NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Friday, April 16, 2010

INCIDENTS

Big Bend NP

Flash Floods Close Most Park Roads

The park was hit on Wednesday night by high winds, hail and rain - up to three inches in places, a significant amount for the desert. As of Thursday morning, main roads into the park and the main visitor center were open, but all backcountry roads and dirt roads were closed and impassable. Some paved roads were also closed due to high water and flash flood debris. Road crews were working yesterday to open roads wherever possible, and rangers were checking on backcountry campers. More rain was in the forecast. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]

Kalaupapa NHP

Storms Knock Out Access Trail, Power And Phones

The Pali Trail access to Kalaupapa National Historical Park has been closed due to severe erosion and slide activity adjacent to a bridge near the top portion of the three-and-a-half mile long trail. The Pali Trail is used by visitors and park employees travelling by foot and mule train from topside Molokai to Kalaupapa NHP. The only other access to Kalaupapa NHP is by a commercial airline or on-demand airplane charters, both of which are expensive. Emergency funds to conduct repairs to the bridge have been authorized and selection of a contractor should occur in the near future. Damage to the bridge was caused by several days of heavy rainfall. However, plans to replace the old bridge were already in process prior to the recent rain event. In addition, the entire Kalaupapa peninsula has been without electrical power and phone service since April 11th due to heavy rains and high winds that knocked down power lines that descend the 1,600-foot-high cliffs above the park. Park employees and residents are using generators for power and satellite phones for communication until electrical power is restored. [Stephen Prokop, Superintendent]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Yosemite NP - A study of the threatened Pacific fisher in Yosemite is showing that the park has more animals than previous research had suggested. The study is providing valuable information on habitat requirements that may give this small population its best chance at survival.

National Park Foundation - In celebration of National Park Week and Earth Day, Macy's has launched the “Great Give Back” campaign to encourage its customers to support the National Park Foundation.

Servicewide Training Calendar - A compilation of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added to this week's listing is a TEL broadcast this coming Tuesday on dealing with the potential risks of transporting firewood to parks and to the health of park forests.

To see these and other stories posted on InsideNPS (or NPS Digest, its public version), click on one or the other of the following links (please note that not all stories in the former appear in the latter):

NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index

Non-NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/

NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/notify" http://inside.nps.gov/notify

* * * *

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

--- ### ---