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National Situation Update: Sunday, January 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Cold Weather Continues for Most of the U.S.

Midwest:
Cold weather is expected to continue in most of the Midwest on Sunday. Highs will range from the teens near the Canadian border in Michigan and the Dakotas to the 30s in Kansas.

Lake Effect snowfall (1-3 inches) is expected in the area extending from the Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley.

Wind chills will cause temperatures to feel like zero in Chicago and St. Louis.

Northeast:
Light snow and rain is expected on Sunday in the Mid-Atlantic area from West Virginia to the coastal regions of Delaware and New Jersey.

Highs in the Northeast on Sunday will range from the teens in Upstate New York and New England to the 30s-40s in the Mid-Atlantic area.

South:
A fast moving storm system will drop some light rain in the Southeast Sunday before moving into the Atlantic.

Sunday's highs will be in the 30s-40s over a large portion of the South from the southern Plains to the southern Appalachians.

West:
Areas of fog are forecast for the valleys in Oregon, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday. Light rainfall is expected in the coastal areas of central and northern California.  Light snow (1-3 inches) is forecast for parts of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and northeast New Mexico. (NWS, Media Sources)

FEMA Regional Activity Reports

Region I
No change from earlier activity report.

Region II
No change from earlier activity report.

Region III

• Beaver County, PA at 4:56 p.m., 01/27/07  A wildfire involving a pile of coal occurred at a power plant in Shippingport Borough; no injuries or damage to structures were reported.
   
  
• Dauphin County, PA at 1:19 p.m., 01/27/07 Several members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested at a restaurant in Susquehanna Township.  The event ended peacefully.

• Philadelphia, PA -  England's Prince Charles and Camilla (spouse) are visiting Philadelphia.  They leave for NY today after morning church services.  There is nothing of significance to report relative to their visit.

• Washington, DC -- Anti-War Protest March has ended. All streets reopened. No major problems. DC DPW cleaning roadway.

• LIBERTY DOWN Exercise scheduled for Thursday February 8, 2007 (intergovernmental COOP Exercise).

Region IV
No change from earlier activity report.

Region V
No change from earlier activity report.

Region VI

• The FEMA 3272-EM-OK Joint Field Office (JFO) opened on January 24, 2007. The JFO address is:  Montgomery Ward Building, Heritage Park Mall, 6777 E. Reno, Midwest City, OK 73110.

Region VII
No change from earlier activity report.

Region VIII

• Region is monitoring the potential hazardous weather conditions that may develop in ND, SD, WY, CO, and eastern UT.

Region IX
No change from earlier activity report.

Region X
No change from earlier activity report.
(FEMA Regional Offices)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Approximately 15 light earthquakes (ranging from 2.5 to 3.1 magnitude) struck near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands during the previous 24 hours. There were no reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunamis were generated as a result of the quakes.

A moderate, magnitude 5.1, earthquake occurred at 10:49 am EST, January 27, 495 miles NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands at a depth of 12 miles. There were no reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunami was generated as a result of the quake.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

• Illinois - PA PDAs were scheduled for completion on Saturday, January 27.
  
• Missouri - Joint PDAs for IA are scheduled to begin Monday, January 29.
  
• Oregon - Joint PDA for December windstorms has been completed.
  
• Washington - PDA for January 6-7, 2007 windstorms are scheduled for January 29-31, 2007 in King, Snohomish, Jefferson, Chelan, Grant, Douglas, and Island Counties  (FEMA HQ)
  

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)