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National Situation Update: Saturday, March 11, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather Across The Nation

West: A deep trough in the upper atmosphere over the West Coast will produce snow levels as low as 500 feet in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 1500 feet in the Los Angles. Basin with rain and thunderstorms in the lower elevations. Rain and thunderstorms in Phoenix will bring the record streak of 143 days (since Oct. 18) without a trace of rain to an end. Heavy mountain snow is forecast for the Mogollon Rim north and east of Phoenix. This will be the most significant snowstorm for northern Arizona in over a year, as only a little over three inches of snow has fallen in Flagstaff all season. Rain showers, possibly mixed with snow are also possible in Las Vegas.

Midwest: An inverted trough extending northward from a low in Nebraska will produce snow in the eastern Dakotas and northwest Minnesota. The same low will produce severe thunderstorms in the Missouri and mid-Mississippi Valleys. On Sunday another system will move out of the Rockies with the potential for heavy snow in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, and severe thunderstorms across the Missouri and mid-Mississippi Valleys.

South: A cold front extending from the low in Nebraska will produce severe thunderstorms from northeast Texas to Missouri. Scattered thunderstorms are also forecast across parts of the Tennessee Valley and Lower Mississippi Valley.

Northeast: High pressure will dominate weather over the Northeast with temperatures 10-15 degrees above seasonal averages. (NWS, media sources)

Hawaii Flooding

Hawaii State and local authorities are assessing impacts of heavy rainfall and new flooding on March 8-9 following significant flooding on March 1-3. 

On Kauai, the Hanalei Elementary School and the Kuhio Highway at the Hanalei Bridges are closed due to flooding.  USGS river gauges indicated flood levels on the Hanalei River and the north fork of the Wailua River.

On northern Oahu, standing water is reported in already-inundated areas as recovery efforts are focused on flooding impacts of March 1-3.  On the Big Island, four schools and several roads are closed due to runoff and flooding.

Showers are forecast to decrease Friday night and Saturday; normal weather conditions are forecast for Sunday.

The State remains under a  March 2 Governor's emergency proclamation.  The Hawaii State EOC expanded to 24-hour operations until further notice.  The State has announced the planned March 11 opening of a Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center (DARC) in the town of Ka'a'awa of northeast Oahu.  Three shelters are open, one at the Brigham Young University of Hawaii campus in Laie of northern Oahu, and two at community centers on the Big Island.  State and local agencies are currently assessing storm impacts and repairing roads and services.

The Small Business Administration received a request for disaster services on March 8.  The FEMA Pacific Area Office is in daily contact with Hawaii State Civil Defense, and the FEMA Region IX Duty Officer in Oakland, CA is monitoring.  All immediate response requirements are being met at the State and local level.   No other Federal assistance requested. (FEMA Region IX)

Natural Gas Line Break

On Friday March 10 an eight inch supply line for natural gas was severed by high water on the East Fork of the White River in Seymour Indiana (Population 15,500), Jackson County approximately 80 miles south of Indianapolis.

It has impacted approximately 6,100 residents and several "Just In Time" suppliers to the automobile industry.  The utility is installing a temporary pipe and is expected to have repairs completed by Sunday night, March 12.  No hospitals or nursing homes are affected.  Schools may be impacted early next week as gas is restored.  The American Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter in a local high school gymnasium in case affected residents need sheltering.  There are no residents being sheltered at this time. 

No request for Federal assistance is anticipated. (FEMA Region V)

Volcano Activity

The current Color Code for Alaska's Augustine volcano is ORANGE.

Low-level eruptive activity continues. During the past week, the overall level of seismicity has increased. There have been periods of prolonged volcanic tremor and an increase in the frequency of small volcano-tectonic earthquakes. Block-and-ash-flows, rock avalanches and rock fall originating from the summit lava dome continue to be recorded by the seismic network, particularly at the east flank station.  (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

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

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity during the last 24 hours. (USGS Earthquake Hazards Program )

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2 (On a scale from 1 to 5).

Fire activity was heavy throughout the states with 379 new fires reported. Three new large fires were reported: two in the Southern Area and one in the Rocky Mountain Area. Five large fires were contained in the Southern Area.

Red flag warnings were issued for strong winds and low humidities in central areas of the Rio Grande Valley, eastern New Mexico plains, and west and southwest Texas.

Dry conditions and strong winds are predicted over the southern Rockies and the southern Plains. Windy conditions and low humidities should remain above critical levels over southern California and Arizona. (National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC))

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Joint Field Offices (JFO) for 1626-KS; 1625-SC; 1613-PR closed on March 10, 2006. (FEMA HQ)