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

National Situation Update: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South:
Areas of snow, sleet and freezing rain over parts of central and southern Texas.  Snow will accumulate around the Big Bend area while sleet and freezing rain continue around San Antonio, Austin, and College Station.  Mostly cloudy with rain showers along the Gulf and into northern Florida.   Patchy light sleet and freezing rain may fall across parts of northern Louisiana and western Mississippi.
High temperatures range from the 30s in most of Texas and Oklahoma to the 70s in south Florida. The Deep South will top out in the 40s and 50s.

Northeast:
Low temperature may dip to 20 below zero in northern Maine with wind chills of 35 below zero.
High temperatures in much of New York state and New England will make it only to the single digits and teens.  Winds will gradually diminish by later in the day.  Highs are expected to range from the 20s in southern New England, southeast New York and northern Pennsylvania to the 40s in eastern and central Virginia.

Midwest:
The Midwest dry with increasing southwesterly winds.   High temperatures in the 20s and 30s will be widespread.

West:
Scattered showers are expected along the central California coast and a few snow showers will fall around the central Sierra Nevada.  Snow showers are also likely in the Washington Cascades, northern Idaho and parts of Montana.  Freeze warnings for California's San Joaquin Valley, southeast California and southwest Arizona.  Highs are expected to range from the teens in parts of the northern Rockies to the 60s in far Southern California and southwest Arizona.  The Great Basin will remain cold with highs in the 20s.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Severe Winter Weather

Oklahoma (FEMA-3272-EM)
Temperatures in Oklahoma are expected to remain below freezing across much of the state, with the possibility of a heavy snowfall by the weekend.

As of 4:00 pm CST Tuesday, the State reported approximately 92,496 customers without electric power across the state.

32 shelters are reported open with 975 people.  The Oklahoma National Guard is assisting in response operations. Approximately 500 troops have been activated.

Three trailers of water arrived at Southeast EXPO Center in McAlester (Pittsburg County) January 15.

Two Power Packs (100 Generators) arrived at the McAlester Army Depot.

Seven trailers of water were dispatched on January 15.  Five trailers arrived at Oklahoma City (Oklahoma County) and  two trailers arrived at Tulsa (Tulsa County).    

The OK State EOC is activated at Level II.  An initial JFO has been established at 4224 N. Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, 73118.  The FCO is Ken Clark, 940-255-0577.

Missouri (FEMA-1676-DR)
Sub-freezing temperatures are expected to continue through Wednesday, with wind chills below zero.  Most jurisdiction affected by the severe January 12-13 storm reported significant debris issues with tree-debris and downed power lines. 

As of 6:00 pm CST Tuesday, State officials reported 85 shelters open throughout the State with a total population of more than 3,600 people.

174,000 customers without power statewide as a result of the storm

One death has been reported as a result of fumes from an emergency generator.  Seven weather-related highway deaths have also been reported.

The Missouri National Guard has about 400 personnel mobilized for such missions as debris removal, health and safety checks, and transporting generators, food, cots, and blankets.  Numerous other Missouri State departments and agencies are also assisting with the response. Voluntary agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others are also involved in the effort.

A JFO 100 person kit (Office Supplies) was ordered with a delivery requirement of January 16.  A DISC pack is scheduled to arrive the morning of January 17.

The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is currently operating 24/7 to respond to the most recent severe storms. These hours are expected to continue until Friday January 19.

The Region VII RRCC maintains a Level 3 activation to support the Missouri response operations (7:00 am to 7:00 pm CST).

Daily 9 am And 3 pm (CST) conference calls are conducted with the State Emergency Management Agency, local jurisdictions, and FEMA Region VII program staff to review current activities of Missouri with local entities for the current severe storm.

Texas
More winter precipitation is impacting the southern half of the State and is spreading eastward.  Precipitation is expected to be heavy through Wednesday. Numerous roadways are impacted by ice accumulations.

Freeze Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings remains in effect for a significant portion of the State.  Although power outages at this time are only sporadic, the power situation could become a critical challenge if accumulations of ice building up on power lines become heavy enough to break the lines.

The Texas Military Forces (TMF) has staged vehicles and personnel for winter weather response operations. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are also preparing to respond if needed.  The State is also coordinating with several Amateur Radio networks in case they are needed to support a response.

Highway crews are treating roadways as conditions warrant, and some roads remain closed. 

The Texas State Division of Emergency Management (DEM) continues to monitor the situation.  FEMA Region VI is currently monitoring State conference calls, and coordinating with the State on  information updates.

The RRCC is operating at Level III and is staffed from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST. Denton MOC has coverage from 4:30 pm to 8:00 am CST. 

Arkansas
Continuous rain is causing minor to moderate flooding and numerous road closures.

Twenty-four counties are reporting impacts based on the flooding and Ice storm.

There are two shelters reported open with a population 65. 

Northeast

Massachusetts
Currently reporting fewer than 3,034 customers without power throughout the state with power restoration expected by January 16.

New Hampshire
The ice storms at one point affected as many as 33,000 customers. 

No shelters are reported open.

There were 260 school closings/delayed openings.

Vermont
EOC activated on Monday, January 15 to monitor weather and power situation.

The American Red Cross has been notified to open shelters with the majority of those affected from remote and rural counties.

Difficult driving conditions are reported due to icy patches, black ice, and snow.

New York
Statewide there are approximately 100,000 customers without power; expected to be restored without incident. 

Saratoga County has received the brunt of the problems related to weather. 

Two villages (Corinth and Greenfield) have declared limited states of emergency to restrict traffic due to the weather. 

ARC reports an open shelter at Saratoga Springs; non-ARC warming stations have been established in Saratoga County. 

Elsewhere in the State, there are scattered counties reporting downed-wires in trees.

State EOC activated (limited activation) January 16 to monitor storm. (Source: FEMA HQ, FEMA Regions I, II, VI and VII, OK, MO, and TX Emergency Management Agencies)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake was reported at 11:28 pm EST Sunday, 80 miles southwest of Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Indonesia.  No reports of damage or injury from earthquake  (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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)