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National Situation Update: Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Response to Kansas Tornadoes

Yesterday, May 7, 2007, Administrator David Paulison arrived in Greensburg, Kansas to tour the tornado impacted areas and met with Kansas Governor Sebelius, Senator Brownback, and Congressman Moran.

The Region VII director, Dick Hainje, and the FCO, Mike Karl, are on-scene and the Emergency Response Team-Advance (ERT-A) has been deployed. Two preliminary damage assessment (PDA) teams are participating with the state in conducting preliminary damage assessments and two additional PDA teams are being deployed. 106 inspections have been completed thus far. FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) has deployed 3 small Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicles (MEOVs), and one large MEOV to Greensburg for communications and command and control support.

The Kansas Department of Emergency Management and the Kansas Department of Transportation have deployed communications resources to Greensburg. The Kansas National Guard has deployed 352 personnel to Greensburg (state active duty) to provide support in the following areas: search and rescue, 

A Unified Command Center for Federal/State/local officials was established at 0600 EDT, 6 May 2007 in Greensburg.

Yesterday was also the first time residents were allowed to return to their homes to survey damage to their property.

The American Red Cross (ARC) has two shelters open, one in Havilland housing 54 residents, and one in Mullenville with 27 residents.

FEMA disaster assistance personnel are registering victims for federal disaster assistance.

At 12:51 pm EDT May 7, 2007, Kiowa county emergency management reported an anhydrous ammonia leak at the intersection of Pine and Ohio streets in Greensburg. The immediate area around the site was evacuated. Traffic is closed in and out of Greensburg. Apparently a contractor was called in to close a valve on a rail car containing the liquid and when they were trying to seal the valve it broke off. Approximately 14,000 gallons has spilled. There are no injuries associated with the spill. Regional hazmat crews are on site. (Region VII, FEMA HQ)

National Weather Forecast

West: The next frontal system moving in off the Pacific will produce precipitation in Washington and Oregon. The tail end of the frontal system draped across the Midwest will produce a few showers in New Mexico. Southern California will be warm under offshore flow.  High temperatures will range from the 50s in portions of the Rockies to the 90s in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and Central Valley of California. These temperatures will result in considerable melting of the snow pack in the Rockies.

Midwest: A frontal system will produce rain showers and isolated thunderstorms from Illinois to the southern Plains. The central Plains, with the exception of southeast Kansas, should remain dry. High temperatures will range from 60s in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the 80s in Missouri. A warming trend will begin in the northern Plains and spread eastward over the next few days.

South: The low pressure off the coast of the Carolinas will move closer to the coast producing high surf and coastal wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph extending from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Palm Beach, Fla. Bands of rain will result in precipitation from the Mid-Atlantic to south Florida. The frontal system extending south from the Great lakes will produce strong to severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma and Texas. Localized flooding is likely. High temperatures will range from the 60s in the Texas Panhandle to 90s in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Northeast: Conditions in most of the region will be pleasant under a ridge of high pressure. High temperatures will range from the 60s in Northern Maine to the 70s in the Mid-Atlantic. (NWS, Media Sources)

Flooding in the Midwest

Storms caused extensive river flooding across northeastern Kansas and ponding of water over roadways and low lying areas.  Numerous reports of flooded roads and homes were received. Precipitation had ended for the most part across eastern Kansas by Monday afternoon, but a chance for showers and thunderstorms remains in the forecast across the region for the rest of the week. 

Shawnee County declared a local disaster and activated its EOC around 0200 this morning (05/07) as a result of the flooding.  Flood waters from the Shunganunga Creek forced approximately 500 people to evacuate their home.  Evacuations began around 0200 CDT when the river left its banks.  The affected areas include the Shunganunga basin between Lake Sherwood southwest of Topeka to Topeka Boulevard. Shelters were opened and staffed by the American Red Cross at the Kansas Expocentre, 19th and Topeka, and at the Petro Allied Health Center at Washburn University, 19th and Washburn Ave.  Both shelters were closed this afternoon.  The Expo Center had a peak population of 150 early this morning.  Approximately 3,000 people were affected city-wide.

Flood waters started to recede around 1100 CDT.  Current stage is 21.33 ft. Flood stage is 29.0 ft.   No flood warnings were in effect for the Topeka area at this time report.  Shawnee County reported approximately 490 water rescues were performed.  There were no injuries or fatalities reported.

Soldier Creek left its banks at about 0630 CDT.  The National Weather Service reported 11 inches of rain fell in a 48-hour period in Auburn just southwest of Topeka.

Harper, Osage, Lincoln, Riley, Barton, Shawnee, Leavenworth, Washington, Doniphan, Rice, Ellsworth,

Clay, Dickinson, Osborne, Geary, Lyon, Stafford and Saline Counties have declared local emergencies as a result of flooding. 

The potential for a Governor’s request for Federal assistance is unknown at this time.  (Region VII)

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 2  (On a scale from 1 to 5)

On May 7, 2007 Light initial attack activity was reported with 145 new fires reported. Three new large fires were reported: one in Arizona and two in Florida. Three large fires were contained: two in Arizona and one in Georgia. (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The disaster declaration for Texas (FEMA-1697) has been amended to include Denton County for Individual Assistance. The effective date of the amendment is May 7, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)