The impact of the events of September 11th have been felt at National Parks across the country. To provide you with a sense of the impact we have compiled a listing of the daily incident reports. This report is a listing of all of the incidents, primarily law enforcement, that have occurred at this park.

September 11 - Special Edition
The Secretary of Interior and the Director have each issued important memoranda regarding our reaction to today's terrorist attacks in Washington and New York. Both appear below.

First, an update on our friends and colleagues in the New York and Washington areas, Bob Martin, regional chief ranger for Northeast Region, has sent along this note: "We have been in contact with the parks in New York and can assure you that all of our employees are safe. However, Federal Hall, Fire Island and Ellis Island are all involved in providing support for this incident. The United States Park Police in New York are also playing a major role. We, in turn, are assuring that they have the resources and personnel they need." Meanwhile, no reports of any NPS injuries or property damage have come from the Washington area. We will keep you posted on developments with updates whenever circumstances merit.

"Emergency Operations Instructions," memo from Director Mainella to regional directors, dated September 11th. The text follows:

"In response to the tragic events of today the following actions have been taken:

"All Regional Directors in the Service are authorized, at their discretion, to reduce their staff to essential personnel only. Minimum operations shall include basic visitor contact services. Basic services should include updates on the incidents and access to television and radio news reports (if possible). Campgrounds should remain open as appropriate. Regional Directors may re-delegate this authority to park superintendents.

"The National Type I Incident Management Team has been activated and is assisting the Director in managing this incident. Regional special event teams, if they have not been, should be placed on standby.

"Superintendents are encouraged to alert their employees of the need for heightened security awareness. Regional offices and parks should coordinate their actions with local cooperating agencies.

"The Secretary of the Interior has announced that non-essential personnel need not report to work in the District of Columbia, New York City, or Philadelphia.

"Flags should be flown at half-staff immediately until further notice.

"All meetings and/or conferences scheduled to involve Washington Office personnel for this week have been cancelled.

"Contact telephone numbers for Washington personnel should be through Shenandoah Dispatch until further notice.

"NOTE: The public telephone system may experience problems."

September 12
National Park Service personnel system-wide are responding in many ways to the terrorist attacks yesterday on Washington and New York. Here's a summary, as of 11 a.m. today:

National Capital Region - The regional office, all of the downtown D.C. monuments and several parks closed yesterday. All but the monuments have reopened. Due to the extensive Park Police commitment, their involvement is reported separately (below). Fifteen rangers from Monocacy, Harpers Ferry, C&O Canal, Manassas and Prince William responded to a USPP request for law enforcement assistance. They formed up into two squads and staged out of the George Washington Memorial Parkway HQ area. One squad was positioned on the National Mall near the Capitol and at the Jefferson Memorial, mostly to enforce closures. The second was dispatched to the Columbia Island marina area. The Pentagon day care center evacuated about 50 children to the island, and the rangers provided support and eventually escorted them to a Virginia DOT center in Arlington, where they remained until picked up by their families. Catoctin Mountain Park, located near Camp David, was shut down yesterday and remains closed today.

US Park Police/National Capital Region - The Park Police have been placed on a heightened state of alert and have increased security and patrols around all monuments and memorials. They were evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. These closures are precautionary; no specific threats have been received. All personnel have been recalled and placed on 12-hour plus tours of duty. The chief's command post (CCP) was put into operation shortly after the second plane crash at the World Trade Center and prior to the plane crash into the Pentagon. As these events were occurring, USPP officers were called upon for emergency assistance by numerous agencies, including federal, state and local governments. They were called upon to evacuate key members of the Department of Interior, including Secretary Norton and her staff and Director Mainella. They also assisted the Secret Service with escorts for President Bush and Secretary Powell. The Aviation Unit provided primary aerial LE support to the Park Police and Virginia law enforcement ground units at the Pentagon and emergency medical transportation for victims at that location. The Secret Service requested full-time helicopter LE support for the White House grounds and escort coverage. The Secretary of Interior asked for the use of the Eagle helicopter for evacuation of staff from DOI; however, due to priority medevacs and commitment to presidential protection, that request could not be fulfilled. At the request of DOI's Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety, members of the USPP SWAT team provided escorts to a secure location for the secretary's staff. USPP officers also escorted the director and took her and her staff to a secure location. Due to the volume of emergency incidents occurring throughout the Washington metropolitan area (closure of the government; road, train and bridge closures; suspicious package/activity calls; etc), USPP put an emergency action plan into effect, which included the call-in of off-duty personnel, 12-hour shifts, and procurement of food and water. Officers responded to many incidents, including suspicious packages and vehicles; assisted the FBI with crime scene support; assisted the Pentagon's child care center with a group of stranded children evacuated from the building; and cleared the entire core monument area of pedestrians and vehicles. Road and pedestrian closures and increased patrols were put into effect and continued throughout the day. Some remain in effect. Other units were deployed to the White House and the Ellipse. Requests for assistance from federal agencies continued throughout the day and was provided when available. The Counter Terrorism Unit played a pivotal and unique role in the dissemination of information and coordination of the Park Police response to critical incidents. Working with the FBI's Counter Terrorism Task Force and Metropolitan PD, officers provided evacuation information, dispelled rumors, and coordinated crime scene assistance. Departmental staff also solicited information from members of this unit and employed them to communicate with the FBI. The ability of USPP to access this type of information during this critical time significantly improved the coordination of emergency services and the safe evacuation of DOI personnel and visitors.

