Westminster Kennel Club 12 Feb 2019: Chris Erickson (& Fred Young too)

 

Chris judging terrier breeds previously at WKC

Many of you know my sister Chris Erickson will be judging the Terrier Group at  Westminster Kennel Club (New York) this next Tuesday (12 Feb 2019). Whether you know her as Christine Marie Young, Chris Freeman or Erickson, there is no denying she has earned this assignment.  As we were kids “raised-in-a-kennel” yours truly knows she has “paid dues” galore, working towards these well earned moments. I also realize she’d be the first to admit the great influence our parents (Fred & Margaret Young) had on her successes in “the dog biz.” I guarantee that they’re looking down from the big show in the sky proudly loving this.

                 

Fred, 2nd from left & parents

 I wrote about our Mom in this blog (May 18, 2015). So, I’d like to tell you about our Dad:  Fredrick A. Young 1924-1987. He was a unique character, beloved by many. Born in January of 1924 in Littleton, Colorado to Velma Littleton (yep- same name as the town) & Arthur Young. He grew up on a farm outside Laporte (Larimer County), CO near Fort Collins. Like many of his peers he journeyed miles on horseback to school uphill (both ways) fighting snowdrifts & blizzards year-round. When my grandparents lost their place in the Great Depression (I term it as “blown back to Oklahoma”), they divorced. Velma & Dad then moved to Glendale, CA. My parents met their first day at Glendale High School (GHS), during new student orientation. Mom, a recent transplant from New Jersey, noticed Dad’s popularity due to a group of boys laughing around him.  Much later he told me he was telling “stories” (aka- adult oriented jokes). 

4 generations: Dad holding me, 1948

Their generation of classmates grew up quickly: World War II saw to that. While still at GHS, Dad enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor: he was almost 18.  As a Coxswain he served in the Pacific and was part of the U.S. Navy efforts at several key battles, including Midway, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. During a short leave home in December 1943 he & Mom married.  He was 19, which she would be in another few days. 

After the war he took 2-weeks off before starting a 36-year career with Pacific Bell Telephone. He started as a cable splicer and quickly advanced showing an aptitude for communications engineering. I was their first born, followed by sisters Chris and Laura.

                  

He loved baseball, and was a fair pitcher in his day. He had a good “eye” for talent and scouting too. But his real passion was to bloom in the AKC Dog Show world. Starting with Boxers, my folks evolved into raising/showing Bedlington Terriers (which the Rockefellers also had). His “eye” helped him breed, groom and show some top winners. 

A young Bedlington pup we raised was my best friend “Tonto.” He grew up to be an International Champion and adorn the cover of Sports Illustrated (Feb. 1960). Later that year Dad was grooming a Kerry Blue for the ring at the Pebble Beach dog show when Senator John F. Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for President, stopped by and talked with him (his family had had Kerry’s too). He also campaigned his Mom’s (Velma’s) Norwegian Elkhounds to championships. At dog shows, I became known simply as “Fred Young’s son.”

                  

Malibu kennel

During the early 60’s we moved the family kennel from Burbank to Malibu. After 2-years Fremar Kennel moved back to Burbank- much shorter commute for him to work and me to school (Mailbu had no secondary schools at the time and I “rode the school bus” into Santa Monica .

                  

At Burbank kennel- Chris on right

1970 Great Western Terriers:
My Dad - Meme's Mom

Meme’s parents (Chuck & Ruth Medici) and my parents were good friends through dog show circles for years before we met.  Chris even got her “Erickson” name from Ruth’s nephew. Ah, the dog-biz: bringing some together and driving others apart. Dogs became such an important part of my parent’s life that they didn’t take normal vacations. My Dad would take his time off from work to show, or later judge, at dog shows.

                  

Chris w/ Mom & Dad

Fred & nephews

Dad loved entertaining and bartending: never outgrowing his love for sharing “true” stories (often quite embellished) and jokes galore. He also loved music, being especially fond of Dean Martin and Nat King Cole. Many a morning Chris and I would say good morning at the breakfast table and start singing “Rambling Rose” together.

