American Memorial |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, December 4, 1986 Location: Saipan, CM 96950 Summary: Severe typhoon w/ winds in excess of 160 mph struck the island for approximately three hours. Extensive damage to NPS structures, property and Memorial landscaping reported - no dollar figure available. No injuries or deaths. Island is without electrical, other utilities and expected to remain so for 2-4 weeks (estimated).
The body of I.L. of the island of Truk was found near Smiling Cove Marina in the park on the afternoon of the 18th. He had been stabbed and beaten to death. The incident is under investigation by local authorities. (Ed Wood, park ranger, AMER, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
Typhoon Russ passed 180 miles south of Saipan on December 21st. Although the islands of Saipan, Rota and Tinian were placed on the highest preparedness level, the maximum winds experienced in Saipan were 65 mph (the highest wind speeds recorded in the typhoon were 180 mph). No significant damage occurred in the park, but it was closed from 10 a.m. on the 20th until 6:00 p.m. on the 21st. (Ed Wood, AMME, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/27).
The tail end of Typhoon Ryan struck Saipan on September 1st, and the waves caused major damage to Micro Beach. Storm surge removed at least 15 feet of beach and undercut two monuments which have been on the beach for many years. The newly constructed pavilion and the existing restroom facility are now threatened with being washed away. A plan has been proposed to place large coral rocks off-shore to break-up the wave action reaching the beach, but will require the approval of the Corps of Engineers. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Micro Beach Pavilion was nonetheless held on September 7th, and the facility is now ready for use. [Edward Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 9/7]
Tropical Storm Steve passed just north of the island of Saipan during the early morning hours of August 8th. Maximum sustained winds were reported to be around 65 mph, with gusts to 85 mph. The park was washed over with seawater; the water was a foot deep at the Micro Beach parking lot. Only minor damage is reported - primarily broken tree limbs. The park is open and the staff is concentrating on cleanup. Saipan felt the shocks from the Guam quake, but no damages or injuries occurred. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 8/9]
Throughout last week, the park hosted commemorative ceremonies for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and the Battle of the Philippine Sea during World War II. The ceremonies and dedications marked the near completion of a new $2.5 million memorial and amphitheater complex in the park. Approximately 200 veterans of the battles returned to participate in the remembrance activities. Few incidents occurred. [Edward Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 6/20]
For the second time in as many weeks, a typhoon is threatening the island of Saipan and American Memorial Park. Typhoon Zelda, packing sustained winds of over 100 mph with gusts to 140 mph, is projected to pass near or over the island late on the afternoon of November 3rd (yesterday, as the island is across the international date line). The storm has been strengthening and may be more severe when it reaches the park. All park facilities have been closed and buildings secured; employees have been sent home on administrative leave until Zelda passes. War in the Pacific on Guam has made preparations for the storm, but no facilities or units have been closed due to the northerly track of the typhoon. Windy conditions and heavy rains are predicted for Guam, but winds are expected to be less than gale force. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 11/3]
Typhoon Zelda passed 85 north of Saipan yesterday around 10 a.m. PST. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's center in San Francisco reported that winds reached 103 mph with gusts of 125 mph. Coastal flooding occurred on the island and 18 injuries were reported. Considerable wind damage was also reported. No further details are available from the park. [Ken Hay, RAD/WRO, 11/3]
The eye of Typhoon Zelda passed within 20 miles of the island of Saipan last Thursday (local time) and delivered sustained winds of 110 mph with gusts over 130 mph. Heavy rains also fell. Over 65 trees were blown down, and the park was covered with debris. No injuries were reported in the park. All structures survived without major damage and the park was reopened to visitors the next day. At the time of the report, the island was without electrical power, but expectations were that it would be restored within several days. Cleanup will take the park staff about three weeks. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 11/4]
Tropical Storm Bobbie passed Saipan during the early morning of December 23rd. The closest approach was approximately 45 miles to the north of the island; although forecasters said that the storm would likely strengthen before it passed the islands, it did not. Maximum winds reached 75 mph, and sustained winds were approximately 60 mph. The storm did little damage to the park, and it reopened the following day. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA & AMME, 12/28]
On the evening of October 17th, the center of Tropical Storm Ward passed within 60 miles of the park. Storm winds were blowing at 60 mph at the time. Minor flooding occurred in the park, and several large trees were blown down in the picnic area. None of the major construction projects currently on-going in the park was affected, but some delays were encountered because of the more than six inches of rain that fell on the area. Clean-up activities will be required for the next several days, but the park will remain open. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, AMME/WAPA]
