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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 18, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Winter Storms Expected in Southeast U.S.

South:
Parts of the Southeast including northeast Georgia and the western Carolinas will receive sleet and light freezing rain as a winter storm moves across the region.

Isolated showers are possible along the Gulf Coast.

Sleet and freezing drizzle is expected through central Texas.

Northeast:
Most of the Northeast will be dry and cold with temperatures ranging from -21 degrees in Northern ME to 9 degrees in RI, except for light rain in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic coast.

West:
Parts of western Los Angeles saw a light dusting of snow. Most of the West will be dry on Thursday.
 
Showers mixed with snow, are expected in western Washington.
 
Scattered showers may move into southern New Mexico.

Scattered snow flurries will reach from eastern Washington into northwest Montana.

Midwest:
Gusty winds are expected across the Great Plains and Midwest.
Scattered snow showers and flurries are forecasted from the eastern Plains to the Great Lakes.
Most of the remainder of the Plains and Ohio Valley will see mainly sunny and dry conditions. (NWS, Media Sources)

Winter Storm Power Outages Update

On January 13, a winter storm system carrying ice, sleet and freezing rain began causing power outages in the Panhandle area of Texas. The storm then moved Northeast over the next two days, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses from Texas to New Hampshire. 

As of 6:00 p.m. EST January 17, there were 231,043 customers in nine states without power as a result of the winter storm (see table below). This represents less than one percent of customers in affected utility service areas in the states represented. Utilities indicate most customers will have power restored by Thursday evening (January 18). (National Infrastructure Coordination Center, U.S. Department of Energy)

Severe Winter Weather Update

Oklahoma:
The Oklahoma EOC is activated at Level II.

Approximately 72,435 customers remain without electric power across the state.

American Red Cross has opened seventeen shelters.
Texas:
State continues to conduct daily conference call with NWS, Regional Liaison Officers, FEMA, and TROs to monitor ongoing winter weather systems.

Dallas Fort Worth International airport canceled 100 flights and ran out of de-icing fluid. 

A 300-mile stretch of Interstate 10 from Fort Stockton to San Antonio has been closed since Tuesday with dangers of fresh snow on top of ice.

Michigan:
There are 12,000 customers without power.

Missouri:
About 126,856 homes and businesses still have no power. 

85 shelters are expected to house more than 3,600 people according to the State Emergency Management Agency.

Arkansas:
11 counties have declared a State of Emergency based on the flooding and statewide ice storm impacts.

Benton County has one shelter open with 12 occupants. 

Numerous county and state roads are closed due to minor to moderate flooding.

Benton County reports approximately 5,000 residences are without power.

Louisiana:
GOHSEP Crisis Action Team was established for 24-hour operations as of Wednesday January 17, until further notice, to monitor the weather and flooding situation at Lake D'Arbonne and assist parishes as needed.

Webster Parish declared a State of Emergency for the Union Grove water system that impact 150 homes. The parish is implementing plans to drill a new well, which should take 7 to 21 days.

LA National Guard supplied a 5,000 gallon water tank and moved 20,000 gal. water from Minden water storage to Union Grove water distribution. 

Union Parish declared a State of Emergency for the Lake D'Arbonne area which is forecast to crest Thursday, 1/18/2007 at 84.5 ft.  Flood stage is 83 ft.  NWS is forecasting an additional rain event for 1/21-22/2007 that could bring an additional 2-4 inches of rain to the Union Parish area.

New Hampshire:
11,000 customers without power.

Two American Red Cross shelters and two local shelters are open with a total of 50 people.

Twenty schools are closed, mostly southern New Hampshire.

NH Bureau Emergency Management activated at Level III.

New York:
NY State (SEMO) EOC remains activated with a limited activation of staff to monitor the effects of the cold weather.
 
About 6,837 customers are still without power.  

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 (Maple Avenue HS); non-ARC warming stations have been established in Saratoga County.
 
Elsewhere in the State, there are scattered counties reporting downed-wires in trees.

California:
Severe freeze conditions - Gov. Schwarzenegger proclaimed a State of Emergency in 10 counties for severe freezing conditions.

Additional counties will be added to the proclamation as warranted.

The Governor also directed the Director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture to request immediate assistance from the United States Department of Food and Agriculture and federal Small Business Administration.
A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Ventura and Los Angeles counties due to gusty NE winds and low humidity. ( FEMA HQ, FEMA Regions I, II, VI and VII, CA, OK, MO, and TX Emergency Management Agencies)

Kentucky Train Derailment/Hazard Update

The Kentucky State EOC received notification at 9:55 am EST on January 16, 2007, that a number of CSX railcars derailed and exploded into flames near the community of Brooks - Shepardsville area in Bullitt County.

CSX confirmed that the train was hauling hazardous materials. 

An initial evacuation of 1/2 mile was ordered and later extended to 1 mile.

The derailed tanker cars continue to burn.

Determined 4 tankers containing Butadiene had not been ruptured.

This makes the current situation more hazardous since the cars have been exposed to fire for a lengthy period of time and increased pressure could cause the cars to explode.

The Kentucky Fire Marshall supports letting the tanker car burn rather than using foam which would cause an environmental problem.

Currently I-65 remains closed for a 23 mile stretch.

Currently there are 12 people being sheltered in the Okolona Christian Church by Red Cross.

Total evacuations were 500, which includes personnel evacuated from a factory.

National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene and has begun an assessment of the derailment.  (FEMA Region IV)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs for DR-1676-MO are scheduled for the week of 01/22/07. ( FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)