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National Situation Update: Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

West Coast Stormy on Tuesday - Dry and Sunny on the East Coast

West:  Heavy rainfall and gale force winds are expected to continue to hit the West Coast of California, Oregon, and Washington on Tuesday. Heavy rains (up to 8 inches) are forecast in several parts of California including the Los Angeles area. Flooding is possible in areas of California that have been affected by wild fires. The mountainous areas in the Pacific Northwest will receive light snow accompanied by high winds throughout Tuesday. Heavy snowfall is forecast for the mountains in Montana and Wyoming. The storm system is forecast to move eastward on Tuesday into Utah and Nevada. Rain is expected in Phoenix, Arizona, which has not received any rainfall since October, 2005. Highs will range from the 30s in northern sections to the 80s in New Mexico.

Midwest:  Most of the Midwest will be dry on Tuesday. High temperatures will range from the 20s in North Dakota and Upper Midwest to the 70s in Kansas and Nebraska. Some cold weather and light precipitation may cause slippery highways on Wednesday in the Upper Midwest.

Northeast:  The Northeast is expected to be dry and chilly on Tuesday. Highs will range from the teens in northern New York and northern New England to near 60 in southern Virginia.

South:  The South will see dry, warm, and sunny weather on Tuesday. Highs will range from the 50s in the southern Appalachians to the 80s in Oklahoma and Texas. Critical wildfire conditions may develop in Texas. (NWS, Media Sources)

California Concerned About Conditions of the State’s Levee System

On Wednesday, February 22, 2006, California's governor toured the Central Valley levees with a Congressional delegation to review the current state of the levees after the severe storms that hit Central and Northern California in December 2005 and January 2006.  After seeing first hand vulnerabilities during this tour and receiving additional information from the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), the governor issued an emergency proclamation on February 24, 2006 to request federal assistance in expediting improvement and repair projects on critical sites in the levee system.

As noted in the Governor's proclamation, the USACE and California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have identified 24 critical erosion sites on project levees in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Flood Control systems that need to be repaired before a catastrophic levee failure occurs. The flood control system consists of 1,600 miles of levees.

The potential impacts on communities could be catastrophic; the 1997 floods alone forced more than 120,000 individuals from their homes. If certain levees were to fail, the six counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba could be severely impacted. The total population for the six counties is three million (2000 census). The most vulnerable communities are in the Greater Sacramento area with 1.5 million residents. To the far south, Vallejo with a population of 116,760 is also potentially at risk if multiple levees failed.  (State of California Governor's Office)

Volcano Activity

The Alaska Volcano Observatory indicates the Augustine Volcano activity may be coming to an end. All indicators provide evidence that activity is slowing down. The Color Code for Augustine is still ORANGE. Seismicity remains at low levels but is still above background. Small avalanches and rock falls continue to be recorded.   (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

During the previous 24 hours, several earthquakes have been recorded in different parts of Alaska including a 5.0 magnitude quake in the Andreanof Islands (Aleutian Islands). No reports of damages or injuries.  (USGS Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

A major disaster was declared by the President on February 27, 2006 for the State of Idaho (FEMA-DR-1630-ID) for damages caused by severe storms and flooding during the period of December 30, 2005 through January 4, 2006. Owyhee County is eligible for Public Assistance. Dennis Hunsinger has been designated as the Federal Coordinating Officer. All counties in Idaho are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.
 
An emergency disaster was declared by the President on February 24, 2006 for the State of Maine (FEMA-EM-3265-ME) for damages caused by snow storms during the period of December 25-27, 2005. FEMA intends to provide assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B) under the Public Assistance program to save lives, protect public health, and protect property. The emergency assistance will be provided for any continuous 48 hour period during or approximate to the incident period for Aroostook County. Peter J. Martinasco has been designated as the Federal Coordinating Officer. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

FEMA-EM-3212-LA Amendment number 2 provides notice that the incident period for this emergency is closed effective November 1, 2005.

FEMA-EM-3213-MS Amendment number 1 provides notice that the incident period for this emergency is closed effective October 14, 2005.

FEMA-EM-3260-LA Amendment number 1 provides notice that the incident period for this emergency is closed effective November 1, 2005.

FEMA-EM-3261-TX Amendment number 2 provides notice that the incident period for this emergency is closed effective October 14, 2005.

FEMA-EM-3264-MA Amendment number 1 provides notice that the incident period for this emergency is closed effective October 22, 2005.  (FEMA HQ)