This information is provided solely as a resource in dive planning and should not be considered a substitute for the normal planning and precautionary procedures undertaken by a qualified dive leader.  The information is subject to change and should be verified before every trip to this site.  We strongly encourage you to contact Breathe Deep SCUBA at 304-693-7282 (WV store) or  301-334-0672 (Deep Creek, MD store) to confirm diving conditions and emergency services.

For more information, contact those that mapped the site:

• Jim Egenrieder (webmaster), p: 703-527-3643

Latitude: 39 12' 40"
Longitude: 79 15' 30"
NE Corner of Mt. Storm Lake
1.5 miles West of Bismarck, WV on WV Rt 93
200 ft East of Dam breast
50 ft West of Public Access Boat Launch (keep away from the boat launch!)
USGS Quadrangle: Mt. Storm Lake, WV (7.5')

Mt. Storm Lake Information

Lake Built: 1962
Altitude: 3244 ft
Maximum Depth: 128 (depth will rise 3 ft in Summer 1997)
Distance from Washington Beltway: 145 miles

Directions from Winchester, VA:

US Rt 50 West to Mt. Storm, WV (57 miles)
WV Rt 42 South to WV Rt 93 (4 miles)
WV Rt 93 West to Mt. Storm Lake Training Area/Boat Launch (2.5 miles)

Local Dive Shop Information

Breathe Deep SCUBA at Mt. Storm Lake - Denny Savage

(.2 miles East of Dive Training Area)

• Phone: 304-693-7282
• Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm
• Services: Air and all dive equipment, but no O2

Residence: 301-334-0672

Power Plant Information

Owner/Operator: Virginia Power
Intake Location: (marked by 12 ft x 12 ft warning sign)
Intake Depth: 100ft
Returns (3) Location:
Return Depth: susbsurface
Return Maximum Volume: 234,000 gpm
Return Water Temperature: 100 F
Lake Temperature Maximum: 94 F
Lake Intake/Return Cycle (max volume): 2.5 days
Cycle Flow: Clockwise

Contents:

• Emergency Information - Sheriff, Pay Phones, DAN, Hospitals
• Dive Trip Emergency Planning
• Managing and Emergency

Grant Co. Sherriff: 304-693-7171
Oxygen/Backboard: Mt. Storm Fire Department (US Rt 50 and WV Rt 42) - Breathe Deep SCUBA no longer has Emergency O2 equipment!

Public Phones:

• Breathe Deep SCUBA shop (Rt. 93 East 0.2 miles) - Inside!
• Stained Glass Restaurant (Rt. 93 East 0.7 miles)
• Mt. Top MiniMart (BP Gas Station) Convenience Store (Rt. 93 East 2.5 miles) - Inside the store!
• Hours: M-F 5am - 11:30 pm
• Sat 6am - 11:30 pm
• Sun 8am - 11:30 pm
Hyperbaric chamber -  Call DAN at 919-684-8111

Hospitals:

Garrett County Memorial Hospital   MAP
251 N 4th St
Oakland, MD 21550-1334
Phone: (301)334-2155
Total Distance: (28.9 miles)

WV 93 East to WV 42 (2.5m)
WV 42 North to US 50 (4 m)
Go West on US 50 to US 219 (7.5 m)
Go Northeast on US 219 (8.9 m)
Left onto N 4th St
 

Potomac Valley Hospital    MAP
167 S Mineral St
Keyser, WV 26726-2699
Phone: (304)788-3141
Fax: (304)788-0496

WV 93 East to WV 42 (2.5m)
WV 42 North to US 50 (4 m)
US  50 East to WV 972  (13.6 m)
WV 972 North to US 220 (2.2 m)
Right on S. Mineral St.
 

Dive Trip Emergency Preparation

(Important: No cellular or digital phone service or 911 service available!)