Showing Elkhound

Our Dad loved a wide variety of sports (and any type of nature program), especially baseball. He was a true-blue Dodgers fan, listening to every game. At my high school commencement he came up afterward to introduce himself to the young lady I’d escorted to senior prom (she was Valedictorian, headed to Wellesley for college): he informed her how moved he was by her speech… so much so, that he turned the volume of Vin Scully’s broadcast on his radio (with earpiece) down as he listened to her.  In addition, he deeply conditioned me as a fan of the Rams, Lakers, USC Trojan football and UCLA Bruin basketball.

Laura on Morgan (Calif. Rangers)

He was a model “Marlboro Man” working and playing hard, a 2+ pack-a-day man. He went through life with an understated smile. When home on weekends, or after he retired from PacBell, he’d ride his Morgan mare before breakfast. I remember the day he quite smoking: he & I went to the Cubs vs. “Our Boys in Blue” game at Dodger Stadium. 

When he retired from PacBell, something both of his daughters would subsequently also do, he was able to spend a lot more time taking AKC judging assignments: first terriers, then hounds and eventually the other groups. He & Mom traveled widely, but usually associated with dog shows. All along he encouraged his children to participate in the AKC realm. 

Rangering at Tonto

I flamed-out: after Navy & college following the National Park Service Ranger trail. I was usually working most weekends while residing in some remote locations. However, sisters Chris and Laura picked up the batons and have been carrying them around the tracks for years. Chris raised and showed Wheaten Terriers (followed by Dachshunds) and Laura has spent years trying to mellow her generations of Australians (no-go). 

When he was diagnosed with lung cancer (1987) he told me it wasn’t the smoking that’d got-to-him, but the cocktail of smoking, asbestos and other exposures. Our kennel, where he spent a lot of time was in between a couple of chroming factories and a dry cleaner producing very bad (carcinogenic) air. In addition, he & I periodically fumigated the kennel house wearing the personal protection equipment for that time period: one cloth bandana worn over the mouth & nose. 

He was told in late June (’87) that he had cancer. He died Nov. 4, 1987. The support our family received from the Dog Show community was overwhelming. We’d lost our compass, but many “dog friends” were there to help show us the way forward. About 400 crowded into the chapel at Forest Lawn, the vast majority being dog-related friends.

Chris with Elkhound

Now it is Chris’ turn. She has been judging for years: way-to-go sis and on with the show. You deserve it. In show-biz parlance: “break-a-leg”

Bedlington Terrier pups
P.S./Note: Even though I didn’t follow in his footsteps at PacBell or dog shows, I know he was proud of all of us. He visited us where we lived and worked. When I was on the L.A. news, regarding an investigation of alleged coyote attacks of an equestrian on my district, he told me I came off as “very professional.” I’m still extremely proud of that accolade and proud to be “Fred Young’s son” and “Chris Erickson’s brother.”

Chris & her brother - a long time ago

2018 Remembered (partially)

2018 Remembered (partially)

As December creeps ever towards winter, from where the southern Rockies meet the high plains, we bid you good tidings and the warmest of 

SEASON’S GREETINGS,

We are in relatively good health: family and a few fine friends & neighbors to help us along. 

So, life is good…

Trunk Bay, U.S.V.I.

Phil’s past two Novembers were spent on fire assignment in Kentucky (2016 Daniel Boone NF) and post-hurricanes in Virgin Islands (2017 St. John). This year allowed a little more time for reflection (that can be good).  For those of you that have followed this update over the decades you’ll have noticed that we’re no longer regaling you with tall-tales of Justin’s 6^thgrade basketball scholarship to Princeton and pre-select for Harvard Med, or Meme winning the tennis Grand Slam (yep, all 4 majors in same calendar year) while being named USGS’ Water Employee of the Decade, or Phil leading the Denver Broncosto Super Bowl glory then the Dodgersto World Series supremacy in consecutive years, or one of us playing a duet and harmonica with Jimmy Page & Led Zeppelin on “When the Levee Breaks” (*- that timeless Holiday classic of comfort, hope & cheer: it can be heard at the link at the bottom of this message) and “Dazed & Confused” for the “Royal Family” at a New Year’s Eve concert: London’s Palladium. Must be that age is slowin’ us down, and for some reason we just can’t find a publishing house interested in our Memories of Underachievers. However, just to show we haven’t lost ALL our mental faculties, Phil wants to salute the Dodgers & Saints for their back-to-back championships.

