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National Situation Update: Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South:  Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely across southeast Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and western Tennessee on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.
Thunderstorms may contain large hail and damaging winds.  Tornadoes are possible but the threat will be somewhat reduced as compared to April 24, 2007.

Midwest:  The Midwest will be unsettled on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 with a combination of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms.  Strong thunderstorms are likely across the Ohio Valley while the most potential for severe weather will occur over parts of southern Illinois, southern Missouri and southeast Kansas.

Large hail, damaging wind and even a few tornadoes may accompany the thunderstorms.
To the north of that area a chilly rain is expected from northern Ohio to western Kansas. Some flooding is possible from Nebreska, through much of Iowa to northern Illinois.

West:  Parts of Colorado dealt with heavy snowfall from the strong storm system that emerged from the Rockies.  Some locations in the higher elevations picked up from one to two feet of snow. Some slushy accumulations were reported in the Denver area.

Snow will be winding down and there will be just a bit of lingering precipitation in the area on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.  Elsewhere, there will be some scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Pacific Northwest. The rest of the region will be dry.

Northeast:  Areas of the Northeast, from Upstate New York to New England will remain dry on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 as high pressure moves into the area.  A frontal boundary to the south may trigger scattered showers over Pennsylvania, southern New York and New Jersey later Wednesday and Wednesday night, April 25, 2007.   (NWS, Media Sources)

Heavy Rain In Puerto Rico And Virgin Islands

According to the 5:00 am EDT National Weather Service (NWS) report, the morning was rainy across the North central, northeast and east sections of Puerto Rico, on April 24, 2007, including the municipalities of Culebra and Vieques, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The NWS report indicated that the remnants of an old frontal boundary continued over the region, in addition to a mid to upper level trough which remained west of Puerto Rico. That resulted in numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms, with the potential for very heavy rainfall across Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

PRSEMA reported this morning, April 24, 2007 that there have been no new developments. PRSEMA's EOC has not been activated.

VITEMA has indicated that no major flooding has taken place in the USVI as of April 24, 2007, except for some debris and small flooding in low-lying areas. Some public schools in St. Thomas located in flooded areas are closed, but cleaning is underway today to re-open the schools April 25, 2007. VITEMA's EOC has not been activated.
PRSEMA and VITEMA continue monitoring the weather situation.  (National Weather Service, PRSEMA and VITEMA)

Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding - Kansas

On April 24, 2007, national media reported multiple tornado touch downs in five states, including Kansas and Nebraska.  Storm spotters reported tornadoes in Clark, Wallace, Comanche, Thomas, Sherman and Rawlins' Counties in Kansas.  

Thomas County, Kansas is reporting one farmstead damaged, approximately one mile of a distribution circuit (18-20 poles), and two transmission structures on the 115KV line destroyed.  Officials estimate $150,000 in damages.

Rawlins County, Kansas reported power poles and lines down with an unknown number of people without power.  

Strong storms will continue to impact the Region through the morning on April 25, 2007.  There is a moderate risk for severe weather for areas in eastern Kansas and southwest Missouri.  Large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are possible.  A widespread severe weather event is not expected. 

The potential for severe weather (large hail and tornadoes) increases towards the evening and early morning hours on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.  The storms produced heavy rainfall across northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska.  Up to one inch of rainfall per hour has been reported.   Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks, streams, highways, underpasses, country roads and farmlands along the banks of creeks, streams and other low-lying areas. 

The storm system is expected to lose intensity has it moves eastward across the central region; however, some areas in Iowa could see up to 2 inches of rainfall before the system exits the area on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

No State assistance has been requested.  The States will continue to contact Emergency Managers in the impacted counties and will report any damages to the Region VII RRCC.
The situation does not appear to be beyond local and State capabilities.  The Region VII RRCC will provide updates as new information becomes available.   (FEMA Region VII)

Severe Storms Including Tornadoes And Flooding

The National Weather Service reported severe storms occurred in the State of Nebraska April 23-24, 2007 with a tornado touchdown in Dundy County and hail in Clay, Chase, Furnas, Hall, and Phelps Counties.  

