National Situation Update: Monday, December 4, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Hazards for the Week

There is a significant continued risk for wildfires in southwestern California for Dec 4-6.
Much below normal temperatures are possible around Dec 8 for the central US.
Severe drought will persist in several areas throughout the central US and in Arizona.
Portions of the south Alaskan coast, the Aleutians and the Alaskan panhandle will experience several instances of storm force winds.

National Weather Forecast

Northeast
A low pressure center will skirt the coast of the Northeast and bring some slushy snow to parts of New England. Southeastern New England, roughly near Providence, Rhode Island, to Taunton, Massachusetts will most likely see measurable snow. Further to the west, lake effect snows are possible across western New York (around Buffalo and Watertown), with accumulations as high as 5 inches in the snow belts.

Midwest
Lake effect snows are possible, especially on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan (in western Lower Michigan) and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well.

West
More rain is on its way to the Pacific Northwest for today, specifically Seattle & Portland. Some ice is possible in parts of the Columbia River Gorge as well. In the Southwest, the risk of wild fires continues with low humidity values and breezy conditions. Temperatures are also expected to warm up. The Santa Ana winds will blow again in Southern California, especially during the early morning hours, but they should be less vigorous than Sunday. Red Flag Fire Weather Warnings, indicating critical fire conditions, remain in effect across the mountains of Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties for gusts to 60 MPH and very low humidity.

South
Near freezing temperatures are possible near the Gulf coast for several days. Across Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Alabama, an increased fire danger exists due to breezy conditions and low humidity values. (NWS, Media Sources)

Winter Storms - Regional Updates

FEMA Region III
Pennsylvania
All watches and warnings have been rescinded and/or expired.

Recovery efforts and damage assessments are underway after the severe storm devastated parts of the Commonwealth on Friday, December 1, 2006.

The National Weather Service confirmed three tornados touched down (Dauphin, Luzerne & Westmoreland counties) damaging numerous homes and businesses.

Utility companies are working expeditiously to restore service to affected areas. 24 counties reported affects from the storm, 3 counties still conducting damage assessments; all other counties resuming normal operations. (FEMA Region III)

FEMA Region V
Illinois
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) will staff the center on Monday starting at 8:00am, including county, state, and volunteer emergency support agencies.

There are no unmet needs or request for state resources.

The Illinois National Guard: Humanitarian Support Mission conducted 504 door-to-door visits.

The American Red Cross reported 302 occupants in 7 shelters as of Sunday evening. The SEOC finalized and created a list of 10 shelter/warming centers for the period of 8:00am - 6pm on Monday. (FEMA Region V, Illinois Emergency Management Agency

FEMA Region VII
Missouri
Ameren Electric officials report that as of 11:00 pm (12/03/06), about 304,384 customers in Missouri and Illinois are without power. 2,000 linemen are involved in restoration efforts. Ameren officials continue to work directly with city, county and state authorities to coordinate other priority restoration areas as needed. Major locations impacted include the following:

12/03/06 Customers without Power as of Sunday, 1500 CST
St Louis County            119,000
St Louis City                 25,000
Jefferson County;           27,000
St Francois County        16,000
Washington County         7,000
Iron County                    2,800

Fatalities: 4 total; 3 traffic deaths (Phelps, St. Francois and Boone Counties) and 1 electrical fire death (St. Louis County). Under investigation are 1 potential cold-weather death in St. Francois and 4 potential cold-weather deaths in St. Louis City.

St. Francois County: Officials are investigating the death of an elderly man believed to be weather related; and three residents hospitalized from carbon monoxide poisoning. Three shelters were open overnight, with a total population of about 175 people. Water systems have come back online in Irondale and Leadwood. Missouri National Guard are currently assisting with debris removal. No further shortfalls of food or water. Farmington has 100% restoration of water and sewer; 70% restoration of power. They estimate ¼ million cubic meters of debris at this time. Farmington is offering excess bottled and bulk water to other area communities in need.

City of St. Louis: Officials are investigating four deaths possible related to the cold weather. One shelter was open overnight with a total population of 85 people. 10 warming centers were open on Sunday. Cold related injuries/illnesses are rising at city hospitals, including carbon monoxide poisonings.

St. Louis County: 11 shelters were open overnight, with a population of about 100 people. One elderly/special needs shelter was also open with a population of 53 people. 14 warming centers were open on Sunday. All hospitals are functioning with no emergency rooms on diversion. They continue to treat hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisonings. Four nursing homes are still on generators.

Washington County: Power has been restored for most people in the City of Potosi. A voluntary boil-water advisory was issued for the city. The County and City have no further shortfalls of food or water. Three shelters were open overnight with a population of 32 people.

State/Local Response: SEMA is coordinating and monitoring the situation and any requests for state assistance. The SEMA duty officer is on call 24/7.

Missouri Army and Air National Guard: The Missouri National Guard has approximately 260 personnel on duty performing various missions; 100 of those will be assisting with debris removal activities in St. Francois County, 100 with debris operations in Washington County and 12 assisting with generator operations in Washington County.

American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies expect all 4 Missouri shelters to remain open Sunday evening with evaluations tomorrow of shelters, and the 30 warming/feeding centers. (FEMA Region VII, Missouri SEMA)

Fire Management Assistant Grant

Approved FMAG for Shekell Fire (#2681), Ventura County, California. Towns of Moorpark and Somis, California affected. Mandatory evacuations underway.

Five Homes Destroyed in California Wildfire

In Ventura County, California, early Sunday morning, a fire driven by strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts up to 70 mph, the fire named the Shekell Fire, has destroyed five homes, (damaging five others) a storage building and is threatening thousands of others homes, infrastructure and power lines in the surrounding canyons and hillsides.

Over 4,100 acres have been burned with no containment forecasted. The fire started at about 11:06 pm EST (December 2, 2006), in an area of heavy brush, eucalyptus groves and orchards northwest of Moorpark, CA. about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Cause of the fire is still not determined and under investigation.

Fire officials called for mandatory evacuations of about 200 homes, and voluntary evacuations of other areas. As hundreds of residents pack up valuables and personal items, other residents have stayed and seen flames of 35 feet high or higher and reaching within 100 yards of their homes.

Over eight hundred firefighters have been fighting the fire and have been hampered by 35 to 75 mph winds that were expected to last through Sunday night. Water-dropping helicopters have also been used to fight the fast moving fire.

State and Local Actions: The local operational area is fully drawn down. There were 49 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crews on the fire. An additional 30 strike teams were requested from the Los Angeles Region. Nine air tankers were standing by awaiting improved wind conditions for use on this fire. Two other fires were reported in an area south of Camarillo and in Norco, CA. Both fires have been contained or are under control. One fire fighter was injured in the Norco fire.

The State requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant Program declaration was approved. (Region IX, Media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

November 30 marked the end of the 2006 Hurricane Season. Issuance of Tropical Weather reports will not resume until May 15, 2007 for the Eastern Pacific and June 1, 2007 for the Western Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf Coast. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

There were four light earthquakes in Alaska over the past 24 hours, ranging in magnitude from 2.7 to 3.4. None of the events caused any damage or injuries.

Four light earthquakes occurred in the Hawaiian Islands area over the last 24 hours, ranging in magnitude from 2.6 to 4.4. The largest, magnitude 4.4, depth 5 miles, took place yesterday at 6:22 am EST in the Maui region, 142 miles southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. No damage or injuries were reported. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity