NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

NOTICE

C&O Canal NHP

Tornado Downs Numerous Trees In Oldtown Area

On Wednesday, July 29th, an F-1 tornado with winds between 90 and 100 mph struck in the Oldtown area of the park. The tornado created a swath of destruction five miles long and over 100 yards wide. Electrical power was lost to 1,000 homes and businesses in the area. The tornado uprooted and sheared an estimated 80 trees within a half mile section of the park's towpath, closing it to pedestrian and bike traffic. On Thursday, the Oldtown maintenance crew cleared the trees from the towpath surface and reopened it to visitor use. This clearing operation was completed efficiently and safely on a hot and humid day and among inter-tangled fallen trees. [Bill Justice, Chief of Interpretation]

Zion NP

Woman Falls To Her Death From Angels Landing

N.M., 55, of Glendora, California, fell about a thousand feet to her death on the morning of Sunday, August 9th. N.M. was hiking with her family when she fell from the north side of Angels Landing, a popular hiking destination in the park. The fall was first reported via a 911 call from another hiker's cell phone. A St. George Police dispatcher received the call and notified the park. Rangers responded to Angels Landing while a park search and rescue team was mobilized and sent to the location to begin a search for the victim. The woman's body was located on a steep, rugged, talus slope at the base of Angels Landing below the saddle area between Angels Landing and Scout Lookout. Two big wall climbers half way up a route below Angels Landing also witnessed the fall, as the victim fell dangerously close to their porta-ledge. A technical recovery was required to bring her body down to the floor of Zion Canyon. A rappel along the fall line was also performed to look for additional evidence along the cliff face. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is investigating the fall in cooperation with the National Park Service. Plateau district ranger Ray O'Neil was the operations chief, Canyon district ranger Kevin Killian was the incident commander. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]

Lake Mead NRA

Tour Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing In Park

A tour helicopter from Maverick Helicopters, Inc. made an emergency landing in the park just before 6 p.m. Monday evening after striking a bird in mid-flight. The helicopter landed safely on the River Mountains loop trail near a Southern Nevada Water Authority water treatment plant. Game wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife saw the damaged helicopter land on the trail, a paved multi-use path, and headed to the scene. They provided first aid while National Park Service rangers responded. The pilot suffered a laceration to the face requiring stitches. He was transported to the hospital by park service ambulance. None of the six passengers aboard - all tourists from London - were injured. The helicopter was heading to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas when it struck the bird. [Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The first story on the list is the lead story.

Bryce Canyon NP - The Bridge Fire, the largest fire to ever burn at Bryce Canyon, presented some management challenges during its run through the park, including the evacuation of 50 vehicles stranded in the southern portion of the park when a sudden change in conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8030" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8030

WASO Public Affairs - The National Park Service's third entrance fee free weekend of the summer will occur on August 15th and 16th.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=891" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=891

Fire and Aviation Management - Meg Gallagher has been named the aviation manager for the eastern regions of the National Park Service. Based in Atlanta, Meg will provide expertise and serve as the primary aviation contact for National Capitol, Northeast, and Southeast Regions. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2438" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2438

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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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