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National Situation Update: Sunday, March 4, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northest
On Sunday, gusty winds will linger over the Northeast with snow showers mainly in the mountains.

Midwest
A strong cold front will be approaching North Dakota and the Upper Midwest from central Canada by late Sunday.

South
Much cooler air continues in the South. The only precipitation across the South Sunday will be a few snow showers in the southern Appalachians and a few showers in south Florida.

West
A dry Sunday across the entire West with the exception of a few sprinkles in western Washington and a few flurries in the northern Rockies.

Gusty northeast winds across the mountains, canyons and passes of Southern California will be on the decrease. 

Federal Response to Storm and Tornado Activity in Alabama and Georgia

Alabama
The United States Coast Guard Air Training Center in Mobile, Alabama supported DHS and State damage response efforts on Friday, 2 March. Two helicopters transported passengers that included the Alabama State Governor and other state and FEMA officials on flyovers of damaged areas. Over eight hours of flight time was expended toward surveying storm damage.

President Bush, Administrator Paulison and Regional Director May toured the damaged areas in Alabama and Georgia Saturday.

President Bush has declared an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for Coffee County, Alabama.
RRCC remains at Level II activation on a 24 hour basis.

Region VIII has provided planning support to Region IV operations.
Region VIII ERT-A remains on standby.
ESF 2 remains activated.
ESF 7 remains activated.
One Regional Liaison has departed the Alabama EOC and will go to the JFO.
The JFO is partially activated at this time.

FIRST-Atlanta continues operations in Enterprise in support of response operations.

PDA Teams continue assessment of the impacted areas.

SBA damage assessment team begins surveying in Enterprise, Alabama.

Logistical assets packages have been deployed to Alabama.

Power outages remaining are estimated at 5,000 homes and businesses. Total power restoration for the State is projected for Sunday.

Georgia
Georgia (Sumter County) has been declared a major disaster area March 3, 2007 for severe storms and tornadoes.
Georgia ERT-A Team Leader is in Americus, Georgia to set up an Interim Operating Facility (IOF).
PDA Teams (6 PA and 4 IA) staged in Americus, Georgia; assessments have begun.
A Regional Liaison continues to provide support to the Georgia EOC.
MERS EOV and F-350 Crew Cab with PKU Trailer and support personnel are operational in Americus, Ga.

Severe Winter Storm Response - South Dakota

Region VIII RRCC is operational and is monitoring hazardous weather conditions across the Region, and supporting the South Dakota (SD) EOC as needed. 

SD State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated but has begun to demobilize resources.
The Governor of SD has declared a State of Emergency. There has been no request for Federal Assistance.

Operations staff/Duty Officer continues to monitor the current situation in all Region VIII states.(FEMA Region VIII)

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 significant activity reported.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Alabama: Joint PDAs started on March 2, 2007.
Georgia: PA and IA teams have begun assessments March 3, 2007  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

State of Florida is monitoring 10 fires. Most are small and have been knocked down or contained.

One larger brush fire in Polk County. At one point 1,100 acres were affected. As of last night (Mar 2)
75 acres were burning but the fire is contained. 11 homes (with 3 outbuildings) were damaged. American Red Cross (ARC) moving into area for assessments.  ARC fed 500 meals on Mar 2, 2007.  (Region IV)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1686-DR - Georgia has been declared March 3, 2007 for severe storms and tornadoes. Individual Assistance for Sumter County was designated.  The FCO is Michael Bolch

FEMA-1687-DR- Alabama has been declared March 3, 2007 for severe storms and tornadoes in Alabama.  Individual Assistance for Coffee County was designated. The FCO is Gracia Szczech. (FEMA HQ)