Coastal areas on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota in the Northern Marianas were placed on a tsunami alert on the evening of October 25th. Lower elevations (under 10 feet above sea level) are included in the alert. The park remains open, but emergency plans are currently being formulated to evacuate the site on short notice. The alert was prompted by the discovery of a volcano forming on the sea bottom about 25 miles northwest of Saipan. The new volcano is actively building and bubbles of sulfur are causing massive fish kills in the area. The summit of the volcano is still more than 200 meters below sea level, but it is already about 415 meters above the ocean floor. Numerous booms and minor tremors have been recorded in the area over the last several days. Residents are being advised to be ready to head for high ground if an earthquake occurs because of the possibility of an associated tsunami. Saipan would be struck within 15 minutes of such a quake. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME]
A USGS Biological Resources Division crew conducting wild bird surveys discovered a fully intact, live, World War II six-inch shell in the park's wetlands on April 1st. The shell, which was about three feet long, was in an isolated area of the wetlands being considered for light landscaping and trail development. Park staff and a crew from the Northern Mariana Islands Emergency Management Office removed the shell without incident. It was later detonated in an isolated area of the island. Live ordnance is found periodically throughout the islands of the Northern Marianas, scene of intense fighting during World War II. The shell was likely fired by a ship during the invasion of Saipan in June, 1944. [Chuck Sayon, Unit Manager, AMME, 4/7]
Super-Typhoon Winnie, with sustained winds of 160 mph and gusts of up to 195 mph, was expected to pass 125 miles north of the island late on the evening of August 13th (local time). At the time of the report, winds were blowing at about 50 mph, with gusts to 75 mph, and all park operations had been suspended until further notice. About half of the trees in the parks landscaped areas had been uprooted or had suffered major limb damage and some flooding had occurred. All park buildings were okay. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 8/13]
Super Typhoon Winnie, with winds up to 185 mph, passed within 140 miles of Saipan on the evening of August 12th. The park suffered light to moderate damage from winds of 50 to 70 mph and the 15 inches of rain which fell over a 24-hour period. Some large trees fell or shed large branches on the park's bike/jogging path and picnic areas, about 90% of the tree canopy was lost in the park's wetland areas, and all 30 plus mahogany trees on the main mall snapped at their bases or were uprooted. All boats in the marina weathered the storm in good condition except for a construction barge which sank. Electric power on the island was sporadic for three days following the storm, but is largely back to normal. No building or structural damage occurred. Park crews were assisted by rangers from War in the Pacific NHS, who were on Saipan for an oral history workshop and unable to fly home due to the typhoon. The estimated damage and rehab cost has been placed at from $5,000 to $7,000. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 8/19]
Guam National Wildlife Refuge was occupied by local lands rights activists over the weekend of September 17th-28th, prompting the refuge, which has no permanent law enforcement personnel, to request assistance from the NPS. American Memorial site manager Chuck Sayon and FWS special agent Kevin Garlick have accordingly been patrolling the refuge and providing security for FWS staff. The occupying activists are demanding 24-hour access to the refuge, which they claim is theirs and was improperly taken by the FWS when the Navy declared the property as excess. The federal district court in Guam has ordered a ten-day "cooling off" period while attorneys from the territory and Department of Justice negotiate an interim solution. Meanwhile, political and Guam independence demonstrations have been conducted at the refuge. FWS staff have experienced some minor harassment, and DOJ lawyers working on the case have been threatened. FWS will likely bring a refuge law enforcement officer to the site from Hawaii this week. Illegal camping, additional demonstrations, and unauthorized homestead construction are expected over coming days. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 10/9]
The park suspended all operations on Friday, October 17th, in anticipation of the arrival of super typhoon Joan. Forecasters predicted that the eye of the storm, which packed sustained winds of 180 miles per hour and gusts of up to 220 miles per hour, would pass just 25 miles north of Saipan at noon on Saturday. Private and commercial tour boats were moved into the park's marina, which has been designated as the only safe harbor for the island. The park just recovered from August's super typhoon Winnie, which had gusts of up to 180 mph and passed about 140 miles north of the island. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 10/17]
