NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Friday, September 24, 2010

INCIDENTS

Glacier NP

Search Continues For Missing Fisherman

The search for a missing 30-year-old fisherman enters its fourth day today. No sign of him has yet been found despite an extensive ground an air search. M.S. was reported missing after failing to return from an afternoon fishing trip to the Upper McDonald Creek area at the north end of Lake McDonald. On Wednesday, divers found a fishing pole where the creek empties into the lake that family members believe belongs to M.S. Based on the location of the fishing pole and all other evidence, the search has been focused in this area, which is extremely treacherous due to a steep drop-off and very powerful down-flowing currents. The water surface temperature is currently about 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The primary search tool is the county's sonar, which is being used to scan the lake bottom. Members of the Flathead County dive team are on scene and are ready to assist should the sonar spot something at a depth and location that is safe for the divers. [Wade Muehlhof, Public Affairs Officer]

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Rangers Conduct Proactive LE Operation At Rod Run

Each April and September, the city of Pigeon Forge hosts a car show know as the Rod Run. This traditionally has increased the volume of traffic into the park, specifically on a section of US 441 commonly referred to as the Spur. In past years, rangers have seen an increase in the number of alcohol, drug, DUI, reckless driving, simple assault and other disorderly conduct offenses during these events. Rangers have accordingly taken a proactive approach to decreasing these incidents, employing sobriety checkpoints, focused patrols, and deliberate traffic management plans. These enforcement efforts are aimed at increasing visitor safety and public awareness. In order to manage the increased law enforcement activity and other emergency incidents related to the Rod Run, the Tennessee District was managed under ICS on September 17th and 18th. An incident action plan was developed to provide clarity to the park's management team and field staff on what was being done and how it is was to be done safely. The principles of operational leadership were incorporated into the plan and a GAR risk assessment model was developed for the event. On Friday, rangers conducted focused patrols on the Spur from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.; on Saturday, they set up an incident command post and managed traffic starting at 6 p.m. on the Spur at the King Branch exit. On Friday, rangers made 36 vehicle stops and issued a total of 38 violation notices and written warnings. On Saturday, they made another 39 vehicle stops, issued a total of 43 violation notices and written warnings, arrested seven people for DUI, and arrested another three for public intoxication. Over the course of the weekend, Tennessee rangers also responded to several MVA's and other incidents, including a motorcycle that ended up in the Little River and a hiker who experiencing an allergic reaction in the backcountry. The park's management efforts have been supported by locals as well as park visitors traveling through the area. Supervisory Park Ranger Bobby Fleming was IC for the incident. [Steve Kloster, Tennessee District Ranger]

Gateway NRA

NYPD Helicopter Crashes In Jamaica Bay

On Wednesday, September 22nd, a New York Police Department helicopter crashed in the waters of Jamaica Bay. The crash occurred late in the afternoon approximately 30 to 50 feet off the shoreline of Floyd Bennett Field, a section of the park. The helicopter was attempting to land at an NYPD helipad, a lessee within the boundaries of the historic airfield. The floatation device activated when the helicopter hit the water. Six persons were onboard; they were rescued and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The Park Police Marine Unit and other Jamaica Bay Park Police officers responded to the area to assist. NYPD is investigating the cause of the crash. [Lieutenant George Davis, U.S. Park Police]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - Rangers involved in Operational Alliance, an ongoing interagency effort to supplement law enforcement personnel on reservations, have found another way to help one of the communities that they are serving - they've begun a drive for books for children on the Wind River Reservation.

Valley Forge NHP - The park recently launched a regional YCC Energy Corps pilot program. The YCC participants work with park staffs to provide energy audits and weatherization and also provide energy conservation presentations and outreach to park visitors. Photo.

Intermountain Region - Tumacacori National Historical Park mourns the loss of Don Garate, the park's long-time chief of interpretation. Don passed away on September 21st after a courageous struggle with brain cancer. Photo.

Intermountain Region - Jeff Bradybaugh, a 28-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo.

Pacific West Region - Susan Teel has been selected as acific West Region's 2010 Freeman Tilden Award recipient for her "Sea to Shining Sea" project. Photo.

Upcoming Training and Conference Calendar - A compilation of upcoming training courses and conferences across the nation. Added to this week's calendar are the following - two offerings of an ICS command and general staff course for local incident management teams (one in November, the other in February) and a FLETC course at Yellowstone.

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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).

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