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National Situation Update: Saturday, July 22, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Intense Heat Wave in the Western U.S. This Weekend

West:This weekend, record highs are forecast for the Pacific Northwest from Washington to California. Highs in the 100+ are expected in Portland, Oregon.

By Sunday, areas in the Great Basin will likely have highs in the 100s, while the Central Valley of California and the Desert Southwest will have high readings 100-115 degrees.

Isolated thunderstorms with minimal precipitation are expected throughout the region on Saturday and Sunday.

Northeast: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are possible across the region this weekend. The heaviest rain may align from southwestern Pennsylvania to western Maine, but any part of the region could be doused with several inches of rain in a short time.

South: The intense heat of the past week will fade across most of the South as a cold front slides slowly southward into the region. The chance for showers and thunderstorms will increase dramatically. Locally heavy rain is possible from the Carolinas to south-central Georgia and over the Florida Peninsula.

Midwest: Thunderstorms and heavy rain will shift eastward from the mid-Mississippi Valley across the Ohio Valley overnight and Saturday morning, exiting into Pennsylvania and West Virginia Saturday afternoon. The next front will bring thunderstorms from the Great Lakes to the northern Plains.(NOAA National Weather Service, media sources)

Missouri Storm Damage Update

Another severe thunderstorm system struck the North St. Louis, St. Louis Metro area, St. Charles County, and Montgomery County mid-day Friday creating additional damages and power outages.  Damage assessments are currently being done in these areas.

The Governor of Missouri requested an expedited request for Federal emergency assistance as a result of storm damages that began on July 19. An Emergency Declaration was issued Friday evening to cover relief efforts in the City of St. Louis, and the counties of Dent, Iron, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Washington. The Emergency Declaration will provide funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures (categories A and B) including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, at 75 percent Federal funding. 

The State EOC has reported 54 injuries and 2 deaths. The City of St. Louis has requested the State Emergency Management Agency to assist them in finding an additional 100 to 200 nurses, support staff, and Renal Dialysis Specialists. The Dialysis centers in the area are on generator power.  Two (2) hospital Emergency Rooms are closed, four (4) hospitals are on emergency power, and two (2) hospitals are on diversion.

The Hazelwood Shelter in St. Louis County has evacuated their facility to the Jewish Community Center that will hold approximately 250 people.  The shelter population in Potosi is down from 140 to 40 persons. St. Louis City had two shelters opened and a third shelter was opened Friday. St. Louis County has one shelter. Total shelter population for all shelters was 472.

Washington County identified an immediate need for additional water and food in their rural areas.
 
The Potosi water pumping system is now fully operational.  Citizens will be advised to boil water to obtain potable water. The boil-water order for some county residents was lifted Friday.
National Guard troops and police officers in the City of St. Louis are doing a door-to-door search in the city to locate citizens that are in need of assistance. 

Numerous cases of carbon monoxide poisoning have been identified at area hospitals due to improper generator use.

As of 9:00 p.m. EDT Friday, approximately 570,000 customers in Missouri did not have electric power, an increase after the latest severe storms. At least half of the residents in the City of Potosi have had power restored to their area.

All ESFs have been advised with the following ESFs activated and supporting the RRCC:  ESF3-USACE; ESF-6-ARC; ESF-8-Public Health; and ESF-12-DOE (from D.C.).  Also have DoD available in the RRCC.  (FEMA Region VII, Missouri State EOC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:  No tropical storm formation is expected through Saturday in the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico. 

Eastern Pacific: At 5:00 a.m. EDT Saturday, the center of Hurricane Daniel was located near latitude 13.8 north longitude 129.7 west off the coast of Baja California. Daniel has maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and is traveling westward over open water at 12 mph. Daniel is expected to encounter cooler waters thereby gradually lessening in intensity during the next 3-4 days. Daniel is not expected to pose any threat to the U.S. or U.S. interests. 

At 5:00 a.m. EDT Saturday, the center of Tropical Storm Emilia (formerly Depression Six-E) was located near latitude 13.8 north longitude 104.0 west with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm is presently moving toward the north-northwest or 330 degrees at a speed of 7 mph. Emilia is forecast to gradually increase wind speed during the next 24-72 hours. On its current path, Emilia does not pose a threat to the U.S. or U.S. interests.

Elsewhere in the eastern Pacific, no tropical storm activity is expected through Saturday.

Western Pacific: Typhoon Kaemi (Six-W) is forecast to continue to strengthen as it moves towards Taiwan during the next 3-4 days. Based on the current forecast this system does not pose a threat to the U.S. or its territories. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 4 (On a scale from 1 to 5).
 
Wildfire activity was moderate nationally with 256 new fires reported.

Four new large fires were reported, one each in the Rocky Mountain, Eastern Great Basin, Western Great Basin, and Southern Areas.

Nine large fires were contained, two each in the Northern Rockies, Rocky Mountain, and Southern Areas, and one each in the Eastern Great Basin, Southwest, and Northern California Areas.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

Red Flag Warning:  For dry windy conditions in central western Oklahoma.

Fire Weather Watch:  For windy conditions in central Alaska.

There are currently 57 large fires reported, of which only 5 pose a threat to structures and other improvements. The remaining fires have either mitigated the structure threat or are located in remote areas. (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Missouri - FEMA-3267-EM-MO was declared July 21, 2006 as a result of severe storms that began July 19, 2006 and are continuing. This emergency declaration authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.  

The Missouri jurisdictions eligible for Federal assistance are: the independent City of St. Louis and the counties of Dent, Iron, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Washington. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation. Thomas J. Costello will serve as FCO.   (FEMA HQ)