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

National Situation Update: Friday, June 22, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Forecast

Midwest:  Strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours Friday, June 22, 2007.

Northeast:  A few showers or thundershowers will occur across northern New York and northern New England Friday, June 22, 2007.  Scattered thunderstorms in the Virginias will end on Sunday, June 24, 2007.

South:  Scattered thunderstorms are forecast over parts of the southern Plains and Florida, Tennessee, the Carolinas and northern and eastern Georgia.

West:  There will be a few isolated thunderstorms in the Rockies and high Plains and a few showers in the Pacific Northwest with the rest of the West to remain dry.  (NWS, Media Sources)

MS Flash Flooding and Straight Line Winds

On June 21, 2007, FEMA Region IV reported flooding and straight-line wind damage in Grenada, Panola, Tallahatchie, Webster, Yazoo and Hinds counties in Mississippi.

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is activated at level 4.

Panola County - Ten roads closed due to debris and flooding with reports of damage to 20 public roads. 

Webster County - Three roads closed due to flooding and debris.
 
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has requested a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) from Small Business Administration (SBA).   (FEMA Region IV)

North Texas Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding Update

On June 18, 2007, heavy rains caused flooding in the North Texas area affecting Cooke, Tarrant, and Grayson counties.

The total number of fatalities remains at six.

Two shelters remain open housing 161 occupants. One shelter in Fort Worth (Tarrant County) remains on standby. Most residents have made hotel accommodations or have been allowed to return to their homes.

Region VI RRCC is activated to Level 3.

Joint state/FEMA Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) for Individual Assistance (IA) have begun in Tarrant, Cooke and Grayson counties. IA Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA'S) in Denton County began June 21, 2007.

Joint PA PDAs for Coryell, Grayson, Tarrant, and Cooke expected to begin June 25, 2007. State Public Assistance (PA) PDAs for Lampasas and Bosque counties have begun.   (FEMA Region VI)

Search For Missing Resumes After Floods

Searchers slogged through mud looking for flood victims among crumpled cars, snapped trees and rubble scattered by a rushing "wall of water".

Witnesses said rapidly rising water ripped a home from its foundation Tuesday night, June 19, 2007 during a storm that quickly dumped up to 8 inches of rain in this woodsy area 100 miles northwest of New York City.

Authorities said three elderly people remained missing. One had been in a car and two others were in a house when the storm hit. Cadaver dogs have identified seven or eight piles of debris that will be searched when the recovery effort resumes Friday, June 22, 2007, a State Police representative said.

Authorities said rushing water scattered mobile homes and smashed cars so severely that searchers had trouble determining makes and models.

More than 100 searchers were methodically going house-to-house Thursday, June 21, 2007 and checking vehicle license plate numbers around hard-hit Colchester. The search was called off in the evening due to weather conditions and fatigue. State police on ATVs were earlier aided by divers, rangers, National Guard members, volunteer firefighters and cadaver dogs.  It could take more than a week to reopen Route 206, the State Police representative said.

More than 30 families were evacuated and many were put up in a shelter set up at a school.
"Their world has been wiped out," said a Red Cross official at the shelter. "Many are grateful they were able to get through this."

Tuesday's storm also knocked out power to thousands and reportedly killed a man in Rochester when a tree fell on his all-terrain vehicle.   (Media Sources)

Calm Winds Help Colo. Firefighters

Calm winds and higher humidity helped stop the spread of an 1,800-acre wildfire in rugged western Colorado mountains Thursday, June 21, 2007 and fire officials said they may allow evacuees from 90 homes to return later in the day.

"It is looking good," said a representative from the Bureau of Land Management. "Today the goal is to keep the fire from spreading."

The fire remained 50 percent contained and some spots were burning inside the perimeter, which is not a problem, said the representative. He said 300 firefighters were working on the fire, aided by water drops from helicopters.

Even though conditions improved, firefighters remained cautious because of the steep terrain and unpredictable winds. Afternoon winds usually come from the west, but once they funnel into South Canyon along the Colorado River, they can shift direction with little notice.

Residents of 90 homes in the Canyon Creek Estates subdivision were evacuated Monday, June 18, 2007 and Tuesday, June 19, 2007. The same homes were threatened by a fire that killed 14 firefighters in 1994.

West of the fire, a second blaze had charred more than 1,000 remote and rugged acres but was nearly contained. All but 30 of the 120 firefighters were being sent home.  (Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

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

Earthquake Activity

No new activity to report. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

New York:  Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for Delaware County have been requested by the Governor of New York to begin June 22, 2007.

Joint state/FEMA Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) for Individual Assistance (IA) have begun in Tarrant, Cooke and Grayson counties. IA Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA'S) in Denton County began June 21, 2007.

Joint PA PDAs for Coryell, Grayson, Tarrant, and Cooke expected to begin June 25, 2007. State Public Assistance (PA) PDAs for Lampasas and Bosque counties have begun.   (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  2
States Most Affected: Alaska, Idaho, Nevada

National Fire Activity as of  June 21, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. EDT:

• Initial attack activity: Light (181 new fires)
• New large fires: 7
• Large fires contained: 4
• Uncontained large fires: 11

Weather Discussion:  The western states will remain hot and dry. Gusty winds predicted for Utah and western Wyoming.  Alaska will be warm and dry with thunderstorms. Dry conditions will continue throughout the southeast.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)