Our solar panels

WE actually WENT SOLAR early this year: we have a roof mounted system from ”SUNPOWER by Positive Energy Solar” and we’ve enjoyed watching the electrical meter spinning clockwise with the monthly bill being just for the system connection fee. Love banking those energy credits.

The end of APRIL saw us in Pacific Beach for a 40^thwedding anniversary trip, and touching base with step-brother Charlie Jaramillo (Capt. with Alaska Airlines): we always enjoy that.

 

Hal Marcus and his work

In MAY, even though retired from USTA & College tennis umpiring, Phil once again helped at the State High School. Tennis Tournament and chaired the Girls 5A singles final (long 3-set match). The next week we were visited by Phil’s cousin Steve Riley and his girlfriend Pat: part of their 4-Corners area trip from Redding, CA.  This was followed by our El Paso trip to see Meme’s sister Pat Medici and her husband Hal Marcus:  Hal had a new art installation at a local medical center (some of you might recall he has pieces in numerous locations around El Paso, including Chamizal National Memorial).

Maple Canyon, Utah

In JUNE & AUGUST, Meme enjoyed rock-climbing trips to MAPLE CANYON (Manti-La Sal NF, UT). These were sandwiched around fire Safety Officer (SOF) assignments for Phil at Ute Park/Philmont Scout Ranch (Eagle’s Nest, NM), Weston Pass/Chateau (Fairplay/South Park, CO), and Texas Initial Attacks (primarily in-&-around “Hill Country”). So, two Texas trips: “What I like about Texas” (Jerry Jeff hits it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9otXXx_Zr3M).  

Unfortunately, while on Texas assignment, cousin Steve lost his home (as did all but one on his cul-de-sac) to the Carr Fire that consumed his part of northwest Redding – he had very little warning or time to flee, but he made it to safety “with the clothes on his back and his health.”  

In the latter part of August, Phil was at the Cougar Creek fire (Wenatchee/Leavenworth, WA), followed by late Sept./early Oct. at the Roosevelt fire (Bridger-Teton NF/ Bondurant, WY). Sometimes he was ordered as a “Team Safety” (like the last two), and other times as a SOF for a Division/Group on the line. With each one, he continued to marvel at the skilled & talented folks he was privileged to meet and work alongside; the Aussies he worked with at Cougar Creek were great assets. He is sometimes asked why he keeps going on these assignments, and the answer is “SERVICE- as long as I can be contributing and help emergency responders.” Of course, the money is very good too, but after a career it is sometimes just hard giving up being a Ranger.

 

Roosevelt Fire ICP

Uncle Bruce, Patrick, Phil & Steve

While at the Cougar Creek incident, Phil received word that his maternal AUNT VIRGINIA (“Auntie Ginny”) had passed away in Ventura. In between the last two assignments he was able to join family for a memorial service and a bit of reflection. Phil was fortunate to have vacationed as a kid with her and his cousins at seaside and national park locations, including Sequoia-Kings Canyon & Yosemite back in the 1950’s.  Many great memories: she was a bold doer, and will be greatly missed…

Meme - ascending wall

In October we journeyed to KENTUCKY, for a week at the Daniel Boone NF’s Red River Recreation Area. Meme enjoyed many days of rock-climbing with compadres that had driven, or flown, from Santa Fe. The areas around Slade & Beattysville have grown the past couple of decades into a world-class rock-climbing destination and we got to experience it during the “Wooly Worm Festival” no less: I don’t know if we’ll ever be the same, but bourbon helps Phil try. 

Senator Udall & Phil
(more in the Rangers pointing series)

He also continues to volunteer in archaeology & history with SiteWatch (stewards): in early May he got to co-lead a tour of La Cieneguilla petroglyphs for U.S. Senator Tom Udall and some of his office staff. The rock images are on BLM lands (public land just outside Santa Fe), and it is always good to be back in touch with our lawmakers (plus, he & Phil go back a ways to when he was the NM Attorney General & Phil was with the Interagency ARPA Task Force).

YOGA: Meme & Phil continue to study periodically with the greatest yoga instructor this side of the Pecos. Oh yeah, that is really close isn’t it: so, maybe she is the best this side of the Mississippi. That would be better…

NEXT YEAR (Feb., 2019): We have an opportunity to watch Phil’s sister Chris Erickson judge the Terrier Group at Westminster Kennel Club (aka “The Garden” - Madison Square Garden, NYC), followed by a trip to Cayman Brac (CB), BUT Greece is calling. Instead of NYC in February (the view on TV will probably be better) followed by CB (which we’ve been to before), we’re gearing for climbing, diving and arch-history in Greece and one of their Aegean islands.

