• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Friday, October 13, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Commercial Aviation ORANGE

National Weather Summary

Midwest:
A strong area of low pressure in the northern Great Lakes region is heading south, bringing plenty of cold air into the Midwest and southern Great Lakes region. Parts of Michigan have already picked up 6 to 10 inches of snow, and will continue to see snow showers from the Great Lakes area. This will end the growing season for Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cincinnati and Cleveland as temperatures drop to below 32 degrees.

Northeast:
Parts of western New York will receive several inches of wet snow, allowing trees with leaf-filled branches to break easily, which may affect power lines and cause power outages. Colder air is expected in the Northern and Eastern Seaboard regions and Chesapeake Bay area and will be much cooler in the major metro areas.

South:
A cold surge of air will drop temperatures across much of the South, with lows in the 30s and 40s from Oklahoma and northern Texas to the western Carolinas. South Texas will have more showers and thunderstorms.

West:
Showers and a few thunderstorms over Southern California are predicted for today with cooler temperatures increasing for the Northwest south into the southwest. Increasingly colder air is forecasted southward into Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Locally heavy rain over the burn areas of California could cause flooding and land slide problems. Precipitation should spread into Arizona and New Mexico over the weekend. The rain and thunderstorms will shift across parts of Nevada and the Four Corners' States Saturday.

Valdez, Alaska, Isolated Due to Flood-Damaged Highway

While some of Alaska's evacuated residents are now being allowed to return to their homes, the southern Alaskan city of Valdez remains isolated as the only highway in or out of town remains impassable.

In two days the area received between eight and ten inches of rain with more than six inches of rain falling in one 24 hour period, prompting mudslides and flash flooding. The Richardson Highway saw severe damage from the flash flooding and road crews are working quickly to repair it. Valdez is home to 4,400 residents, and the only ways in and out of town are via ferry, airplane or the Richardson Highway. Officials have increased daily ferry service in order to bring supplies to the city, as current estimates are that the Richardson Highway may not be able to open for another seven to 10 days.

Extent of damage to private homes is unknown at this time, as many smaller creeks and streams flooded their banks during the storm. City workers are trying to reach all the isolated residents who live along the highway and are now stranded. Officials also say those within the city limits should boil their water before consumption.

The city of Cordova - south of Valdez - saw at least 22 inches of rain in only a few days, according to the National Weather Service. High water cut off the main highway into town and the Cordova airport is also flooded. The area also saw severe flooding in August.

In response to the recent flooding in Alaska Seward and Kenai Peninsula Borough activated their Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) to coordinate local response activities. The State has been running a 24 hour operation of the State Emergency Coordination Center. Local Communities have responded with appropriate disaster response teams. 

A FEMA Region X State Liaison Officer is deployed to Anchorage, and in daily contact with Region X.  Region X is anticipating a formal request for a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) beginning on October 16, 2006.  (FEMA Region X, Media Sources)  

Franklin, VA Flood Cleanup

As a result of encroaching floodwaters, Franklin, Virginia has been closed to all but evacuees since October 9, 2006.  Franklin Police, assisted by Virginia State Police, cordoned off downtown access completely following a fuel spill that put gasoline and kerosene in the water and filled the air with potentially explosive fumes. According to City Officials, the waste water treatment plant in Franklin could be shut down for about three weeks. Raw sewage will flow untreated from the Blackwater River through communities for more than 80 miles to the Atlantic Ocean until the water treatment plant reopens. Four teams of inspectors will look at 105 homes and businesses today, and then disinfect the entire downtown.

The Blackwater River crested at 18.27 feet in Franklin, and 22.74 feet at Joyner's Bridge, on Tuesday morning. The high water mark of the river is about four feet lower than the record flooding that the city experienced in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, but has surpassed a 1940 flood mark, making this week's flood the second most intrusive in the city's history.  (NICC, Media Sources) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
A weak low pressure area is located about 200 miles north-northeast of Puerto Rico. This system has changed little in organization, and upper-level winds are becoming less conducive for tropical development. However showers and thunderstorms, with locally heavy rain and gusty winds, are expected to continue to spread across the northern Leeward Islands as the system moves slowly northward.

A small low pressure area, associated with a tropical wave, is located about 825 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde islands and moving toward the west-northwest about 5 to 10 mph. Development is not anticipated due to strong upper-level winds. Elsewhere, tropical storm formation is not expected through Saturday.

Central and Eastern Pacific:
An area of disturbed weather about 850 miles southwest of Honolulu is moving slowly toward the north northwest. Development, if any, is expected to be slow to occur.

Another area of disturbed weather is about 800 miles southeast of Hilo. This area is nearly stationary and remains poorly organized. Development, if any, will be slow to occur. Otherwise, Tropical storm formation is not expected through Saturday.

Western Pacific:
Tropical Storm Soulik (21W), located approximately 784 miles north-northwest of Guam, has been tracking northwestward at 4 mph. This system poses no threat to US territories or interests. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A series of 5 earthquakes ranging from 3.1 thru 5.0 (minor to moderate) in the area of the Andreanof Islands and Aleutian Islands. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Virginia, Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for five counties are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 16, 2006.   (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2

National Fire Activity

• Initial attack activity: Light (27new fires)
• New large fires:   0
• Large fires contained:  0
• Uncontained large fires:  3
• Area Command Teams: 0
• Type 1 IMTs committed:  1
• Type 2 IMTs committed: 0
• Fire Use Teams:   0

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)