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National Situation Update: Saturday, October 7, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West:    The upper-level system will move out northeastward into Montana while the rest reorganizes over the Southwest. At the same time, a cold front will move through the Northwest. Heavy rain will fall over parts of eastern Idaho and Montana. Scattered thunderstorms will develop over the central and southern Rockies.

Midwest:   Two cold fronts move over the Plains and Midwest during the next seven days. Southwest winds will be strong and gusty from Kansas to Minnesota and Upper Michigan. High temperatures will be in the Plains, Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Today, the region will be dry except for North Dakota.

Northeast:   On Saturday, the rain will become increasingly confined to southern Virginia. The northeast winds will gradually subside except over the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Peninsula and Tidewater Virginia.

South:   The upper-level low over the Mid-Atlantic will move through the Southeast over the weekend. Weak surface low pressure will sink southward along the coast from the southern Outer Banks. Today, aided by the high pressure to the north, gusty northeast winds will increase over North Carolina. Rain will fall across North Carolina and coastal South Carolina. (NWS, Media Sources)

Thousands evacuated in Apex can't go home yet

An explosion forced half of the town’s 32,000 residents to evacuate. Three fires are still burning at Environmental Quality North Carolina (EQNC), a chemical waste plant in the Raleigh suburban town of Apex, North Carolina. No major injuries have been reported, however at least 106 residents of a nearby nursing home were hospitalized, and others were admitted after complaining of severe respiratory distress.

At one point, flames reached heights of 150 feet, and a dark cloud hung over the town. To avoid toxic runoff and the threat to firefighters the fire has been left alone to burn its self out. Preliminary tests by air and water specialists have not found anything alarming. Residents had feared the blaze and explosions would send dangerous fumes in to the air over the city, but rain on Friday morning helped to wash the air of impurities.

The chemicals involved, and the cause of the explosion, have not yet been determined. EQNC holds permits to handle numerous toxic substances, including cadmium, chromium, mercury and hazardous organic materials. Residents hope to return to their homes soon, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not give the all-clear until the fires are out. (Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Central and Eastern Pacific:
Tropical storm formation is not expected through Sunday.

Western Pacific:
There are no threats to US territories or interests. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity to report.(USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2

National Fire Activity

Initial attack activity: Light (65 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 5
Area Command Teams: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1
Fire Use Teams: 0
2005 (1/1/05 - 9/29/05): Fires: 53,175; Acres: 8,160,688
2006 (1/1/06 - 10/06/06): Fires: 84,480; Acres: 9,079,745

Predictive Service Discussion: Warmer, drier weather is on tap for California this weekend. The storm system that has been along the West Coast is beginning to weaken while high pressure is starting to build over the Pacific Northwest. This will bring warmer and drier weather to California on the weekend along with gusty northeast winds over northern California. Mostly dry weather will persist across much of Florida and the southeastern states. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Interagency Coordination Center, Media Sources)

Bar Fire Complex in Trinity County, California is 51% contained. The fire has consumed 98,648 acres. This complex consists of three fires which are located 14 miles northwest of Weaverville. Three hundred and ninety-one residential structures are threatened and road closures are in place. Five hundred and thirty-five personnel are currently assigned to the fire. (NIFC, NICC, Region IX)

Disaster Declaration Activity

DR# 1662 Indiana was declared October 6, 2006 for Individual Assistance, due to severe storm and flooding incident affecting Lake and Vanderburgh Counties. Incident period September 12-14, 2006.

DR# 1661Virginia is amended to include the City of Newport News. (FEMA HQ)