Kalymnos - Greece (near Turkey)

JUSTIN has been doing some legal writing and appears to be on verge of starting a job with the NM Human Services Dept. as an attorney. He was happy that a law school classmate (Xochitl Torres Small) was elected to Congress. He says she is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. 
May our thoughts-n-prayers be with both of them. 

No matter where the holidays and 2019 find you, we hope you the very best of health & Happiness.

*- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiTs60VoTM

"Happy Trails to you..."

Texas Wildfires and flying home DFW to SAF

As I took seat 17A on AA #2848 from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Santa Fe  (SAF)last Wednesday morning, I noted that I was completing the last row and sitting next to a young lady and her two pre-adolescent sons that were across the aisle in seats C & D. I’d been gone for 16-days and looked forward to being home again (singing the Byrds tune “Get to You” in my head). The fire assignment had been an O.K. one, which I’ll tell you about in a few moments, but I had already identified those early signs of post-incident reintegration funk that often clouds my world: it often rears its ugly head the worst when I’m getting home and readjusting. Talking with the mom in 17B made a noticeable positive difference. I forgot to give her THANKS, but am way ahead of myself – more later…

Arriving at DFW on my travel day I found I had to wait (and wait) for the van to the Rental Car Center. Of course the van was standing room only with little room for my 4-bags: traveling with line & safety gear for a firefighting assignment is not a “light” adventure. The customer service rep for Enterprise was “super” getting me into, as requested, a 4x4 Silverado pickup. Then a quick departure to McGregor, Texas: where I checked-in at the ICP (Incident Command Post) for the “Texas A&M Forest Service” (TFS) 2018 Initial Attack assignment. For months Task Forces of firefighters and equipment had been staged at different locales around Texas. I was reporting to relieve the Safety Officer (SOF) that had been with Task Force 19 in the Hillsboro area. However, first I had to go through a PowerPoint “In-Briefing,” along with some engine relief personnel also headed to TF19: we’d become friends (OK, they put up with me over the next fortnight). I was provided a written & e-copy as well. That night I tied-in (fire speak for “met with”) with Ron, the SOF I was replacing. Ron had worked with me in 2002, when he was a SOF Trainee on the Rodeo-Chedeski fire in Arizona.

Ron & I met up with TF19 the following morning. It was comprised of a Division Supervisor (Div. Supv.), a Task Force Leader, 2-dozers (and “swamper”/ support), 3-engines, a facilities/logistics person and myself. By early afternoon we were off-to-the-races and the County Road (CR) 308 fire in south of Llano, while Ron started his demob/checkout process. I had heard for decades about some of the peculiarities of firefighting in Texas, as compared to “out west.” On the fireside of the equation the local VFD (Volunteer Fire Dept.) usually provided the Incident Commander (IC), with TFS providing operational leadership as aircraft (slurry bombers & helicopters for bucket drops) are brought in. The TF Div. Supv.  & I are to establish Unified Command with the above, which sometimes results in taking over a division instead.  Our logistics contact in the mean time arranges for motel rooms and meals. The rooms allow us air-conditioned rest at night after battling fire in 108-100F temperatures. Meals are brought out to us on-the-line was we work so we don’t use energy supplying ourselves (we’re expected to be self-sufficient when in standby at staging, but not when engaged in active firefighting). I give the Comfort Inn in Llano two-thumbs up for taking care of us while on the CR308.

The CR 308 fire was interesting for its work around a ranch’s herd of longhorns. After several days there, and fire containment for the most part, we were released and reassigned directly to the Harmon Road fire north of Copperas Cove, Texas.. It had blown-up growing tenfold. We were able to help contain and check that one. TF19 had a handcrew added to it. The Los Diablos  are a Type 2 Initial Attack crew, an international crew from northern Mexico with  leadership & sponsorship from Big Bend National Park. I had worked with them the previous November on St. John, V.I. They’re a very good crew.

While on the Harmon Road fire I saw several instances of a “only in Texas” fire apparatus: a small chair strapped to the bumper of an engine (brush or pumper truck) or water tender with a firefighter and hose sitting in the chair squirting the flames ahead. Fortunately, “Attack from the Black” is the safety rule of thumb they go be there, but it still rang of for a potential “Darwin Award” to me.  

