National Situation Update: Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Summary
West:
Heavy rain and gusty winds is expected in western Washington and northwest Oregon today.
Rain and mountain snow are forecast to reach as far east as northwest Montana.
Heavy snow is likely in the Washington Cascades and Montana's Bitterroots Tuesday. Snow levels in the Cascades are forecast to drop to about 4500 feet in the northern Washington Cascades.
South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecasted over parts of southern Florida.
Northeast:
Snow flurries are expected in northern New England.
High temperatures will be above average, although stiff northwest breezes will make it feel colder.
Midwest:
Dry weather with sunshine and temperatures above early January norms will dominate the Midwest and Plains tomorrow. (NWS, Media Sources)
Winter Storm, December 28, 2006 - January 1, 2007
A major storm system moved from the Southern Plains slowly across the central part of the country through the Great Lakes area.
Heavy snow fell over parts of the Central and Southern Rockies, the Plains States and the Upper Mississippi Valley.
As of today, snowfall amounts range from 6 inches in parts Iowa to 48 inches in central Colorado. Drifts were reported as high as 18 feet in Colorado and as high as 13 feet in Kansas.
Near three inches of ice was reported on power lines in some parts of Kansas, with up to one inch of freezing rain in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. There are reports of freezing rain across northern New England.
While all winter weather warnings, watches and advisories in the Central U.S. have expired or have been cancelled, there are still Winter Weather Advisories in effect for light freezing rain and freezing drizzle for most of northern Maine.
At least 11 fatalities were being reported due to the winter storm.
Tens of thousands of people are without power. Tree damage and downed power lines are widespread in western Kansas and central Nebraska. Numerous counties in these areas were partially or totally without power. In some areas, it may be several days before power is restored to all customers.
Although most roads had been reopened in Colorado and Kansas, there had been reports of snowbound vehicles with occupants along Interstate 70.
States of Emergency had been declared in portions of Kansas and Nebraska.
(NOAA NWS Central Region Headquarters in Kansas City Missouri)
Severe Winter Storms
Nebraska
At this time the heaviest impact is to the Nebraska Public Power District and their ability to supply power to their customers.
At the present time the impacted area stretches from the Kansas border to the northern part of the state with partial to total power outages through out the area.
The total number of communities and populations without power unknown at this time, as many of the telephone lines are affected also.
33 major power transmission lines are out and an unknown number of distribution lines also.
The State EOC is reporting large areas still without power, including the on-and-off-again situation due to attempted balancing of power loads in the hardest hit areas.
Public Power Districts (PPDs) are completing damage assessments and working on temporary repairs to restore power.
Nebraska Public Power with support from the National Guard and Nebraska State Patrol flew their main transmission lines and expect to have damage estimates available today.
Shelter counts are being reported sporadically due to spotty communication.
The State is moving generators to the hardest-hit areas that are expected to be without power for an extended period of time.
The Governor, AG Lempke, the State EOC Director and the CEO of Nebraska Public Power are completing a fly-over tomorrow to view the damages.
The State is expecting to make a formal written request for PDAs to FEMA on Wednesday, January 3rd.
The State EOC will return to normal operating hours today from 0700 to 1600 hours EST. (NICC, FEMA Region VII NEMA)
Colorado
Road clearing operations are continuing. Most rescue missions have been completed. Recovery efforts have begun, agencies working on providing urgent supplies and meds to local residents.
National Guard has conducted, and continues to conduct, multiple missions to provide food, medical supplies, air recon, and overall support.
Both I-25 and I-70 have reopened in both directions, within the state all other US and CO roads remain closed or have travel restrictions.
12 Shelters are currently open, housing 542 people.
Region VIII continues to work closely with the state of Colorado to evaluate for possible Stafford Act Emergency Snow Declaration.
There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA Region VIII, NWS, CO DEM)
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.
The Kansas National Guard (KNG) delivered a total of 7 generators to support the Ness County hospital, water plants and shelters in Gove County; they are also supplying additional generators for Trego County. Cots were also delivered to Healy, Ness City, Dighton and Hays.
The KNG has also placed one aircrew on standby status for rescue support if necessary. A National Guard scout was deployed to Haskell County.
Although the United Telephone Company's T-1 line between Ford, Hodgeman and Clark Counties remains inoperable, the Kansas Highway Patrol is able to communicate through a work-around.
Shelters continue to be opened. There are currently 25 shelters with approximately 200 occupants.
Kansas Department of Transportation crews remain on 24 hour operations. Crews continue plowing US and State highways.
The Kansas Highway Patrol resumed aircraft surveillance of damage and looking for stranded motorists in Northwest Kansas.
Miles of downed power lines and poles were observed in many portions throughout Northwest and Southwest Kansas.
Civil Air Patrol has joined in with the Kansas Highway Patrol in performing over-flights of the affected area for stranded vehicles. The Civil Air Patrol will resume operations on Tuesday, January 2nd.
The Kansas Division of Health and Environment (KDHE) is contacting all hospitals and care facilities in affected area to assess their current situation and determine future needs i.e. generation, water, re-supply, etc.
Four hospitals are currently on generator power.
The gas and electric providers expects full service of utility's by late Tuesday night. Power outages continue to be reported and best estimates indicate over 20,000 customers are without power in Western Kansas.
Rural Electric Cooperatives are receiving assistance thru mutual aid from unaffected REC's. Reports have been received of over 8,000 downed transmission and/or distribution poles throughout the area.
One weather related fatality has been confirmed.
The Governor declared a State of Emergency for 40 counties on December 30, 2006.
While, the State does not require Federal resources at this time, it does expect it will request Joint State/Federal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDAs) some time next
(FOC,FEMA Region VII)
Power Plant in Puerto Rico
The PRSEMA's EOC continues activated and will remain operational 24 hours until further notice.
After a structural evaluation of the physical plant at the Palo Seco Power Generation Plant, a determination was made to cease all investigations, because there are areas of the plant that may collapse due to the heat.
ESFs activated as of this report 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 13.
Due to the nature of the incident, monitoring activities would possibly continue throughout the next two to three weeks.
The FEMA Region 2, Caribbean Division Director and staff, maintain close communication with the PRSEMA Director and continues monitoring the situation.
No Federal assistance requested at this time. (FEMA Region II, PR State Emergency Management agency)
Former President Ford’s Funeral Continues in Washington D.C.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
09:15 a.m. EST - DEPARTURE; U.S. Capitol. 10:00 a.m. EST - ARRIVAL; Washington
National Cathedral.
10:30 a.m. EST - FUNERAL SERVICE.
11:30 a.m. EST - DEPARTURE; Washington
National Cathedral.
12:15 p.m. EST - DEPARTURE; Andrews Air
Force Base, MD.
2:15 p.m. EST - ARRIVAL; Gerald R. Ford
International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI.
3:30 p.m. EST - ARRIVAL AND REPOSE; Gerald R. Ford Museum.
Volcanoes Activity:
No new information to report. (USGS)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new significant activity to report. (FEMA Region IX, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers, media sources)
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)
Wildfire Update
No other significant activity to report. (FEMA Region IX, National Interagency Fire Center, media sources)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Jan-2007 13:14:16 EST