NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, June 25, 2015
INCIDENTS
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cosby Area Temporarily Closed Due To Storm Damage
The Cosby area entrance road has been closed temporarily due to flood damage. On the afternoon of June 22nd, flash flooding along Rock Creek spilled over the banks, damaging road shoulders along 1,500 linear feet of the Cosby entrance road. Underground electric and phone lines were exposed along most of the road where the shoulder area was washed out up to six feet deep. All electric power and water service to the campground and picnic area have been shut off.
Park maintenance crews cleared rocks and debris from the roadway and coned off washed-out road areas to allow one-lane traffic to escort campers from the campground yesterday morning. The campground, picnic area, and all roadways will remain closed until power and water services can be restored and the repairs are complete. Park crews are further assessing the condition of the road and will begin making repairs immediately.
Trails remain open at this time, but there is no trailhead access. Hikers are advised to use caution throughout the area. Crews are currently assessing the area for any damage to trails and foot logs. Roads are closed to all pedestrian traffic in the area throughout the closure.
For more information on road and trail closures, visit the park website at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm" http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.
[Dana Soehn, Public Affairs Officer]
New River Gorge NR
Rangers Conduct Two Same-Day Rescues
Rangers were advised of a falling accident at Beauty Mountain on Tuesday morning. The interagency response team consisted of rangers, VFD members, and local EMS. Due to the nature of the call, an aeromedical helicopter from Air Evac launched and staged at Burnwood Ranger Station.
Rescuers quickly established contact with the injured man, began caring for him, and planned his evacuation. The Fayette County Rope Rescue Team and rangers rigged a technical rope rescue system and brought him to the cliff top via a litter raise. He was carried out to an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation indicates that he fell from the cliff while down climbing without a rope or climbing gear in order to retrieve his cell phone, which he'd dropped over the cliff the previous evening.
Late that afternoon, the 911 center advised rangers that a woman had gone over Sandstone Falls on the New River. Park staff responded to the Sandstone Falls visitor use area, while additional rangers responded to Sandstone landing with an NPS patrol boat. The woman and two male friends were spotted on a rock below the falls, and the NPS patrol boat was guided to the location. All three were transported to the shore and evaluated for injuries. The woman suffered minor head injuries, but refused treatment; she was transported to a hospital for follow-up by her friends. Hinton VFD and WV Department of Natural Resources officers assisted with the rescue.
[Jeff West, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
Mammoth Cave NP - Mammoth Cave National Park hosted it first-ever Mammothon on June 21st. The 24-mile Mammothon is the only triathlon in the world to feature a hike, bike ride, and underground cave hike.
Interpretation and Education Division - On Thursday, June 18th, representatives from the NPS helped present awards to students at the 41st Annual National History Day Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland.
Geologic Resources Division - The summer issue of Inside Earth, a newsletter for the National Park Service's cave and karst programs, is now out and available online. A link is provided.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial - As part of a pilot NPS-YMCA partnership program, the park joined with the YMCA of Greater St. Louis in developing and holding a weeklong “Gateway to the West” day camp.
US Park Police - An article on the Ford's Theatre blog highlights Inter-Con Security Officer Kevin Gray, who is a true asset to both Ford's Theatre and the U.S. Park Police.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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