National Situation Update: Thursday, May 3, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Forecast
South: An upper-level disturbance and an influx of moisture off the Gulf of Mexico will combine to cause showers and thunderstorms over the south-central U. S. on May 3, 2007. The heaviest downpours are expected in southeast Texas and parts of Louisiana. East of the Mississippi, Tennessee could see shower and thunderstorm activity along a stalled frontal boundary.
West: Dry weather will predominate over central and Southern California, most of Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. Several inches of snow are likely from Glacier National Park southward through the Grand Tetons and the mountains of Utah. Gusty winds are forecast for much of the Intermountain West, Southern California and the Southwest.
Midwest: A slow-moving warm front and weakening upper-air disturbance will combine to trigger showers and thunderstorms over portions of the Plains and Midwest on May 3, 2007. The northern Plains and Great Lakes region are expected to remain dry.
Northeast: In West Virginia and portions of southern Virginia showers and thunderstorms are forecast. (NWS, Media Sources)
Chemical Release In Farmington, MO
On May 2, 2007 at 5:30 pm EDT, the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) reported a possible gas or chemical release occurred at the Accent Company located at 1828 Landrum Drive, Farmington, MO.
The facility has approximately 397 employees. All employees were evacuated from the plant. One hundred and thirty (130) employees were transported to local hospitals for treatment of a burning sensation when breathing; some experienced vomiting. The positively pressurized building was secured, with the Highway Patrol securing the perimeter.
An incident update reported to the FEMA NRCC at 5:17 pm EDT, stated the incident was under control. Patients were released from local hospitals and mutual aid crews were released.
Control of the incident was transferred to the Farmington City Fire Chief. There was no further assistance requested by local authorities. (FEMA Region VII)
Kansas Flash Flooding Update
On May 1, 2007, strong storms in northeast Kansas produced torrential rain over central Pottawatomie County resulting in the flash flooding of intersections, county roads and farmland along the banks of local creeks and streams.
An estimated 6 to 8 inches of rain fell in an area from Louisville (Pottawatomie County) south to Highway 24.
As a precaution, emergency management officials asked residents of Louisville to self-evacuate to American Red Cross shelters in Wamego.
On May 2, 2007, the flood waters receded and all residents returned to their homes. (FEMA Region VII)
Rock Slide, Northumberland, Pa
On May 2, 2007, a large rock slide closed SR 147 between Sunbury, PA and Brush Valley Rd (SR 4018) in Upper Augusta township. Both north and south bound lanes are closed and expected to remain closed for an extended period of time due to approximately 2,000 tons of debris and wires down. Norfolk Southern rail lines are in the vicinity, but not affected.
Pennsylvania State Police reported no injuries from the incident. There was damage to a PENNDOT vehicle from a second slide that occurred at the beginning of clean up operations.
Clean up operations have ceased until additional damage assessment scheduled for Thursday morning, May 3, 2007. Cleanup operations will resume after assessment is complete. (FEMA Region III)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
On May 2, 2007 at 10:13 pm EDT, Fire Management Assistance Grant # 2687 was approved for the Deland Fire Complex in Florida. (FEMA HQ)
Deland Fire Complex (FL)
A brush fire in the southern part of Flagler County that started on May 1, 2007, grew overnight from 500 to 750 acres.
In Deland, FL, 400 people have been evacuated and 147 homes are threatened. In Debary 50 homes are threatened.
The following roads are closed due to smoke; Hy 40, US 1, US 17, CR 44, CR 44a, and CR 46a.
The FL Department of Forestry (DOF), Volusia County and Flagler County Fire Departments are on scene. (FEMA Region IV)
GA, Sweat Farm Road/Big Turnaround Fire
The Sweat Farm Road Fire and Big Turnaround Fires started on April 16, 2007. The fires merged on April 21, 2007. As of May 2, 2007 at 8:37 pm EDT, the combined fires have destroyed 19 homes and seven outbuildings, burned approximately 92,898 acres and are 75 percent contained. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is estimating full containment on May 15, 2007.
US Highway 1 is closed between mile marker 1 and 16 (Hatcher Point Road to Race Pond Road) and State Route 177 due to heavy smoke in the area and fire activity.
A Georgia Forestry Commission Type II Incident Management Team (Sweat Farm Road Fire) and the Southern Area Incident Type II Management Team (Big Turnaround Fire) are managing the two fires. A combination of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts. (InciWeb, Georgia Forestry Commission Fire Situation Report, May 2, 2007, and NICC)
Higher Wildfire Risk In West, South
The West and Southeast face an increased wildfire risk this year because of ongoing drought and an expected hotter than average summer, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The center identified broad swaths of those regions - including all of Florida - and central Alaska as having increased chances of catching fire.
The National Wildland Fire Outlook report predicts the wildfire danger for May through August. It is based on past and expected weather patterns combined with the predicted amount and dryness of fire fuels and their potential to ignite. This year's map looks similar to last year said a wildland fire analyst at the center.
In 2006, a record 9.8 million acres burned, 2,300 buildings were destroyed, fire suppression costs totaled $1.4 billion, and 24 wildland firefighters died.
In the Southeast, dry conditions in southern Florida have expanded northward to include the rest of the state and southern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The fire season is already on in Georgia, where a wildfire has burned 125 square miles of forest and swampland in the southeast part of the state in the last two weeks.
In the West, the report predicts a low snowpack will melt away quickly, causing forests at higher elevations to dry out. Such conditions may happen in forests in southwest Montana, central Idaho, California's Sierra - where the snowpack is near its lowest level in almost two decades - the Blue Mountains in northeastern Oregon and southwestern Washington, and in the East, the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina.
Much of Nevada, western Utah and southern Idaho could be in for an early and prolonged grassland fire season because of an abundance of fuel after two wet winters followed by a dry winter.
Other areas with an increased fire risk include:
- The southern two-thirds of Arizona, partly because of buffelgrass that grows in what used to be sparsely vegetated areas.
- The southern part of New Mexico and western Texas because of abundant plant growth that is expected to dry out by mid-May.
- The lower third of California, which has received less than half of normal precipitation since October, leaving dried-out vegetation plus areas of freeze-killed vegetation that could catch fire.
- Central and southwest Alaska, where low snowpack and a warm summer caused the center to declare above-normal fire potential.
The only areas with below-normal danger include small portions of northeast New Mexico and southeast Colorado, and portions of the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. (Media Sources)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: 184 (Light)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: 12
Area Command Teams committed: 1 NIMO; 1 Type 1 IMT; 4 Type 2 IMTs
Predictive Services Discussion: Windy and dry conditions will develop today over portions of the southern Great Basin, southern California and extreme western Arizona. Winds will also increase across the northern Plains. Warm and dry conditions will continue today over the Southeast under a departing high pressure ridge. (NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Thursday, 03-May-2007 08:18:04 EDT