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National Situation Update: Thursday, April 13, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West: The tail end of a cold front will produce only a few light showers today in northern and central California.  However, more widespread and somewhat heavier precipitation is forecast Friday for all of California. The front will produce a few showers will over the interior Northwest and northern Rockies but nothing very significant. A second system moving ashore over the Canadian Maritimes will produce a steadier rain is in western Washington and northwest Oregon.

Midwest: Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Midwest during the day with more significant activity during the evening over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Temperatures will be unseasonably warm with high temperatures ranging from the 50s in the northern Lakes and northeast Minnesota to the record 90s in Kansas.

South: Outside of a slight chance of a stray thunderstorm in Tennessee, the South will remain dry and very warm. Temperatures will be unseasonably warm with high temperatures ranging from the 70s along the Atlantic Coast to the 90s in much of Oklahoma and parts of Texas. Record or near-record highs are possible in parts of Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

Northeast: The weak cold front moving eastward will produce only scattered light showers in the Northeast with little precipitation expected south of Pennsylvania. (NWS, Media sources)

California Flooding and Levee Control Update

Flooding continues in some areas, causing damage to homes, roads, water systems, and other infrastructure, and State and local authorities are responding to assist the victims.  However, it now appears that the "critical attention" status of the levee system is beginning to abate, and that the immediate danger of more serious flooding in threatened areas may have passed.  Nevertheless, the levee system as a whole is still under a great deal of stress, and it will remain under stress for at least the next 2 to 4 weeks.

The three riverine systems under the greatest stress at this time are: the Sacramento River Valley System; the San Joaquin River Valley System; and the Delta System, where waters from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet and flow into the San Francisco Bay.

Key vulnerabilities of these three systems include:

• Sacramento River Valley System:  A high-risk area with significant potential for evacuation and rescues, high economic costs, and damage to critical infrastructures.  The potential vulnerable population is approximately 220,000.
• San Joaquin River Valley System:  Areas at risk of flooding are mostly agricultural lands, including dairy farms and vineyards.  The most critical issues are vulnerable populations and livestock.
• Delta System:  A low-population area, but one where an earthquake could cause levee failures that could potentially impact the State's Central Valley Water Project, which provides potable water to approximately 22 million Californians.

There is no request for Stafford Act assistance at this time.  FEMA Region IX continues to work with the State Office of Emergency Services, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and other Federal, State, and local agencies in support of hazard assessment and contingency planning.  (FEMA Region IX)

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

The country is currently at National Preparedness Level 2 for wildland fires, on a scale from 1 to 5.   (One region of the country experiencing high fire danger, wildland fire activity occurring, and a potential for escapes to larger fires.)

Wildland fire activity was moderate throughout the nation yesterday with 249 new fires reported. Ten new large fires were reported: one in Florida, one in Minnesota, two in Missouri, one in North Carolina, two in Oklahoma, and three in Texas. Three large fires were contained: one in Minnesota and two in Missouri. (NIFC, NICC, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1636-DR-AR for Arkansas was declared Tuesday, April 12, 2006, for Severe Storms and Tornadoes that occurred during the incident period April 1-3, 2006. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Carlos Mitchell.
Individual Assistance has been designated for Conway, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph, and White Counties. Public Assistance: None Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been designated for: Conway, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph, and White Counties. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

Effective April 12, 2006 the major Disaster Declaration for the state of Tennessee (FEMA-1634-DR-TN) is amended (#2) to; add Fayette County for Public Assistance;  Dyer and Gibson Counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); all counties in the State of Tennessee are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant program.

Effective April 12, 2006 the major Disaster Declaration for the state of Missouri (FEMA-1631-DR-MO) is amended (#3) to; include Bollinger, Daviess, and Ray Counties for Public Assistance; Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cedar, Greene, Henry, Hickory, Iron, Morgan, Perry, Pettis, Putnam, Randolph, Saline, St. Clair, Webster and Wright Counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); Bates, Christian, Howard, Monroe, and Montgomery Counties for Public Assistance [Categories C-G] (already designated for Individual assistance and Debris removal and emergency protective measures [categories A and B] under the Public Assistance program; Washington County for Public Assistance [Categories C-G] (already designated for Individual assistance and Debris removal and emergency protective measures [categories A and B] under the Public Assistance program. (FEMA HQ)