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National Situation Update: Sunday, March 25, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Update

Midwest:  The warm front from Nebraska to Ohio will continue to push northward as the upper-level low heads into Minnesota March 25, 2007 and then through the northern Great Lakes Monday, March 26, 2007.

The threat for severe thunderstorms, including large hail, some damaging winds and a few tornadoes, plus localized downpours will reach the Upper Midwest on March 25, 2007.

High temperatures will be 10 to 30 degrees above average region-wide on March 25, 2007, and temperatures will remain above average in the upcoming week. Snow melt in the Upper Midwest will locally enhance river flooding.

South:  A new upper-level low will move from northern Mexico March 25, 2007 into Texas March 26, 2007, and into the lower Mississippi River Valley Tuesday, March 27, 2007. Some strong thunderstorms and local downpours are likely along its path.  Warmth is a major factor across most of the South with high temperatures mostly staying in the 70s and 80s through at least midweek.

High pressure and a cold front will drop southward through the Carolinas March 25, 2007, and the remainder of the Southeast March 26, 2007, eclipsing the warmth slightly.
The easterly winds will subside over Florida March 25, 2007 but then return on March 26, 2007, as new high pressure continues to sink southward along the Eastern Seaboard. The rip current threat will remain high early week along the Atlantic beaches.

Northeast:  With the snow ended across New England by morning on March 25, 2007, the weekend will end mostly dry across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with high temperatures only a few degrees below average in New York City and New England.

West:  A new upper-level disturbance over northern Mexico will produce additional strong thunderstorms in southeastern New Mexico before exiting into Texas March 26, 2007.

Meanwhile, the Pacific cold front that doused western Washington with locally flooding rain will move across the Northwest, exiting into the northern Plains by March 26, 2007, but leaving showers behind across southern Idaho and Wyoming.   (NWS, Media Sources)

New Mexico Tornados Update

Numerous tornados touched down near Logan, and Clovis N.M. on March 23, 2007.  
Two dozen mobile homes were destroyed and 16 people were injured in Logan. State damage assessors are on scene at Clovis and Logan.

Clovis:
1 shelter opened in high school gym for feeding only; 35 injured were transported to hospitals (2 in critical condition, 1 was transported to Lubbock, TX; Highway 70 near Clovis is closed due to down power lines and debris; 1/2 to 1/3 Clovis is without power; Debris removal is in progress

Logan:
1 victim transported to Tucumcari Hospital; Water has been restored to the village; Isolated power outages in the village; Debris removal is in progress.

Roosevelt County:
County Road 202 is damaged; The water well field in Portales was damaged. Generators are being brought in to restore power to the water well field.

New Mexico Department of Emergency Management is monitoring the situation. First responders are on the scene.

New Mexico EOC requested that Region VI provide 2 PDA Teams (1 PA - 1 IA), departing 25  Mar.   (FEMA Region VI, FEMA MERS/Denton)

N.M. Towns Begin Clean-Up After Twisters

Thirteen tornadoes moved through a dozen communities along the New Mexico-Texas border late Friday, March 23, 2007, leaving two people critically injured. Residents said Saturday that the cleanup effort could take months.

The worst damage was reported in Clovis and the village of Logan about 80 miles to the north, state officials said.  The Clovis twister touched down shortly before 10:00 pm EDT, forecasters said. On Saturday, March 24, 2007, city officials described a narrow path of destruction about three miles long. About 100 homes and businesses were either lost or damaged, and at least three schools were damaged, police said.

Hospitals in Clovis treated 35 victims, including two critically injured, state emergency management spokeswoman Carrie Moritomo said Saturday. One of the critically hurt was taken to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, for treatment.

Gov. Bill Richardson ordered about 20 soldiers from the New Mexico Army National Guard to provide support in Clovis, spokesman Maj. Kenneth Nava said. Richardson is expected to travel to Clovis Sunday, March 25, 2007 to be briefed on the damage, Moritomo said.

In Logan, a twister hit a trailer park, leaving two people hospitalized. Many other injuries were reported, but they were minor.  That tornado touched down shortly before 5:30 pm EDT,  Friday, Marcg 23, 2007, and early reports show that 55 properties were affected by the storm. At least 20 properties were completely destroyed.

