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National Situation Update: Monday, January 1, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Northeast:

• Heavy rain is expected from New Jersey into New England as a weak storm system moves through the area.
• Freezing rain and snow will fall during the morning in areas of northern New York State, Vermont and New Hampshire before changing to rain. Northern Maine could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
• From western New York state southward into West Virginia the rain is expected to be light and scattered.

Midwest:

• Scattered snow and rain showers will move into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley today.

South:

• The Florida Peninsula is forecasted to see showers and thunderstorms today as the front moves over the State.

West:

• Washington state and northwest Oregon will see rain showers. Some snow is expected in the Washington Cascades where snow levels today will range from 4000 to 5500 feet. NWS, Media Sources)

Explosions and Fire at Generation Power Plant in Puerto Rico

• On Saturday, December 30, 2006, around 11:20 pm, there was a fire/explosion at the Palo Seco Electrical Generation Power Plant in Cataño, Puerto Rico.
• Three explosions in the power plant have made the facility completely inoperable.
• The public facility is the second largest in the island.
• Preliminary damages estimate 6 to 12 month’s worth of repairs and 50 to 100 million dollars in damages. Insurance coverage unknown at this time.
• No customers without power at this time. PR system is redundant so backup power plants are supplying all the energy needed. Backup failure could be catastrophic.
• The Governor has decided not to declare a State of Emergency at this time
• FBI and PR State police investigating
• The PR National Guard has been activated to provide security support in every electrical generation power plant and the distribution lines that run from the Aguirre Power Plant in the South to the North and metropolitan area.
• No Federal assistance requested at this time. (FEMA Region II, PR State Emergency Management agency)
  

Winter Storm Updates In Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas

Nebraska

• The latest winter storm has impacted areas in the central part of Nebraska with accumulations of ice and snow.
• The winter storm left thousands of Central Nebraskans without power Saturday night.
• Southern Power District officials estimate at least 15,000 customers are without power.
• Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) officials reported 31 transmission lines were out of service due to ice-laden lines, broken poles and toppled structures.
• Major tree damage and power line damage has been reported across the area.
• At the present time the impacted area stretches from the Kansas border to the northern part of the state.
• The total number of communities and populations without power unknown at this time, as many of the telephone lines are also affected.
• Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals in the affected areas are currently using emergency power.
• Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Roads are currently coordinating road closures because of downed power lines.
• The Nebraska National Guard is activated for helicopter support to public power to assess the status of power transmission within the affected areas.
• FEMA Region VII is in contact with NEMA for incident updates and briefings. Potential for Federal involvement is unknown at this time. (NICC, FEMA Region VII)

Colorado

• Thirteen shelters are open with a current occupancy of 658, these individuals are being housed due to being stranded on the highways. (FEMA Region VIII, NWS, CO DEM, NGB)
• The SEOC will scale down from 24-hour operations to 12, with on-call support through the night. Hours of operation will be 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Texas

• One fatality has been reported and verified.
• The State SOC is presently at activation Level I to support border security operations.
• The upper level low-pressure system that provided the focus for severe thunderstorm activity late last week has moved east of the state. The system produced severe weather along and east of the IH 35 Corridor.
• The combination of moisture, lift, and cold air converging with a squall line located in the center of the State resulted in heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
• A Flood Warning has been issued for the Sabine River near Bon Weir; the river is forecast to rise above flood stage of 30.0 feet to31.0 feet, then fall below flood stage.
• Approximately 7000 customers are without power.
• The Texas Department of Public Safety is monitoring roadway conditions and is providing assistance as needed. (NWS, NOAA, FTW, TXSOC)

Kansas

• Heavy snow has fallen over parts of the Central Rockies, Northern and Central Plains.
• Kansas reported some areas receiving between 15 to 36 inches of snowfall.
• Drifts have been reported as high as 13 feet in Kansas.
• Freezing rain up to one inch has been reported in Kansas.
• This major winter storm is ongoing and expected to continue across the Northern and Central Plains.
• One weather related fatality has been confirmed. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is suspected.
• Numerous power poles have been downed and widespread power outages have occurred.
• It is estimated approximately 44,000 customers are without power at this time. In addition to widespread power outages, several communications towers are also down due to icing and high winds.
• The Kansas highway patrol reports that some power lines are down across roads.
• Crews are in the field working to restore power however, impassible roads and high winds are making their efforts to restore services very difficult.
• The state continues to respond and at this time does not require federal resources. (FOC,FEMA Region VII)

Former President Ford’s State Funeral Continues In Washington D.C.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Ford's body continues to lie in state. Rotunda opens to the public.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Washington State: Public Assistance PDAs in 17 Counties are scheduled to begin on January 2, 2007, with additional counties to be added at a later date, if warranted. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)