After several days of progress we were again reassigned directly to the CR 108 fire north of Burnet, Texas.  There we were met by the TFS Operations Chief (Shane) we’d worked with/for on the 308. We also had John Philbin, a ICT3 that had been an ICT2 in Arizona: good guy. As we arrived on the line my Silverado received a light misting of slurry on one side as a SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker) finished his pre-treatment at the fire heel (near point-of-origin). NOTE: it comes off with some vigorous cleaning (windows easier than paint though). Much of the CR108 fire was on a ranch that specializes in exotic (African) game animals. Some very tall fences & gates to navigate. I found myself thinking: “Are these truly African animals without predators in the mix?” I decided they weren’t, being more zoo-like.

From the CR108 fire we drove north back to being staged in Alvarado near Hillsboro. When in staging you have to be ready for response, 12-hours per day. Though they were technically shorter than the 16-hour days when assigned to a fire, I can testify that the staged days were much longer. Geesh, they were long… 

After 14-work days I was sitting on a plane going home: why was I feeling down? I could probably blame years of concussions (primarily work related), but that is another post altogether. I already identified that I was coming from primary focus emergency operations to a world of what I’ll call “trivial pursuits.” So many focused on their phone. It didn’t help that the night before I’d waited 1.25 hours at the Rental Car Center waiting for a shuttle back to the Holiday Inn Express at DFW (was supposed to take 15-minutes; instead 3-calls and 5X as long + then they cruised all the terminals). Plus, during my Texas deployment my cousins Steve (Riley) in Redding, CA lost his home (and some pets) to the Carr fire. I just wasn’t in a “Happy Camper” place. Then some kind words and later a wave at the Santa Fe terminal turned my day-week around.  I learned she was a violinist, whose husband was in finance, living a short way west of DFW. Her sons were going for a weeklong visit with her parents that lived in Taos. They were all going to Meow Wolf that day, until her return flight home that afternoon; her mother had lived in Woodland Hills, CA while in high school (class of ’68 or ’69), just like Meme (class of ’75), and her father (Canoga Park) had worked as an engineer for Lockheed (ah, the Burbank connection). Anyway, many THANKS to the lady that sat next to me, for helping me to a better place. Hope everyone has a great day/week/month…

https://sierranewsonline.com/what-happens-at-the-incident-command-post-on-a-wildfire/

“Good Morning”: Some of my Hurricane Irma & Maria recovery musings (Virgin Islands NP)

Reef Bay

Good Morning (Afternoon, Evening, or Night- whenever you’re reading this)!

I spent most of the month of November away from home (11/1-29) on Hurricane recovery assignment- St. John Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands National Park). It was an once-in-a-lifetime experience (really!). The Islands had experienced two Category 5 Hurricanes within 2-weeks, leaving them in many cases without adequate water, food, shelter, fuel, electricity, etc. The residents maintained their incredible positive nature through continued greetings of “Good Morning” (or whatever the appropriate time or “Good Day” would be). The people are what made the sojourn fantastic. I’d like to share a few of my experiences there with the phenomenal people and places of St. John. First however, I’d like you to please read this as a preface: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2017/12/hurricanes-recovery-and-resiliency-caribbeans-national-parks

And view this: https://www.facebook.com/virginislandsNPS/videos/1989376967758076/

“The Good”… (and there was plenty of that)

An amazing amount of recovery work was accomplished during my brief stay on St. John. BBC Electric (from Missouri) seemed busy day & night bringing electrical power back to sections of the 4 x 8-mile island. The NPS Incident Management Team (IMT) I was the Safety Officer for was a composite IMT (personnel were from all across the country- Puerto Rico & V.I. to Alaska). Of course we weren’t alone in our recovery efforts:  Global NGO D.I.R.T (Disaster Immediate Response Team) was present, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Coast Guard, Army Corp of Engineers, Bloomberg L.P., Kenny Chesney’s Love For Love City Foundation, The American Red Cross, The Small Business Administration, and many, MANY others. More about these organizations, and how to donate, is addressed below.

