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

National Situation Update: Friday, December 22, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Winter Storm Update

Colorado
As of 9:00 pm EST, December 21, 2006, approximately 4,700 travelers remain stranded in the terminal at Denver International Airport. A convoy of buses took hundreds of travelers to hotels in downtown Denver.  The Red Cross is providing food and blankets, Airport is anticipated to reopen at noon Friday (December 22). 

Colorado National Guard continues to assist local governments with 60 personnel deployed. It is anticipated that Colorado State EOC will cease 24 operations at 2:00 pm EST Friday (December 22). 

Colorado state government offices will resume day-to-day business Friday, December 22 with a delayed reporting time of 12:00 pm EST.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, I-25 remains closed from Lincoln Avenue in Denver south to Pueblo. Highways that remain closed are: I-70 from E-470 East to Kansas, I-76 from Denver northeast to Nebraska; SH 96 & SH 287 from SH 87 to Limon. 

The American Red Cross (ARC) reports approximately 20 shelters remain open with an additional 9 operating independently.  No information available on populations.

FEMA Region VIII and NORAD/NORTHCOM continue to monitor the situation. Due to the severity of the storm FEMA Region VIII remains closed; however all regional staff are telecooping and are operational. It is anticipated the regional office will reopen Friday (December 22). The JFHQ-CO has issued WARNORD for state National Guard Forces and Ready Response personnel to be prepared for immediate recall, with High Clearance Vehicles and Aviation assets available upon request.  Military off-road vehicles have been deployed to Red Cross shelters and are currently assisting state police in patroling Colorado highways for stranded motorists.

No request for Federal Assistance has been received. (FEMA Region VIII, Colorado State EOC, NWS, NORAD/NORTHCOM, National Incident Coordination Center)

Kansas 
As of 5:00 pm EST, December 21, 2006, State officials closed the interstate and highways in western Kansas and Colorado.   Interstate 70 westbound is closed at Salina (Saline County) to the state line (approximately 270 miles) because many hotels/motels along the interstate have or will soon reach their capacity as stranded motorists seek lodging.

The American Red Cross has opened shelters in Ellis County at Fort Hayes State University and in the City of Russell (Russell County) because of the lack of hotel space in these areas.  No one was being sheltered at the time of this report.

One traffic related fatality was reported today in Finney County. Four weather related traffic injuries reported in Thomas (2) and Sherman (2) Counties.

High winds combined with heavy snow, icy conditions and falling debris are causing widespread power interruptions in western Kansas.  At this time, approximately 25 people in Thomas County are without power.

The State EOC is at a watch status (no extended hours) and is monitoring the situation. 

The State has not received any requests for assistance and other than personnel from Kansas Department of Transportation and Kansas Highway Patrol there are no State resources committed to this event.  No State or local declarations have been issued.

No request for federal assistance has been received. FEMA Region VII and the State will continue to monitor situation. (FEMA Region VII)

Nebraska
As of 4:30 pm EST, December 21, 2006, western Nebraska is experiencing power outages and tree damage.  Approximately 400-500 customers were reported without power in Red Willow County, Phelps County, Johnson Lake and Gosper County. Shelters have been opened in Sidney and Bertrand.  The American Red Cross has offered support and supplies to both shelters.
Road closures in Nebraska

• Interstate I-80 is closed from Lexington west to Wyoming.  The State closed an additional 50 mile stretch from North Platte to Lexington.  It is expected I-80 will close an additional 35 miles to Kearney within the next 12-24 hours.
  
• Interstate I-76 is closed to Colorado
  
• US-30 is closed from Lexington westward.  The State closed an additional 50 mile stretch from North Platte to Lexington.  The highway is open to local traffic only.
  
• US-26 is closed from Ogallala westward.
  
• US Hwy 385 is closed from Bridgeport to Colorado.

The State EOC is monitoring the situation and continuing communication with the counties affected.

The State has not received any requests at this time.  The State EOC will continue normal business hours from 7:30 to 5:00 pm CST.  No State or local declarations have been issued at this time.  

No request for federal assistance has been received.  FEMA Region VII and the State will continue to monitor situation.  (FEMA Region VII)

Oklahoma 
As of 11:14 am EST, December 21, 2006, Texas County, in the Oklahoma Panhandle has declared a local state of emergency because of winter weather, power outages and debris from broken tree limbs. The county has not requested assistance from the State. Oklahoma Emergency Management has been dispatched to assist and assess damage.

No request for Federal Assistance has been received. (FEMA Region VI)

Texas
As of 9:34 am EST, December 21, 2006 FEMA Region VI reports Texas Military Forces has 14 personnel and 6 High Profile Vehicles staged at the Amarillo Armory to provide support to stranded motorists and local jurisdictions.

Public Utility Commission, Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Department of Criminal Justice are supporting emergency resources with personnel and supplies.

The American Red Cross (ARC) prepared for potential sheltering and mass care support for the Panhandle region. ARC has pre-positioned shelter supplies (cots, blankets, and shelter teams). In the City of Lubbock, the ARC provided 10,300 cots and blankets.

No request for Federal Assistance has been received. (FEMA Region VI)  

Louisiana
Thunderstorms across south Louisiana early Thursday, produced heavy rain that flooded homes and cars in parts of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes and left roads impassable in the region's heaviest rainfall since Hurricane Rita.  (media resources)

Northwest Pacific Storm Update

Washington State
The Department of Energy (DOE) reports repair crews continue to make progress in restoring power to customers in the Pacific Northwest region. As of 3:00 pm EST on December 21  - 80,750 customers remain without power. This number is down from 1.8 million customers who lost power following severe wind and snow storms on December 14-15, 2006. The customers without power represent less than 3 percent of customers in the affected utility service areas of Oregon and Washington.  (NICC)

As of 4:59 pm EST, the Washington State EOC reported 14 confirmed deaths and 36 injuries, and 32 shelters/ warming stations with a population of 212.

As of 3:00pm EST, December 21, 2006, Washington Emergency Management Division/ State EOC reported 81,691 customers remain without power, 14 confirmed dead, and 48 injured. (Washington EMD)

National Weather Summary

Midwest
Across the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, some snow showers and a wintry mix will impact areas from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, spreading northeast across parts of Minnesota and northern Wisconsin through the day. Accumulations will generally be light, but a few inches will be possible from extreme northern Wisconsin into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into tonight.

Rain will continue to move across parts of the Midwest today. Rainfall could be heavy at times, especially over the eastern Great Lakes into the Upper Ohio River Valley.

Northeast
A storm system moving into the Great Lakes will push an associated front slowly toward the northeastern states into the first part of the weekend.

Steady rain will spread over much of the Middle Atlantic and southern New England today, and rainfall could be heavy at times.

South   
Along the Gulf coast, a few strong thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Steady rain, heavy at times, will impact areas from the eastern Tennessee Valley and Carolinas, southward through the southeastern states today. Meanwhile the chances for rain will taper off over the Mississippi Valley.

Areas from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC could see 1 to 2 inches of rain. Further south from the Raleigh and Charlotte areas to Atlanta and Mobile, between 1 and 3 inches of rain may fall. This could lead to some roadway and minor low land flooding

West
In the Pacific Northwest, a new storm will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to coastal areas of Washington, Oregon, and northern California Saturday, with a brief calm on Sunday before more of the same returns Sunday night into Monday.  (National Weather Service, media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Central and Western Pacific
High Surf Advisory remains in affect for Guam and Hawaii until Saturday December 23, 2006.

No other significant activity to report.  (FEMA Region IX, NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)