National Situation Update: Friday, March 2, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Tornadoes Rip Through AL
Tornadoes ripped through Alabama and killed several people Thursday, including some at a high school where students became pinned under debris when a roof collapsed, state officials said. Crews dug through piles of rubble beneath portable lights at Enterprise High School well into the night, looking for other victims.
The burst of tornadoes was part of a larger line of thunderstorms and snowstorms that stretched from Minnesota to the Gulf Coast.
More than 50 people were hospitalized as the violent storm front crossed the state.
Officials opened shelters for those whose homes were damaged. The state sent in National Guardsmen, along with emergency personnel, lights and generators.
The high school, about 75 miles south of Montgomery, appears to have been right in the path said a meteorologist with National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla., which monitors southeast Alabama. The force of the storm blew the windows out of cars and buses in the parking lot.
President Bush was briefed on the tornadoes by senior staff and called Riley and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, White House spokeswoman Dana Perrino said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was working with officials in both states, she said.
As the system pushed eastward Thursday night, tornado watches remained in effect in eastern Alabama and were posted in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The tornadoes were the second to devastate a portion of the South this year. In early February, tornadoes ripped through a 30-mile path in central Florida, killing 21 and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. (Media Sources)
Rain And Snow Head Eastward
South: Some severe weather may remain early this morning from the coastal Carolinas into Florida but that activity will rapidly move offshore.
Midwest: The heavy snow will taper off across the Upper Midwest but light snow will linger through the day. Snow is expected to fall from the Dakotas to Michigan, heaviest from Duluth to Marquette.
Northeast: Snow may mix with freezing rain in the river valleys of eastern New York and western New England by early today and some ice accumulations are possible. A foot of snow or more may fall from the Adirondacks of New York to parts of interior Maine. Cities like Portland, Maine may see several inches of snow before mixing with sleet and rain.
Heavy rain will fall across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southeast New York and southern New England, ending from west to east during the day. The combination or heavy rain and snow melt could produce significant flooding in the Susquehanna Valley. New York may see the most rain, perhaps as much as 3 to 4 inches.
The interior Northeast and Maine could see snow showers right through the weekend as the weakening storm slowly moves from the Midwest to eastern Canada.
West: Coastal rain and mountain snow will fall from western Washington to northwest California with snow levels between 2500 and 4500 feet. Snow showers will hit areas from eastern Oregon to Wyoming and Colorado. (NWS, Media Sources)
Alabama Tornadoes
A Tornado touched down in the town of Enterprise, Alabama (Coffee County) impacting the High School (the gym's roof was severely damaged and partially collapsed) and multiple structures in the downtown area.
Students are being transported to the Hospital which has also sustained damages.
Patients are being seen at the Enterprise Hospital Emergency Room and the triage area is at the Hillcrest Church in Enterprise, AL.
Search and Rescue is continuing. Other rescue teams are operational.
The National Guard has placed aviation assets on standby to perform Damage Assessment, and a seven-person Damage Assessment Team has been mobilized.
The Alabama EOC has been fully activated. State Emergency Management personnel have been deployed to Enterprise.
Along the same Tornado Track is the report of a touch down in the Echo community.
A second tornado has been reported to have touched down in Wilcox County, Alabama.
There are 18 fatalities (17 in Coffee County; one in Wilcox County). Thirty-five people are hospitalized (30 in Coffee County; two in Wilcox County; and two in Lowndes County).
Approximately 26,000 are without power. There are three shelters open with a population of about 50 people. There are minor road closures - no major impact.
On March 1, 2007, the governor issued an Alabama Disaster Proclamation.
The U.S. Coast Guard will provide helicopter support on March 2, 2007 for overflight of the damaged area for Alabama officials. Joint PDAs will start on March 2, 2007. (FEMA HQ)
Georgia Tornado
A Tornado has touched down in the town of Americus, Georgia (Sumter County) impacting a hospital (portions of the roof were damaged). Patients have been relocated to other hospital facilities. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) vehicles were damaged to the point of not being able to respond. As a consequence neighboring counties are providing EMS services.