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency reports no damages due to the severe storms except for flooding in the following areas:

Red Willow (McCook County)
Low areas and waterways are flooding in the county due to heavy rain.  Local officials are monitoring and assessing the situation in case sandbagging is implemented.  One house on a county road may need sandbagging.

Hastings (Adair County)
Minimal flash flooding is occurring on one road with no significant impact.

Kearney (Buffalo County)
Highway 30 was closed during the morning of April 24 from Kearney east to Gilliam due to heavy rain.  Highway 30 has reopened.  Local officials are monitoring lower river flooding. 

Grand Island (Hall County)
Normal road flooding is occurring at three underpasses with no significant impact.

Phelps County
Flooding is occurring on streets and highways with no significant impact.

Additional storms will be moving through Nebraska Tuesday thru Wednesday (April 24-25). 

NEMA reports no more than one inch of rain is predicted to occur through April 25, 2007.  Their analysis indicates no significant flooding due to the additional rain.
No state assistance has been requested at this time.  The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is contacting affected counties to obtain up-to-date flooding information and will provide reports to the Region VII RRCC.

FEMA Region VII is in contact with NEMA to monitor and assess the flooding within the State of Nebraska.   The Region VII RRCC will provide updates as new information becomes available.  No request for federal assistance is anticipated.  (FEMA Region VII)

Colorado Tornadoes

From approximately 3:45 PM - 5:45 pm EDT, twelve tornadoes touched down in Kit Carson and Cheyenne Counties in eastern Colorado. 

One touch down in Wild Horse, Cheyenne County (2000 population - 2,231) resulted in damage to an unoccupied trailer home. 

One touch down near Cheyenne Wells (2000 population - 1,011), Kit Carson County (2000 population - 8,011) damaged an outbuilding. 

There have been no other reports of damage.  No injuries have been reported.
Region VIII is in contact with CO DEM and is monitoring the situation.  There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time.   (FEMA Region VIII)

CO Blizzard Conditions

Colorado State EOC was activated April 24, 2007 at 6:30 pm EDT in response to blizzard conditions in El Paso and Elbert Counties.

National Guard troops were deployed to rescue stranded motorists and three school busses. As of 7:30 pm EDT all passengers on school busses were retrieved and taken to a local shelter near the town of Yodel, CO. As of 11:30 pm EDT, the National Guard completed 80 missions and continues to act on 30 missions to remove abandoned cars along state highways 105, 94, and 24 - all east of I-25.

It is believed that all stranded motorist have been retrieved and taken to local shelters. All shelter and feeding needs are being provided by county and local governments, faith based organizations, and private citizens.

The state EOC ceased operations at 11:30 pm EDT.  The CO Department of Emergency Management (DEM), National Guard, and local jurisdictions are responding as required. CO EOC was activated from 6:30 - 11:30 pm EDT.

There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time.   (FEMA Region VIII)

Storm Piles 16 Inches of Snow on Colo.
A storm system piled more than a foot of snow on the Colorado foothills on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and hit the Plains with violent thunderstorms, flooding rainfall and hail.

A tornado damaged several buildings near the small town of Wild Horse about 110 miles southeast of Denver, but no injuries were reported, the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Department said. The department did not immediately have details on damage.  A second twister was reported near the Colorado-Kansas line about 35 miles east of Wild Horse, but there were no immediate details.

Evergreen, Colo., in the foothills west of Denver, reported 16 inches of snow, and other foothills towns had up to 14 inches.  Some schools were closed in the mountains and foothills.  Tumbling boulders, a fallen power line, accidents, slick pavement and poor visibility forced nearly a dozen road closures, including on Interstates 25 and 70.  A jackknifed semi backed up traffic for nearly 20 miles on southbound I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs.

