flames from one of the boat docks at Wahweap Marina. The rangers immediately radioed park dispatch and went into action to isolate the fire by removing surrounding boats from the two boats that were ablaze. An NPS fire crew soon arrived on scene with a fire engine and a fire boat; they were supported by units from the Page Fire Department. The blaze was brought under control within approximately 30 minutes. Two privately-owned, 37-foot cabin cruisers were lost in the fire. The actions of the rangers and the quick response by firefighters prevented additional damage to the docks and other boats in the marina. Aramark is conducting the clean-up associated with the fire. Coconino County is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. The incident commander was Shawn McNally. [Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer; Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Sequoia NP
Rangers Rescue Man Who Fell Into Kaweah River
On Saturday, May 30th, a volunteer river rover radioed dispatch to report that a 23-year-old man had fallen into the Kaweah River near the Hospital Rock picnic area, which is inside Sequoia's southwestern boundary. The victim had been standing on a rock above the Kaweah River, which was running high and fast due to spring runoff, when he slipped and fell. The current swept him to an underwater rock, where he was able to stand in cold, waist-deep water. Rangers coordinated a successful, multi-divisional swift-water rescue. A lifejacket and helmet were passed to the man. Because of the river's topography, rangers determined that rescue swimmers could neither safely nor effectively reach him. Rescuers set up downstream containment with a downstream rescue swimmer, and a tethered rescue board was deployed with safety lines. The man quickly placed himself on the board in the fast current and was pulled to shore, evading dangerous hydraulics and undercut rocks. He was treated for mild hypothermia and released. Throughout the rescue operation, the river rover successfully prevented the victim's family and other onlookers from entering the river to attempt a rescue, thereby thwarting the potential for a secondary incident. Sequoia's river rover volunteers contact visitors at key access points on the park's rivers to advise them of the risks and dangers of swift water. They also serve as park ambassadors, distributing a wide range of park information to river users and other visitors. The river rover program at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks has been instrumental in reducing the number of injuries and deaths through early notification and activation of emergency services. [Kevin Hendricks, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS.
Heritage Preservation Assistance Programs - On March 30th, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 into law. This legislation added nine new National Heritage Areas to the National Park Service portfolio, bringing the total to 49 NHAs in 32 states.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7805" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7805
Public Health - All resource management employees who handle and/or manage wildlife are eligible to complete the web-based survey, which closes on June 26th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7821" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7821
Park Facility Management Division - Kay Ellis, who began her federal career 27 years ago in the former NPS Branch of Special Programs and Populations, has returned to the agency after a 14 year absence. She will head up the Service's accessibility management program. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2382" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2382
Cuyahoga Valley NP - Superintendent John P. Debo, Jr., announced yesterday that he will be retiring from his position as superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, effective July 3rd. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=ParkNewsEvents&id=25326" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=ParkNewsEvents&id=25326
* * * * *
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).
--- ### ---