Both American Memorial (Saipan) and War in the Pacific NHP (Guam) were closed on the afternoon of November 1st in anticipation of the arrival of super typhoon Keith. All staff were sent home to weather the storm. Both islands were placed on typhoon condition I early on the morning of November 2nd, as the storm was predicted to pass over the island of Rota later that day with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and gusts to 225 mph. The estimated closest approach to the parks will be 54 nautical miles north of Guam and 65 nautical miles south of Saipan. Keith was reported to be an extremely dangerous storm; both areas were expecting sustained winds in excess of 115 mph. This is the third such super typhoon to pass through the area in the past three weeks and comes just as American Memorial completed clean-up from super typhoon Joan. The heavy rains and extremely strong winds have caused major damage to the islands' vegetation and washouts along the shorelines, but no facilities have been damaged. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, AMME/WAPA, 11/2]
Super typhoon Keith passed over the island of Rota (65 miles north of Guam and 60 miles south of Saipan) at 4 p.m. on November 2nd with sustained winds of 190 mph and gusts to 230 mph. Both War in the Pacific NHP and American Memorial Park experienced sustained winds in excess of 100 mph (with gusts much higher) and torrential rains. War in the Pacific suffered only minor vegetation damage and lost electrical power late in the day. The visitor center reopened on emergency generator power yesterday morning; operations will return to normal when municipal power is restored sometime during the next several days. Park units are open for visitation while cleanup takes place. American Memorial Park suffered major vegetation damage and flooding and most of the restorations completed last week following the earlier passage of super typhoon Joan were destroyed and will need to be redone. Minor damage was inflicted on the stage building and amphitheater and some damage was recorded at the Court of Honor. Electrical power has not been restored and all facilities remain closed. Visitors are allowed along the beaches, but most roads and trails are blocked by downed trees. It will take at least three days to clear debris from the roads and open a majority of the park. A crew has been dispatched from WAPA to assist with the cleanup. [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA/AMME, 11/3]
Operations at American Memorial Park on Guam were suspended on December 16th (local time) due to the imminent arrival of the super typhoon. War in the Pacific NHS on Guam was closed on the 14th. Although no reports have since been received from either area, the Associated Press this morning reports that the typhoon struck Guam with sustained winds of 150 mph and much higher gusts - including one of 236 mph, the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth. There were no reported deaths, but up to 3,000 families lost their homes. Electricity was knocked out for nearly the entire island. The governor of the island has declared a state of emergency and asked the White House for a federal disaster declaration. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 12/16; Associated Press, 12/17]
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' inaugaration day ceremonies for the new in-coming governor and lieutenant governor took place at the park's amphitheater on January 12th. There was a flurry of activity before the event to rehabilitate the landscape in the park, which has been struck by four typhoons during this typhoon season. Among those on hand were members of the House of Representatives, the director of DOI's Office of Insular Affairs, diplomats, and consulate officers. An island-wide fiesta was held next to the amphitheater after the event and was attended by about 5,000 island residents. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 1/15]
A jogger reported the discovery of a body in a shallow channel in the park at 6 a.m. on the morning of June 13th. The victim was identified as D.A.S., 14, from Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia. Contusions were found on his face and there were abrasions on his nose, elbows and abdomen. D.A.S. had last been seen the previous evening at the American Memorial Park fair grounds. Various fights occurred during the carnival that evening, which was attended by about 1,500 people, and police were dispatched to gain control of the situation. Preliminary investigations indicate that he was attacked at the park's carillon, then dragged about 75 yards to the drainage channel. Security and police presence at the fair were both stepped up after the incident as a precaution against possible retaliatory gang activity. Local police are leading the investigation. There are no suspects at this time. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 6/15]
On the evening of March 5th, a park visitor reported an injured person behind the amphitheater. Rangers Chuck Sayon and Robert Mitsuyasu responded and found 30-year-old S.P. lying on a bench over a large pool of blood. He was unresponsive and bleeding from a deep laceration to his left wrist. A double-edged razor was found on the adjacent table. The rangers treated S.P. until local fire and ambulance personnel arrived on scene. Local authorities said that S.P. attempted suicide by similar methods last year. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. An investigation is pending. [Robert Mitsuyasu, Acting CR, AMME, 3/6]
Senator Thomas Harkin (D-Iowa) visited the park on August 18th and laid a wreath at the Court of Honor/Flag Circle in remembrance of World War II military casualties in the battles of Saipan and the Philippine Sea. A number of dignitaries from the Northern Mariana Islands also attended. The senator was given a brief tour of the mall and a history of the park. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 8/20]