Fifty Law Enforcement officials from surrounding cities and counties have been requested by Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and are responding.
There have been two confirmed fatalities and numerous injuries (extent unknown) at this time. There have been other unconfirmed reports of tornado touchdowns with damages and unknown injuries at this time in the same area. The Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) has been activated. (FEMA Region IV)
Iowa Severe Winter Storm
Severe winter storms are affecting several counties in Iowa. Blizzard warnings remain in effect until Friday, March 2, 2007. The northwest corner of the state may see 12-17" of snow with extended white out conditions.
The State EOC is activated on a 24 hour schedule. State agencies within EOC are Iowa Highway Patrol, National Guard, ARC and Salvation Army, Iowa Dept. of Human Services, and Iowa DOT.
Generators have been requested by Blackhawk and Butler counties. I-29 is closed from the Missouri line to the South Dakota line and Iowa 281 is closed in Black Hawk County due to downed power lines. The Iowa National Guard has deployed 441 Soldiers to assist local governments.
No Federal assistance is requested at this time. The State requested Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Teams. The PDA teams began the assessments February 27, 2007. (FEMA Region VII)
Severe Storms in Missouri
Randolph County, MO officials reported that at approximately 3:00 am EST, a severe storm struck the Moberly/Randolph County area producing heavy rain, strong winds and hail. Strong straight-line winds caused major damages at the Omar Bradley Airport on the northeast side of Moberly. Several hangars and one large aircraft were damaged or destroyed.
A tractor-trailer was overturned on Highway 24. Several counties in Missouri are reporting trees and utility poles down. A tornado touched down in Howell County near Caulfield. Several residences were destroyed with several others in the area having major damage.
A spokesperson for Howell Oregon Electric advised that the damaged area is north and west of Caulfield. Approximately, 571 people are without power.
The State has not received any requests for assistance. The potential for Federal involvement is not likely at this time. The FEMA Region VII State Liaison will remain in contact with the State Operations Officer and will advise if the situation changes. (FEMA Region VII)
Kansas Severe Storms And Tornadoes
Large thunderstorms developed across south central Kansas on February 28, 2007. The storms tracked east producing large hail (up to golf ball size in some areas), torrential rainfall, dangerous lightning, damaging straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes.
Kansas counties along the Nebraska border are reporting 4-6 inches of snowfall with windy conditions causing visibility problems along US-36 in the northeastern portion of the state. The State of Kansas Division of Emergency Management reported widespread damages and power outages across the state; however, no reports of fatalities or injuries have been received.
Linn County officials reported 12 to 20 structures damaged and 3 to 4 destroyed. There is widespread damage to trees and power poles throughout the county. Emergency management officials reported four homes and nine farm buildings heavily damaged or destroyed in Kearn County. Ten homes had minor damages. Officials are reporting hail damages (extent unknown) on the south side of the county and have identified a 15-mile storm track estimating structural damages to be approximately $300,000-$400,000.
Storms knocked out power to the Topeka, Kansas water production plant on February 28, 2007. Power was restored and all systems were brought back online around 10:00 am EST, March 1, 2007.
There is scattered rural flooding reported in the northwest part of Kearny County.
Standing water from snow/ice melt has some roads closed in northern Stanton County.
The State Emergency Operations Center is not activated and the State Operations Officer continues to collect information from County Emergency Managers. (FEMA Region VII)
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
On Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 11:40 pm EST an earthquake measuring 4.2 struck about 20 miles east-northeastt of San Francisco City Hall at a depth of 10.3 miles. There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no Tsunami generated. (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)
Wildfire Update
South-central Texas and the Florida Panhandle are under red flag fire warnings due to dry windy conditions. (NOAA)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:48:47 EDT