The Washington Office has asked that ALL National Park Service areas contact the communications center at Shenandoah via cc:Mail to report the following to the Service's Type 1 incident management team:

Special events anticipated for each unit from today up to and including October 1, 2001. A brief description of each event should be included.

Any changes from or additions to the attached NPS park status report, as they occur.

Please relay this information as soon as possible.

September 13
Additional reports have been received regarding the National Park Service response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Those reports appear below.

Secretary Norton yesterday issued this press release regarding the reopening of National Park Service areas in Washington and elsewhere in the United States:

"Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced that the monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C., have been reopened to the public.

"'We are all saddened and horrified by the magnitude of the tragedy our nation has experienced. Our focus remains on the safety of our visitors and our employees. We must remain vigilant as we provide the American people access to our nation's monuments, memorials and parks for the solace and inspiration they provide,' Secretary Norton said. 'The Washington, D.C., National Park sites are a special inspiration to the freedoms all Americans hold so precious.'

"The Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorials reopened to the public at approximately 11:30 a.m. The sites had been closed yesterday after the tragedy at the Pentagon to ensure the safety of the American public, park staff, and the monuments and memorials. The Washington Monument, which has been closed for several months due to ongoing restoration work, remains closed.

"'We encourage everyone to draw inspiration from our greatest national treasures, and let them serve as reminders that this nation will endure and prosper,' Secretary Norton concluded.

September 14
President Bush has declared today a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks. The text of his proclamation follows:

"On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked America in a series of despicable acts of war. They hijacked four passenger jets, crashed two of them into the World Trade Center's twin towers and a third into the Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense at the Pentagon, causing great loss of life and tremendous damage. The fourth plane crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside, killing all on board but falling well short of its intended target apparently because of the heroic efforts of passengers on board. This carnage, which caused the collapse of both Trade Center towers and the destruction of part of the Pentagon, killed more than 250 airplane passengers and thousands more on the ground.

"Civilized people around the world denounce the evildoers who devised and executed these terrible attacks. Justice demands that those who helped or harbored the terrorists be punished - and punished severely. The enormity of their evil demands it. We will use all the resources of the United States and our cooperating friends and allies to pursue those responsible for this evil, until justice is done.

"We mourn with those who have suffered great and disastrous loss. All our hearts have been seared by the sudden and senseless taking of innocent lives. We pray for healing and for the strength to serve and encourage one another in hope and faith.

"Scripture says: 'Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.' I call on every American family and the family of America to observe a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, honoring the memory of the thousands of victims of these brutal attacks and comforting those who lost loved ones. We will persevere through this national tragedy and personal loss. In time, we will find healing and recovery; and, in the face of all this evil, we remain strong and united, 'one Nation under God.'

"Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 14, 2001, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. I ask that the people of the United States and places of worship mark this National Day of Prayer and Remembrance with noontime memorial services, the ringing of bells at that hour, and evening candlelight remembrance vigils. I encourage employers to permit their workers time off during the lunch hour to attend the noontime services to pray for our land. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in these solemn observances."

INCIDENTS
Washington Monument (DC) - The top of the monument has been closed to visitors due to pre-scheduled maintenance to elevators. Areas adjacent to the monument are open.

September 16
National Capital Region (DC/VA/MD) - The Park Police are continuing to provide the law enforcement support begun on September 11th. Officers remain on a heightened state of alert and are continuing their increased patrols around all monuments and memorials. The focus of these heightened security measures remains the protection of visitors and the country's national treasures. The patience of the public and the media during the past several days has made the job of the USPP that much easier. In addition to specific responses to emergency situations, which includes providing many high-level escorts and investigating numerous suspicious vehicles and packages, officers have met the demands of day-to-day operations. They continue to respond to calls for service, investigate crimes, enforce traffic and environmental violations, and assist citizens. USPP personnel remain on extended shifts, with days off cancelled. Two Park Police SWAT teams and USPP canine units have been deployed to Camp David and are providing presidential security. The Park Police helicopter continues to provide primary aerial law enforcement support to the USPP; it is also providing perimeter security checks in the District of Columbia, including bridges and overpasses, and monitoring the secure airspace in DC. Around-the-clock liaison is being maintained with all involved agencies, which entails having personnel assigned to each agency's command post. The Park Police chief's command post (CCP) was established minutes after the attacks on the WTC in New York and continues operation on a 24-hour basis. The CCP is supplying crucial "real time" information to personnel working on the front lines and at numerous command posts. Several PIO's have been assigned to the CCP and are providing 24-hour coverage, responding to all media requests. Live interviews are being conducted with area media to assure the public that all evacuations and closures have been precautionary in nature. They are disseminating press releases and providing information to local, national and international media. The Park Police have also provided Arlington County PD with a detail of officers to assist with security at the Pentagon. The detail will operate around the clock through September 20th. The Park Police honor guard participated in the memorial service at the National Cathedral on Friday on behalf of the Department, the Service and the Park Police.

