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National Situation Update: Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West
Moderate to heavy rain will dampen western Oregon and northern California, and a few inches of rain in the coastal mountains of southwest Oregon and northwest California.

Significant snow and very gusty winds will batter mountain ranges from the Cascades to central Idaho on Wednesday and into the Utah mountains on Wednesday night. Two to four feet of snow may bury some mountain locations by the end of the week.

Strong winds will blow from Nevada to Wyoming.

South
Rain will rapidly extend to the north and east from southern Texas as low pressure aloft enters the state from the west. Farther east, an easterly flow off the Atlantic may produce low clouds and scattered showers over the Florida Peninsula, southeast Georgia and eastern South Carolina. Rain will spread eastward along the Gulf Coast and northward to the Tennessee Valley.

Midwest
There will be mild weather conditions across the Midwest on the heels of southwesterly winds. Most of the region will be sunny. Showers will expand northward into the Ohio Valley by Thursday.

Northeast
Mostly sunny skies will prevail through the region as winds shift to the southwest. High temperatures will be well above average for the season.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Severe Winter Storm Update

Nebraska
At the present time major tree damage and power line damage has been reported across the impacted area, which stretches from the Kansas border to the northern part of the state. The heaviest impact is to the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), Southern Public Power District (SPPD), and Dawson PPD and their ability to supply power to their communities and their wholesale customers.

Currently the customers reported without power are over 29,000, however numbers are rough without full communications as well as some counties not having yet reported.  Some areas are expected to be without power for an extended time frame.  Eighteen towns are without power as of today, as well as all of Phelps County, and Belgrade.  An additional six towns have systems on that are under fragile conditions and experiencing continued rolling blackouts.   

Shelter counts are being reported sporadically due to spotty communication.  There have been reports of poor cell phone reception due to the weather as well as the communities being in rural areas.  Shelters open and close daily due to power off and on and off again in damaged areas.  Currently numbers include 15 shelters open yesterday that housed 450 occupants Monday evening.  No shortfalls are reported in facilities, food or water at this time. 

Governor Heinemann on Friday, December 29, 2006, issued a state disaster declaration for storm impacted areas beginning on approximately December 20th and continuing.  The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency SEOC activation continues. NEMA is coordinating the state response and is coordinating with NEMA's local area managers, FEMA Region VII, and local officials. The Nebraska National Guard is activated for helicopter support to public power to assess the status of power transmission within the affected areas.

NEMA is opening a Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MAAC) in Grand Island Thursday, January 4th at their alternate EOC location.  Occupants will include a JIC, a FEMA Public Assistance Liaison and representatives from the PPDs. Potential for Federal involvement is unknown at this time.  ESF 6, American Red Cross is continuing the monitoring and support of shelters.  (NICC, FEMA Region VII NEMA)

Colorado
Recovery operations continue for blizzards occurring December 20 and again December 28th. National Guard continues to conduct multiple missions to provide food, medical supplies, air reconnaissance, and overall support.  The Colorado National Guard has dropped approximately 500 bales of hay to livestock. This will continue on Wednesday.  The Wyoming National Guard will be providing a C-130 aircraft to drop additional hay starting mid-day on Wednesday. A future concern will be the watering of cattle.

There are reported power outages in Baca and Prowers counties effecting approximately 1,000 residents. The power companies are working on this issue.

Several buildings have collapsed or are under structural distress within Baca and Las Animas Counties. Building code inspectors have been requested to deploy to the area to assist.

12 Shelters are currently open, housing 535 people, with a capacity of approximately 1,055.

Region VIII continues to work closely with the State of Colorado to evaluate for possible Stafford Act Emergency Snow Declaration. A Type II Incident Management Team (IMT) has been approved for deployment to the Southeast Region area command. A type III IMT from Eagle County is scheduled to arrive by today in support of the Springfield (Baca County) incident site. 

There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA Region VIII, NWS, CO DEM/EOC)

Volcanoes Activity:

Mount St. Helens Update: Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE. Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.

Elsewhere, nothing significant to report.  (USGS Vancouver, Washington; University of Washington, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, Seattle, Washington; NOAA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

A minor earthquake (magnitude 3.3, depth 4.8 miles-poorly constrained), was detected 13 miles south southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico at 7:21 pm on January 2, 2006. No damages were reported, and no tsunami bulletin was generated.  (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 began 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)