Our IMT Vets working 11-11-17

It is oft noted that there is no “I” in “team”. In this case there were a lot of I’s (and “eyes”) with this IM Team. To say folks were proactive in helping us all achieve our incident objectives (#1 being safety) would be a gross understatement. The daily efforts of the NPS IMT centered around the areas of facility stabilization (roof, building  & electrical repairs, mold mitigations & removal), roads & beaches (debris removal & emergency repairs for access/use), marine operations (replacing & repositioning navigational, commercial and public buoys; removing terrestrial debris, like house roofs, from park waters & reefs), displaced vessels (close to 100 of those damaged were in park waters, many on sensitive reefs), cultural & natural resource assessments and emergency stabilization (hundreds of sites, historic structures & artifacts), and facility operations, trying to get the park back to a semblance of normal activity.

                

Displaced boats 

  Many of the park’s staff had been displaced too: some from their homes, others from their jobs and positions. Some found temporary or permanent reassignments at other NPS locations (more about that under “The Bad”). Remaining employees included 22 that needed daily assistance from the Red Cross to provide food for their family. Many employees returned to work, and they were some of the many “good things” I experienced while there. Regional NPS management also designated our IMT Liaison Officer as the “Acting Superintendent.” He was from the RO in Atlanta and a good choice!

                 

Hawksnest Beach pile

A great amount of effort was expended opening roads, trails & beaches. We heard that 90% of the local economy was beach driven: so as the beaches are, so shall businesses be. The Westin Resort was shut down due to storm damages, and expected to be closed for six-months. The world famous Caneel Resort (developed by the Rockefeller family: they were “players” in creating this park too), is “a total loss”. Situated on an isthmus of white sandy beaches it attracted visitors from afar. The property abutted Honeymoon Beach (which also brought young & older lovers alike). 

Los Diablos (Big Bend NP)

During my 28-day tenure we opened three beaches (Honeymoon, Hawksnest, and Trunk Bay) and got another (Cinnamon Bay) ready to open (strategic timing). GRTE Trail Crew members were also working on safety features at prime heritage areas, foremost Annaberg Mill.

                 

“The Bad” (not so much: "we-be-bad" = good, right?)

Storm destruction and devastation, certainly: the east end of St. John has a community at Coral Bay where a wind gauge reportedly broke at over 225 miles per hour (hit by one of more than 25 tornadoes within the storm). Lives and dreams were shattered and ripped apart. A place where mariners normally went to shelter from the “Big Winds”, called “Hurricane Hole”, became a graveyard of sunken memories.

In addition to the storms, there were also some actions by a couple of NPS employees that were less than stellar. The positive ones overwhelmingly outweigh the bad behaviors. So, let us remember those.

There was a long list of hazards and potential health & safety issues that faced everyone. We really couldn’t fit in all of the mitigations into a one-page risk analysis (215a form), so developed a packet of safety information that was handed to arriving resources at check-in. Information about Zika and other blood borne diseases was also sent out to potential responders by the Emergency Incident Coordination Center. Unfortunately, that happened after some of us arrived, but as the old adage goes: “better late, than never…”

Back to “The Good” (or even “The Great”)

                 

An enormous amount of trees and vegetative debris needed to be cut and removed from homes, roads, trails, and beaches. The NPS’ Arrowhead Interagency Hotshot Crew (Sequoia Kings Canyon NP or SEKI as the park’s 4-letter designator goes) was first on scene at VIIS, followed by Los Diablos (Big Bend NP), and a Type 2 Initial Attack (IA) fire crew from Puerto Rico that had five fire-rolls out west this year (one was 48 days). You can literally say of them: have saws, will travel. Superb works performed by these crews: cutting & stacking, then removing and opening areas. Hundreds of cubic yards of vegetation were treated (and tons of materials), including the Manchineel tree (aka “death apple”) considered the deadliest tree in the world. FEMA actually contacted us, asking for safety briefing materials on this. Trails crews from SEKI and Grand Teton NP (GRTE) also helped open access to sites and beaches. Some amazing crafts-person-ship was performed.

                 

The Lind Point housing area and other residences and structures became projects for facility crews and specialists from Great Smoky Mountains (GRSM), Gettysburg (GETT), and Yellowstone (YELL)… to name a few. They worked to provide emergency roof repairs, applying Tough Coat treatments, mold mitigations & removal, and repairs to electrical & water systems: starting the long road back to inhabitability.