Hail the diameter of quarters peppered parts of southeastern Colorado, and authorities said some rural roads were blocked by flooding from heavy rain in northeast Colorado, northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska.  Up to 7 inches of rain was likely in parts of Nebraska, said a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hastings, Neb.  (Media Sources)

Texas Severe Weather

The Dallas Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC) is reporting they are opening 2 shelters due to flooding and tornado damage from tornado touchdown in or near Denton, TX.. One Mobile home park is affected.  The shelter is at the LMK Center.  A 2nd shelter is opening at Pilot Point in Denton for a nursing evacuation request for a Medical Special Needs shelter. 

The San Antonio chapter of the ARC is reporting opening a shelter for stranded travelers from 3 flights which have been rerouted from Dallas-FW airport due to weather.  The shelter is at McCarthy High School. 

There was a reported tornado touchdown in Chula Vista near Carrizo (Dimmit County/ Maverick Co.).  Some utilities and phone are down.  At least 4-5 mobile homes affected.  A shelter is being opened in Chula Vista.

The State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC) received an updated report of severe weather damage south of Eagle Pass, Maverick County.  Two to three blocks of homes have been damaged and/or destroyed.  Displaced persons are being evacuated to the Memorial Jr. High School and Sam Houston Elementary School.

There have been four fatalities and an unknown number of injuries.  Additional information will be provided as it is received. (FEMA MERS - Denton, American Red Cross, TX State Operations Center)

Six Dead In Texas Storms

Six people were killed when severe storms spawned a tornado that struck a small community near the Mexican border Tuesday, officials said.  The six people killed were reportedly in one home, said the Eagle Pass Fire Chief. The tornado struck  unincorporated areas of Maverick County known as Loma Linda and Chula Vista.  The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado struck a few miles south of Eagle Pass just after 9:00 pm EDT, April 24, 2007.  An unknown number of people were also injured, stretching the resources of the local hospital in Eagle Pass.

More than 200 emergency responders, including National Guard units attached to the Border Patrol, were conducting search and rescue efforts. The door-to-door checks were halted late Tuesday, April 24, 2007 as another series of dangerous storms swept the area.

The thunderstorm that produced the deadly tornado developed over Mexico and moved southeast over the Rio Grande and across Maverick County, said a senior forecaster with the Austin-San Antonio office of the weather service.

In Piedras Negras, Mexico, at least three people were killed and at least 40 were injured in the severe weather, authorities said. The violent storm ripped roofs from homes, toppled power poles and damaged dozens of cars and homes, said the city's civil protection director.

Eagle Pass is located about 145 miles southwest of San Antonio. (Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

On April 24, 2007 at 5:08 pm EDT, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck northern California about 1 mile east-southeast of The Geysers at a depth of 1 mile.  There were no reports of damage or injuries.  (NOAA, 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

National Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: Moderate with 473 new fires
New Large Fires: 4
Large Fires Contained: 0
Uncontained Large Fires:  12

Sweat Farm Road Fire- Ware County, GA:  46,140 acres at 50 percent contained.  The Georgia Forestry Commission Incident Management Team responsible for the Sweat Farm Road Fire, is coordinating with a federal-led Incident Management Team working the portion of the fire located in the Okefenokee (now called the Big Turnaround Fire).
A combination of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts.

Though firefighters have made progress on fire breaks, the fire continues to pose a threat to the communities of Waycross and Manor, as well as the northwest portion of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

The fire will benefit the swamp Wilderness habitat, which is a fire-dependent ecosystem, and will pose only a small threat to the wildlife species which live within it. 

The next report from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency will be published on April 25, 2007 at 12:00 pm EDT.  (Georgia Forestry Commission Wildfire Situation Report #11)  

Predictive Services Discussion: Florida and Georgia will see another day of warm temperatures and low humidity. Strong winds and low humidity will prevail over southeast New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma today.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Interagency Coordination Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The disaster declaration for New York (FEMA-1692-DR) has been signed by the President effective April 24, 2007. The counties of Orange, Rockland and Westchester are approved for Individual Assistance.  All counties in the state of New York are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Program.

The disaster declaration for Iowa (FEMA-3275-EM) is amended, effective april 24, 2007 to include the counties of Dickinson, Plymouth and Woodbury for category B emergency protective measures.(FEMA HQ)