• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Sunday, April 29, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Hot Weather is Forecast for Much of the U.S.

Northeast
Showers will continue over Upstate New York, New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions on Sunday.  Highs are expected to be in the 60s-70s. 
 
South
There is no appreciable rainfall forecast for the Southern U.S. for the next few days. Large sections of the region need rain badly. The Waycross, GA area has received only 1.82 inches of rainfall since January 1st, compared to the annual average of 15 inches. Highs will remain in the 70s-80s for the weekend. 
 
Midwest
The region will experience hot dry weather through Sunday and Monday. Widespread highs in the 80s are expected.

West
The Desert Southwest will see hot temperatures for the next few days. Parts of Arizona will have highs in the 90s and 100s starting Sunday. 
 
Some showers (up to 1 inch) and thunderstorms are expected in eastern Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas during Saturday night and Sunday. The rainstorms may be accompanied by large hail and high winds. 

A cold front is expected in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday which will cause cooler temperatures. Some showers and thunderstorms may result.  (NOAA/NWS, media sources)

Drought Conditions to Increase Wildfire Threat

Fire experts will issue their annual national wildfire forecast next week, in which they are expected to warn that it could be another above-average season. The areas most at threat for wildfire will likely include:  southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and the Southeastern states.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center short-term forecast for the period April 30 through May 11 indicates that drought conditions are likely to increase the wildfire threat in the above areas.

Weather patterns during May 3-11 will maintain very warm air over the drought area across the South. The warmth and lack of significant rains means continued drought in the area extending from the Tennessee Valley into Georgia and Florida.

Some improvement in drought conditions is expected in the Plains and Rockies, but minimal improvement in the South, California, and the Southwest during this period.

In the South, Southwest, and California, forecast rainfall amounts do not appear large enough to significantly improve drought conditions, although a moist flow of tropical air will bring showers to Florida's southern Peninsula.  (NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center, media sources)

Texas Tornado Update

The following State priorities have been established for the Eagle Pass, Texas recovery effort:

1. Recovery / Debris Removal
2. Immediate Mass Care
3. Determination of unmet needs.

Damage assessments continue by joint state and federal damage assessment teams.

American Electric Power (AEP) has restored all power to those customers who could receive power. 100 buildings are still incapable of receiving power.

Region VI is sending 2000 hygiene kits from the Fort Worth Logistics Center by Monday a.m. FEMA previously provided 5,000 tarps to the impacted area.

The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, and the Texas Baptist Men are providing shelter operations and thousands of meals to impacted residents.

Two (2) sites are being sought for an Emergency Housing Unit (EHU) mission for TX: one (1) site in Eagle Pass and the other around Amarillo, TX.  The EHU commodity manager is currently in contact with FEMA Region 6 to assist with the requirement.

There is a possibility for some severe weather activity Sunday night through Monday night, including heavy rain and some isolated thunderstorms, which could impact recovery operations.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 3.1 miles 253 miles WSW of Portland, OR at 8:49 pm EDT April 28, 2007. No injuries or damages have been reported. No tsunami has been generated.   (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Connecticut: Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA) PDAs for all eight counties in the State began on April 19, 2007, and are continuing.

Kentucky: PA PDAs for seven counties began on April 26, and continue.
 
Massachusetts: IA PDAs for eight counties and PA PDAs for five counties began on April 23, and continue.

Rhode Island: PA PDAs for five counties began April 25, 2007, and continue.

Texas:  PDAs continue in three counties due to damages from severe storms and tornadoes that occurred April 21 and 24, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center indicates there are no critical fire weather areas for the U.S. on Sunday. The southern U.S. is expected to experience low relative humidity readings Sunday while high temperatures will be in the 80s. Sustained wind speeds in the south including most areas in Florida and Georgia will be less than 10 miles per hour which will assist firefighters attempting to contain the large fires in Georgia.

Sweat Farm Road/ Big Turnaround Fire:  The two fires have merged and have consumed approximately 65,913 acres, and are 50 percent contained. The Georgia Forestry Commission is estimating full containment on May 15, 2007.

Residents within the local threatened area have been evacuated. 

All road closures have been lifted except US Highway 1 between mile marker 1 and 16 and State Route 177. Fire crews staged ahead on Saturday and continued to reinforce the lines along the U.S. Route 1.

The CSX Rail Line that travels next to U.S. Route 1 was reopened Saturday.  (Georgia Forestry Commission, NOAA National Weather Service)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)