• White House (DC) - The White House visitor center remains open, but White House tours have been suspended indefinitely.

September 18
The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country.

In order to help the Type 1 team meet this mandate and to facilitate communications with the field, the Morning Report is currently being prepared and disseminated from Washington. Incident and other reports should still be sent to the same email address.

The director has mandated that the team collect information from all NPS areas and provide it to her twice daily. Please see the informational copy of her memorandum to the regional directors below, which provides details on what is needed and when.

September 19
The following changes in the status of National Park Service areas and offices were reported yesterday:

Washington Office (DC) - Over the weekend of September 8th and 9th, portions of WASO (130 people from Administration and Natural Resources) were relocated from the Main Interior Building to new offices on G Street as part of the phased move associated with renovation of Main Interior. Yesterday, those offices began relocating back to Main Interior as part of a series of office relocations underway in downtown Washington in response to the current crisis. Communications with these individuals may be slow for a few days as offices, phones, and computers are reconfigured. The present target is to resume normal business by Monday. Your patience is appreciated. There's no word yet on when or where WASO may be relocated as part of the modernization of Main Interior.

Catoctin MP (MD) - The central portion of the park will be closed from noon on September 21st to noon on September 24th.

National Capital Parks (DC) - All monuments have reopened.

September 20
Washington Area

• National Capital Parks - All monuments and memorials are open; scheduled events will be held.
• George Washington Memorial Parkway - Partial closures are in effect.
• White House - The visitor center is open, but White House tours have been suspended indefinitely.

September 26
Members of the team in Washington are in the processing of making individual calls to every park in the nation to establish a comprehensive list of resources that can be utilized in emergencies if needed. About 230 calls have been made so far; more will follow this week. Callers are focusing on resources similar to those needed in past incidents, such as the floods in Yosemite and Hurricane Andrew. A report is due to Director Mainella by Friday.

The following is a quick run down of continuing closures:

• Parts of George Washington Memorial Parkway near the Pentagon remain closed.

September 28

• George Washington Memorial Parkway - Road closures around the Pentagon continue.
• President's Park - White House tours have been suspended indefinitely. The Ellipse is closed. The visitor center is open.

November 5

HOMELAND SECURITY
No incidents reported. Please see Director Mainella's memorandum below regarding employee safety and risk management.

MEMORANDA
"Our Concern for Your Safety," signed on November 2nd by Director Mainella and transmitted electronically to all employees. The full text follows:

"I know that each of us has become much more concerned about our personal safety and the safety of our families, friends and co-workers because of the acts of September 11th. While we have responsibility to protect and preserve our prized symbols of America's cultural and natural resource legacy, we have an even greater responsibility to ensure that we keep each other as safe as we can.

"We know the nature of risks we face and the ways we respond to those risks are frequently changing. But we want to share the best current information to keep you and our workplaces safe.

"I have asked Dick Powell, Chief of Risk Management, to help us be as informed as possible about issues, questions and concerns relating to biological and chemical terrorism. He is working closely with John Hanley and our U.S. Public Health Service officers to obtain and make available the best, most current information as quickly as they can.

"Our Risk Management website (http://www.nps.gov/riskmgmt/) will carry current information on these issues, including recommended mail-handling procedures. The site will be continually updated as new information and links to other helpful, related sites become available. If you have Internet access from your workstation or home, please bookmark the site and check it often.

"This week, we hosted Washington-area meetings open to all employees on mail-handling procedures and anthrax-related risks. The information presented at those meetings is also available on the NPS risk management website.

"I know a lack of information can lead to anxiety. By providing this information, we hope to reduce your anxiety and keep you and your families as fully informed and as safe as possible.

"In closing, I wish I could thank each of you personally for how well you have responded to the threats against our country. You are keeping our parks open, our programs advancing and going about your work with great resolve. You ARE 'unity, hope and healing' to America. I want you to know how deeply I appreciate that.

"Thank you!"

 Incident Report from all National Parks - (PDF file)
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