Preparations are underway for the first significant typhoon to affect Saipan in almost three years. Typhoon warnings have been posted for the islands of Saipan and Tinian for Typhoon Saomai, which has sustained winds of 105 mph. The eye is expected to pass to the north and within 75 miles of Saipan at approximately 11:00 p.m. (local time) tonight. Park operations have been suspended until further notice. Commercial boats and private yachts are now seeking refuge in the park's marina. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 9/5]
Typhoon Saomai, which was forecast to pass north of the island of Saipan late last night, headed southward instead and became stationary approximately 150 miles southeast of Saipan and 185 miles east of Guam. It was downgraded to a tropical storm early Wednesday morning with sustained winds of 60 mph, but is expected to strengthen and regain typhoon status within 24 hours as it begins to move in a north-northwesterly direction through the Northern Mariana Islands chain. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Saipan, and a tropical storm watch is now in effect for Guam. Both parks are experiencing heavy local flooding. Park operations at American Memorial Park and War in the Pacific NHP remain suspended until further notice. Current predictions by the National Weather Service are for the typhoon to pass within 50 miles of Saipan to the northeast on Thursday afternoon. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, and Karen Gustin, Superintendent, WAPA, 9/6]
Two large earthquakes occurred near Papua, New Guinea, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. today (local time). The quakes, which registered, respectively, 7.8 and 8.0 on the Richter scale, led to the issuance of a tsunami warning for low-lying areas on Saipan and the northern Marianna Islands. The first wave was expected to hit at 6:30 p.m., the second around 9 p.m. Emergency managers in Saipan advised all residents to move to higher ground and await further instructions. Park offices were closed and the town of Garapan, located next to the park, was shut down. The warning was rescinded at 8:45 p.m. and all residents were allowed to proceed home. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 11/16]
Operations and preparations have been completed in the preparation for the arrival of Typhoon Pongsona, packing winds of approximately 125 mph with gusts up to 150 mph. At the time of the report (Saturday afternoon, U.S. time), the storm was located approximately 130 miles southeast of Guam and 205 miles southeast of Saipan and headed in a northwesterly direction at approximately 10 mph. The eye of the typhoon was expected to come within two miles of Guam and within 85 miles of Saipan. Heavy rains were falling and the wind was gusting. All operations at War in the Pacific NHP and American Memorial on Saipan will remain suspended until Tuesday. American Memorial's marina, designated as a safe harbor during typhoons, had been shut down and was full of large recreational marine and small commercial boats tied down and waiting for the storm's passage. [Submitted by Chuck Sayon, Superintendent]
American Memorial on Saipan weathered the passage of the super typhoon fairly well and reopened on the weekend, but War in the Pacific NHP on Saipan remains closed due to devastating island wide damage. Although all park staff are accounted for and no injuries have been reported, some have suffered significant personal property damage. Basic maintenance operations are being conducted from the park's maintenance shop. Most hotels have closed and expect to be out of business for the next three to six months. Water and power systems have been destroyed. Fuel shortages are now critical due to a fire in the storage tank farm at the port, which has been raging for the past several days. The Coast Guard is keeping all ships outside of the port until further notice. The airport has just resumed operations. [Submitted by Chuck Sayon, Superintendent]
The National Weather Service issued a typhoon warning for Saipan and
a storm warning for Guam this weekend due to the imminent arrival of
Typhoon Tingting. The typhoon was expected to pass just north of Saipan
yesterday, but could also pass directly over the island. The park
accordingly began making preparations. Operations were suspended at the
Smiling Cove and Outer Cove marinas. Boats from around the area sought
refuge in the former, as it has been designated as the only safe small
boat harborage during typhoons.
Typhoon Chaba, which earlier this week was predicted to turn north of
Saipan, instead turned south, slowed and strengthened into a super
typhoon with sustained winds of up to 180 mph. the eye of the typhoon
passed about 50 miles to the south of Saipan on Tuesday, devastating the
neighboring islands of Rota and Tinian. At the time of the report, about
20% of Saipan was without power or water. Large trees with a base
diameter of from three to five feet fell throughout the park, and areas
of the site was flooded. More beach frontage was lost, and there was
more erosion at the park's Outer Cove Marina — sufficient to
threaten to undercut building foundations and roads along the water's
edge. None of the vessels in the marina were reported to have been
damaged. The roofs of some park buildings were damaged, but all
employees are safe and accounted for. Meanwhile, War in the Pacific on
Guam, located 150 miles south of Saipan, sustained some damage, but not
enough to greatly affect operations. Super Typhoon Chaba comes in the
wake of Typhoon Tingting which passed 60 miles north of the island of
Saipan on June 28th and caused extensive damage during that
episode.
