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National Situation Update: Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Snow and Rain Forecast for the Northern U.S.

Northeast:
Cool dry day for the Northeast today into the Mid-Atlantic.

Midwest:
Winter advisories are in effect from Montana through Minnesota. A Snow storm will spread northward today, dropping several inches across Upper Midwest.

Thursday the main storm will become heavy and more widespread from eastern Nebraska to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. More than a foot of snow is possible in some places along this corridor.

West :
Snow will continue across the Rockies today and accumulating snow is possible in Colorado through the day. Less significant snowfall can be expected from Montana and Idaho into the high terrain of California.

South:
Eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas will see showers and thunderstorms today. Storms move eastward overnight, and severe thunderstorms are possible across Missouri and Arkansas. (NOAA, National Weather Service, ,Media Sources)

Midwest Update:

The Governor of Indiana has requested a snow emergency declaration for the state as a result of the record snowfall during the February 12-14, 2007 period.

According to DOE figures provided by the NICC, as of 5:30 Monday 100,000 customers were with out power in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana.  Iowa and Minnesota customers may be in the dark for an indeterminate amount of time.

Joint PDA Public Assistance teams began assessments today in Iowa with anticipated completion by Friday, March 2, 2007.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, 71 shelters and 2 warming stations are open statewide and housing 400-500 residents.(FEMA Region VII, NICC, media sources)

California:

California Office of Emergency Services (OES) confirmed that there was a landslide in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, causing the evacuation of at least three buildings and as many as 150 people early this morning.  No injuries were reported in this incident and no request for Federal assistance has been received. (California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Bothell MOC )

Pennsylvania:

An unusual event was declared at Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant Tuesday when a fire broke out in the Breaker of the Motor Control Center causing power output to be reduced from 100 percent to 55 percent.  The fire was extinguished at 10:32 AM EST. No injuries were reported and the event was terminated at 1137 EST. The fire posed no threat to the plant's operating nuclear reactors.

The Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station consists of two nuclear reactors with 2,224 megawatts of electrical capacity, located in York County, PA, on the western shore of the Susquehanna River. (FEMA FOC, PSEG Power)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Eastern Pacific: No significant activity to report.
Western Pacific: No activity threatening U.S. Territories.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity to report.
 (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and  West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)      

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint PDA Public Assistance teams began assessments today in Iowa with anticipated completion by Friday, March 2, 2007.  (FEMA Region VII)

Wildfire Update

Western Texas and south eastern New Mexico are under red flag fire warnings due to dry windy conditions. 

National preparedness level is 1 (lowest on a 1-5 scale). (NOAA)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)