Nearly 3,000 people were without electricity in Clovis on Saturday, March 24, 2007, and state officials say it will take two to three days to restore power.  The village administrator, estimated it would be five to six months before the damage is cleaned up.

Two state emergency assessment teams were expected to arrive in Logan and Clovis on Saturday, March 24, 2007, officials said. The Salvation Army has opened a shelter at high school in Clovis. American Red Cross teams were fanning out to provide food and assistance as needed.   (Media Sources)

Indiana Flooding Update

The State EOC reports that Hamilton County, IN is experiencing flooding conditions.
As of 3:00 pm EDT, Saturday, March 24, 2007, the level of the White River at the Logan St Bridge in Noblesville in Hamilton County had a reading of 19.14 ft.  The latest crest prediction by the National Weather Service is 19.2 ft at 9:00 am EDT on Sunday, March 25, 2007, provided the area does not receive additional heavy rains. The heaviest rainfall occurred in the upper portions of the White River.  Rainfall through Monday, March 26, 2007, is not expected to affect this portion of the river.

Some roadways are closed due to standing water and one roadway is closed due to a sewer collapse.  Media reports depict flooded roadways and one roadway caved in but there is no indication of homes being flooded in this event.  Hamilton County has not requested State assistance at this time.

The State EOC has reports of minor flooding in the counties just north of Indianapolis. There are reports of minor flooding in the City of Anderson in Madison County.  A flood warning continues for the White River in Marion County. The river in Central Indiana continued rising sharply late Friday evening, March 23, 2007, as a result of approximately 2 to 3 inches of additional rainfall.

Flooding is occurring downstream in the areas of Nora, Ravenswood (north Indianapolis) and south through the county.  Flooding will occur through mid-week. High water will affect mainly local river roads and low areas near the river.

At 7:15 am EDT, March 24, 2007, the river in Nora was at 14.67 feet. The river is expected to crest at 15.5 feet on March 25, 2007 at 9:00 am EDT.

The Hamilton County EMA has pre-filled sandbags for residents. Residents have been urged to help themselves to the sandbags at the county offices should they be necessary.  (FEMA Region V)

Earthquake/Tsunami Activity

On Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 8:40 pm EDT, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck about 1140 miles ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia at a depth of 21.7 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami was generated.

On Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 8:42:pm EDT, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck about 225 miles NW of TOKYO, Japan off the west coast of Honshu Island at a depth of 20.3 miles.  There was no Pacific-Wide tsunami generated.  There were  reports of a 50 cm (20 inch) localized tsunami.

On Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 9:08 pm EDT, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck about 1130 miles ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia at a depth of 21.7 miles.  There were no reports of damage ir injuries and no tsunami was generated.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Honshu, Japan Earthquake

A strong earthquake struck Japan Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 8:42 pm EDT, killing at least one person, violently shaking buildings and triggering two very small tsunamis which hit the coast, officials and media reports said.

The quake hit off the north coast of Ishikawa prefecture (state), Japan's Meteorological Agency said. It had a preliminary magnitude of  7.1. A small tsunami of 6 inches hit shore, public broadcaster NHK said. A second of similar size hit minutes later down the coast.

Television footage from the quake zone showed buildings shaking violently for about 30 seconds.  NHK reported one person died and 40 were injured.

Immediately after the quake struck, authorities issued a tsunami warning for the country's northwestern Sea of Japan coast and broadcasters urged people near the sea to seek higher ground. The Meteorological Agency said seismically triggered waves of up to 25 inches were possible.

The United States Geological Service said the epicenter of the earthquake was 225 miles northwest of Tokyo. The USGS gave a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

Train service in the Ishikawa and nearby Toyama prefectures was suspended and all Nippon Airways flights between Ishikawa and Tokyo were postponed, Kyodo News agency said.

Nuclear power plants operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Kansai Electric Power Co. were operating normally in Niigata and Fukui prefectures, according to the report.
Japan sits atop four tectonic plates and is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.  (Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Eastern Pacific: No significant activity to report.

Western Pacific: No significant activity to report. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Wildfire Update

No new activity to report.  (NIFC, NICC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1686-DR-GA is amended effective March 24, 2007 adding Dougherty and Worth Counties for Individual Assistance; Warren County for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance.); and Hancock County for Public Assistance.  (FEMA HQ)