                  

SMOG at VIIS

Our Special Marine Operations Group (SMOG) was assisted by the presence of Marine Vessel (MV) Fort Jefferson. It is the 2^nd largest MV in the NPS fleet. Normally making runs from Key West, FL to Dry Tortugas NP, it was a valuable resource for our hurricanes recovery efforts in the Caribbean. They brought 22-tons of relief equipment and supplies to Puerto Rico (PR), and made regular runs between PR and the V.I. (imagine our surprise when 2-months later we received a bill from the authorities in PR for $37k, in docking fees: no joke). The Ft. Jeff was an integral part of our relief efforts. Its support of the diving operations was also significant.

Ed Henson (IT) & JD Swed (Deputy IC)
at Honeymoon Beach stairs

IT Specialists from Lake Mead (LAME) helped restore WiFi systems for the IMT and the public to communicate with. They also brought the Virgin Island NP telephone system back to usable status.

Archeology Lab-Heritage Educ. Ctr.
(Remains- Cinnamon Bay)

The CRM Specialists made great progress assessing damages to our heritage resources and developed stabilization plans. The park lost the oldest structure from wind and storm surge: it had served as the Archeology Laboratory & Heritage Education Center, located at Cinnamon Bay beach. Annaberg Plantation and Mill was also the site of stabilization efforts in order to get the area back safely accessible to the public. Some of CRM's many efforts were documented at: https://www.facebook.com/virginislandsNPS/videos/2000968853265554/ and https://www.facebook.com/virginislandsNPS/videos/2008947435801029/

Whatever I say about BBC electric, it won’t be enough. Their crews kept working on the restoration of electrical power day-after-day. Their deployment schedules long exceeded ours (like the Army Corp: 45-90 days at a time). When it was noticed that the parks radio system (which had not been operational for two years) HQ antenna was dangling by a cable, a Liaison Officer contacted them and they not only mitigated a very dangerous safety issue at a public entrance, but they came back and hoisted our Communications Unit Leader up to make longer-term repairs (way-to-go BBC!). When I asked a BBC crew one day at Trunk Bay what their most unexpected hazard was they stated: “the steepness of the terrain… and the many centipedes and scorpions.” I felt like I hadn’t left home. Good works everyone…

The hospitality and support provided by V-Islanders “blew my mind”. Truly warm & welcoming. Local markets donated fifty turkeys for a community Thanksgiving potluck in St. John’s Cruz Bay public-park. The challenge was finding 50 ovens, but they pulled it off and good times were delicious and plentiful. Most Sunday evenings found local musicians playing in the same space: magic times. Yes, I did leave a couple of Divine Dog Wisdom card decks behind…

JD Swed photo

NOTE: I didn’t use individual’s names because there were so many to acknowledge. I didn’t want to forget anyone (my bad), but one individual I need to mention is JD Swed. Not just because we go back 40-years (and times in between), but because he reached out and checked on my availability to be part of this incredible IMT that was put together (much like in prep for Katrina), In addition, his tireless efforts for 60+ days as Operations Section Chief (OSC), then Deputy Incident Commander and back again to OSC across 3 IMT’s was amazing, and certainly worthy of a “Safety Dude Doo Dah Award” (the check and award are in the mail amigo). I also didn’t include an “Ugly” category, reserving that for me: remembering my nickname from Frosh year of college (Glendale CC): “Big Ugly” or “Ug” for short.  

Grand Teton Trail Crew

About organizations and where you can donate (if you wish):

Global D.I.R.T- http://globaldirt.org

To donate: http://globaldirt.org/donate/

Love For Love City Foundation- http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kenny-chesney-loses-home-hurricane-irma-launches-foundation/story?id=49769695

To donate: https://kennychesney.com/news/448917/hurricaneirmamessage

Friends of Virgin Islands NP- https://www.friendsvinp.org

To donate: https://www.friendsvinp.org/donate

Employees & Alumni Association of the National Park Service- www.eandaa.org  to donate, select  “Disaster Relief Fund” bar.

Michael Bloomberg’s involvement- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/21/how-michael-bloomberg-landed-center-virgin-islands-hurricane-recovery/880401001/

My heart remains with ALL of the employees of Virgin Islands NP & the residents of St. John Island. HAPPY HOLI-days! Safety Dude will never forget y’all…

Trunk Bay beach

Intermountain Region IMT in Dec.