Necessary
• Accident management slate
• Coins for pay phone
• Whistle(s)
• First aid kit and booklet
• Blankets
• Underwater compass
• Underwater lights
• Clipboard, paper and pen


Also important (ideal)

• 100% oxygen
• CB radio
• Binoculars
• Lines (130 ft) and stuff sack
• Marker buoys

a. Assess Situation - Special conditions/considerations of Mt. Storm:

• High altitude (3244 feet) - increased risk of DCI
• Warm water temperatures
• Moderate current
• Deep bottom sediment (12-18 inches)
b. Delegating and coordinating rescue personnel
 
• Consider other divers' training, physical ability, total number
• Tasks
• Spotter/observe victim in water
• Rescue divers
• Control search pattern (from shore)
• Contact help
• Recorder
c. Recording an emergency
 
• Name of diver(s)
• Dive profile
• Maximum depth
• Bottom time
• Ascent rate (fast, average, slow)
• Safety stop or decompression done/missed
• Dives in previous 48 hours
• Accident description (location, all details)
• First aid given and diver's response
• Further treatment
d. Missing diver search
 
• Assess urgency - question buddy
• Assign spotters - mark area last seen
• Confirm diver did not leave (auto, clothes, gear)
• Contact Grant Co. Sheriff: 304-693-7171
• Establish recall plan
• Send divers for underwater search - consider U-pattern due to current
• Send skin divers to mark search area
e. Victim assessment and care
 
Considerations - Divers at Mt. Storm face a higher risk in the following:
• Heat exhaustion/heat stroke due to high water temperatures (90+ in summer)
• DCI due to high altitude (3244 feet)

(a) Insufficient pre-dive acclimatization (6 hours)
(b) Failure to use high altitude tables
(c) Reduced maximum ascent rate (33 ft/min)
Primary Assesment
• Vital signs - rescue breathing, CPR as necessary
• Check for bleeding
• Check for shock
• Continue Circle of Care
Secondary Assesment - follow appropriate slate
• Investigate medical history - from patient, DAN tag, buddy
• Evaluate for DCI - Compressed gas injuries - consider high altitude
• Check for DCS or Arterial Gas Embolism Signs and Symptoms
• Monitor circle of care
• Lay diver horizontally
• Administer 100% 02 as soon as possible
• Seek medical aid immediately and consult DAN - 919-684-8111
• Assist with transfer to recompression chamber
• Allow fluids if conscious
• Continue to record all details
Immediate care to victim - from DAN Dive & Travel Guide
• Provide recue breathing and CPR if needed
• If diver did not breath underwater

(a) Probably not DCI
(b) Provide first aid
(c) Call for help if needed
•  If diver breathed underwater

(a) Treat as serious, consider DCI
(b) Call for help in management and evacuation
(c) Maintain appropriate position
(d) Continue 02, Circle of Care and Neuro evaluation
(e) Maintain contact with Sheriff or rescue squad
(f) Contact DAN
(g) Recheck techniques and consider urgent evacuation if no improvement

• If only mild symptoms are present (severe fatigue, itching not due to aquatic life)

(a) Place diver in recovery position, protect from heat, cold, further injury
(b) Conduct brief neuro exam
(c) Begin O2 with demand inhalator or non-rebreather mask
(d) Evaluate for other illness, treat symptoms as serious if no improvement
f. Psychological support
 
• Consider victim, buddy, witnesses
• Delegate if possible
g. Evacuating or transporting victim
 
• Air transport carries significant additional risk due to high altitude
• If a helicopter  is necessary, secure landing zone
• Continue Circle of Care
• Provide details of accident and treatment
h. Emergency follow-up
 
• DAN Reporting number:  919-684-2948
• Notify diver's emergency contact

Dive Site Information

Mt. Storm Bearing Buddy (an easy-to-use matrix)
 
 

Mt. Storm Diver Training Area Dive Site Map
(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view, print or download the map)

For More Information

Please contact Jim Egenrieder (jim@deepwater.org or 703-527-3643)