Typhoon Nabi is headed for the Marianas Islands. At the time of
the report yesterday, the center of the typhoon was located 110 miles
directly east of Saipan and was moving west at 14 mph. It was a Category
I typhoon, with sustained winds around 75 mph and gusts to 100 mph. The
eye was projected to come within 30 miles south of the island of
Saipan. The projected time of closest approach was 10 a.m. on August
31st, local time (5 p.m., August 30th, Pacfic Daylight Time). The
commonwealth government had already declared Typhoon Condition 1.
The low pressure system was only identified two days ago and rapidly
formed into a typhoon, catching many people by surprise.
Although Typhoon Nabi's center was projected to pass about 30 miles south of Saipan, the Category II typhoon suddenly took a northerly path and the eye passed about 30 miles north of Saipan on the morning of August 31st. Park buildings and infrastructure came through with little damage, and there was no damage to the park's marinas. There was localized flooding and downed trees. The island suffered without power for about two days and experienced a critical water shortage due to the lack of power to fill surface reservoirs for four days. Unfortunately, the annual island-wide Labor Day picnic, which draws from 1,500 to 2,000 residents to the park, had to be cancelled due to hazardous tree safety precautions in the picnic grounds. Park crews had the park back to normal within a week. [Chuck Sayon]
Ranger Sam Martinsen was patrolling the Outer Cove Marina on the morning of September 12th when he came upon a vehicle being driven by a man who was known not to have a valid license, as he'd received numerous warnings and three violation notices during the previous six months for the same infraction. Martinsen stopped him and was in the process of writing him another violation notice when the man began walking away and towards his boat. Martinsen ordered him to stop, but he kept going. Martinsen then attempted to stop him by getting in front of the man and placing his forearm against him. The man responded by hitting Martinsen in the face, lacerating his lower lip. He was placed under arrest with the help of park maintenance employees who were in the area. A grand jury was to hear the case yesterday. [Neil Akana, Special Agent]
Ranger Sam Martinsen was patrolling Outer Cove Marina on the morning of September 12th when he came upon a vehicle being driven by a man - P.O. - who was known not to have a valid license, as he'd received numerous warnings and three violation notices during the previous six months for the same infraction. Martinsen stopped P.O. and was in the process of writing him another violation notice when P.O. began walking away and towards his boat. Martinsen ordered him to stop, but he kept going. Martinsen then attempted to stop P.O. by getting in front of him and placing his forearm against him. P.O. responded by hitting Martinsen in the face, lacerating his lower lip. He was placed under arrest with the help of park maintenance employees who were in the area. Earlier this week, P.O. appeared at a change of plea hearing in federal district court and pled guilty to assault on a federal officer. In exchange for P.O.'s guilty plea, the federal government will recommend that the court impose a term of imprisonment not to exceed the statutory maximum of 12 months. P.O. is facing a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and one year of supervised release. [Marianas Variety]
P.O. was sentenced to 90 days in jail and a year's supervised release earlier this week for assaulting a ranger at the Outer Cove Marina last September. On September 12th, P.O. struck S.M. in the head, causing injury, when Martinen attempted to cite him for speeding. S.M. was on patrol in the marina when he saw a pickup driven by P.O., who he'd warned several times in the past for driving without a license. This time, P.O. was speeding, so S.M. pulled him over. The assault followed. P.O. was arrested and charged with assault on a federal officer with bodily injury. He subsequently pled guilty to a lesser offense of assault on a federal officer as part of a plea agreement. Among the conditions of his supervised release will be that P.O. will have to advise American Memorial Park personnel any time he intends to enter the park during the duration of S.M.'s tour of duty. [Saipan Tribune]
Three men have been charged in federal court for allegedly engaging in a conspiracy to steal portions of the metal lighting units from American Memorial Park, then selling them to a recycling center. D.C., 24, M.D.S., 35, and J.O., 52, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to sell government property and theft of government property. Ochcha was also charged with destruction of veterans' memorials. All three pled not guilty. J.O. was arrested last Friday, while D.C. and M.D.S. surrendered to the FBI last Thursday. The jury trial has been set for July 14th. According to the indictment, the men sold portions of the metal lighting units stolen from the park to the employees of Huang Zheng Recycling Center on several dates early last November. The units are valued at more than $1,000. [Saipan Tribune]
J.O., 52, who was recently indicted for conspiring with two others to steal and sell metal lighting units from American Memorial Park, entered a guilty plea in federal court on Tuesday. Sentencing was set for late October. J.O. was indicted with D.C. and M.D.S. for conspiracy to sell federal government property and theft of federal government property. According to the indictment, J.O. and his co-defendants committed an offense against the U.S. last November by conspiring with one another to steal and sell metal lighting units which are federal government property. The lighting units carried an estimated value of more than $1,000. J.O. was also indicted separately for destruction of veteran memorials. The indictment stated that on or about November 1st and 7th, J.O. unlawfully destroyed metal lighting units, structures and monuments located at the Court of Honor and on park property near the Beach Road entrance of American Memorial Park. The indictment added that J.O. accompanied D.C. on or about the morning of November 1st to sell a portion of the metal lighting units to the employees of Huang Zheng recycling center. [Neil Akana]
A federal court has sentenced D.C., one of three men accused of conspiring to steal and sell portions of the park's metal lighting units, to ten months in prison. After serving the prison term, the 24-year-old D.C. will be placed on three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to immediately pay $35,490 in restitution jointly with co-defendant J.O. and to perform 100 hours of community service. During his probationary period, D.C. is prohibited from using controlled drugs and consuming alcoholic beverages. D.C., J.O., and Masaioshy Daikichi Sallem were indicted for conspiracy to sell government property and theft of government property; J.O. was also charged with destruction of a veteran's memorial. The three were accused of engaging in a conspiracy to steal portions of the metal lighting units from the park and selling them to a recycling center in November 2007. D.C. and J.O. entered a guilty plea. J.O.'s sentencing is set for October 27th. Sallem has maintained his innocence of the charges. His trial is scheduled for October 20th. [Saipan Tribune]
M.S., 35, who was charged with conspiracy to sell government property and unauthorized sale of government property following the theft of lighting from the park last year, has been found guilty on both counts and sentenced to 21 months in prison. M.S. will be on supervised release for three years after he gets out of prison and was ordered to pay $35,490.40 in restitution to the National Park Service. Two other men who were also charged in this incident - D.C. and J.O. - were previously found guilty and sentenced. The case was investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the National Park Service. For a copy of the original incident report, click on the link below. [Department of Justice] HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3887"
The 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan last Friday - the fifth largest quake in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times stronger than the one that recently devastated Christchurch, New Zealand - produced a tsunami that crossed the open and came up on the shores of park beaches from Guam to the West Coast. No visitor or employee injuries have been reported. The following summarizes reports submitted from all affected areas: American Memorial/War in the Pacific - There was a two-and-a-half foot surge on Saipan and a half foot surge on Guam. [Dean Ross, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, WASO; Karen Gatewood, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, PWRO; Steve Chaney, Superintendent, REDW; Kim Coast, Acting Chief Ranger, GOGA; John Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO]
Although most media attention is focused on the imminent landfall of Hurricane Florence somewhere along the coastline between South Carolina and Virginia, three other tropical cyclones are or may soon be affecting parks in the western Pacific and Caribbean — Hurricane Isaac (Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico), Hurricane Olivia (parks throughout the Hawaiian Islands), and Typhoon Mangkut (War in the Pacific and American Memorial). The following reports are from parks in the path of Florence; the link below this summary provides a general overview of developments in all these areas. Source: NPS Hurricane and Severe Weather Response webpage.
Typhoon Yutu, which began as a tropical depression on October 21st, intensified explosively into a typhoon the following day and became a Category 5 super typhoon by October 24th. It passed over Guam, then struck the Northern Mariana Islands with 180 mile-per-hour winds that same day, making it the strongest typhoon to ever hit those islands. Two NPS sites were affected: American Memorial Park (Saipan) — Closures include the American Memorial Park Visitor Center, park restrooms, gates, and all facilities. All scheduled programs and reservations have been canceled. The park will reopen when it is determined all is clear and safe. For an overview of the impact of the typhoon on the Northern Marianas, see the Washington Post article below. Sources: NPS Hurricane and Severe Weather Response webpage, Washington Post.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: American Memorial Park — The park continues to recover from Super Typhoon Yutu. Over the course of two days last week, an off-island NPS sawyer team cleared trees from Micro Beach Road and the Outer Cove Marina area. Source: Saipan Tribune. | |