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National Situation Update: Saturday, March 15, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A frontal system will produce rain and snow across much of the Northwest and the Rockies through the weekend.  Snow levels will drop to 2,000 feet in the Washington Cascades and 3,500 feet in the northern Sierras.  A late winter storm will develop and move across San Diego County later today through Sunday.  Strong gusty winds will cross southern California to west Texas Sunday and Monday.  A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 7:00 a.m. ADT today for Alaska.  Cold northerly flow on the backside of a low pressure system over the central Aleutians will continue to create strong gusty winds.  Winds of 45 to 60 mph, in combination with continued snowfall, will keep blizzard conditions through the area until late this evening.

Midwest:
A strong storm system moving into the Plains will produce rain across Kansas, Missouri and the Ohio Valley today.  Portions of the southern Ohio Valley could see accumulations of as much as an inch of rain.  Flood warnings remain in effect for numerous rivers in Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin.

South:
Severe thunderstorms will move eastward from the Mississippi Valley to northern Georgia and the western Carolinas. Some thunderstorms can produce large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes.
Temperatures across the South will range from the 60s across the Tennessee Valley to the 90s in the lower Rio Grande Valley.  A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for northern and central Alabama until 8:00 a.m. CDT today. The NWS has extended a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10:00 a.m. CDT for 23 counties in Alabama and 44 counties in Georgia.

Northeast:
Snow is forecast for New England, with some areas receiving four to five inches.  High temperatures will range from the 30s and 40s across New England. (NWS, Media Sources)

Georgia Severe Weather

A possible tornado occurred on March 14, 2008, 9:55 p.m. EDT, damaging a one-mile track through Atlanta, GA.  Damage to the roof of the Georgia Dome, no injuries reported.  One dorm with 500 students evacuated at Georgia State University.  Cotton Mills Loft, an apartment complex, has partial building damage; eight injured, two critical. Power and gas problems are ongoing. One fatality reported in south Fulton County.  There is the expectation for a request for Joint PDAs and a FEMA liaison today.  The State Operations Center has been partially activated. (FEMA Region IV)

Flooding Update

Midwest
Illinois:
Rock River at Moline will reach moderate flood stage on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
Moderate flooding is occurring along the Rock River at Joslin.
Ohio:
The Tuscarawas River at New Philadelphia and the Muskingum River near Coshocton are at minor flood stages and are forecast to crest today.
Wisconsin:
The Fox River is forecast to reach moderate flood stage on Sunday, March 16, 2008.

Texas Wildfire

Red Flag Warnings are in effect for half of north Texas due to strong winds and dry conditions.

  • An Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3284-EM-TX) was approved March 14.
  • Two FMAGs were approved, FEMA-2752-FM-TX and FEMA-2751-FM-Texas
  • Total Acres Burned: 681,095
  • Total Homes Threatened: 6,316
  • Total Homes Lost: 128
  • Total Homes Damaged: 36
  • Texas EOC is at Level 1 (emergency operations since 01/09/2008).
  • Region VI State LNO remains at Texas EOC to support on-going wildfires (since 01/09/ 2008).
  • Region VI Operations and Planning continues to monitor the daily Texas conference calls regarding fire activity and hazards. (FEMA Region VI and Texas SOC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

An FMAG (FEMA-2752-FM-TX) was approved tonight for the "Eighty-Two Fire" in Texas near Knox City (pop. 1219) and Benjamin (pop. 264). The fire started on March 14 when this fire merged with an earlier unnamed fire.  Forty people have been evacuated and local officials are strongly encouraging another 264 people to evacuate.  There are 230 homes threatened; threat to life is 650. As of 9:30 p.m. EDT March 14, the fire was two miles from Benjamin.

An FMAG (FEMA-2751-FM-Texas) was approved this evening for the Old Bastrop Hwy Complex fire in Texas near the City of San Marcos (population:  34,700).  This fire began as four fires that started on March 14th, and the cause of all four fires is arson, all on private land.  One home has been destroyed, 40 homes have been evacuated in the River Hills Subdivision, 8 homes are immediately threatened and 100 homes are within 30 minutes of the leading edge of the fire.  As of 7:30 p.m. EDT March 14, four hundred fifty acres had burned. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

An emergency declaration (FEMA-3284-EM-TX) was approved March 14, 2008, for wildfires in the state of Texas beginning March 14, and continuing.  Under this declaration, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.  This assistance is for 184 of 254 counties in the state of Texas.

Tennessee: Disaster Declaration FEMA-1745-DR, dated February 7, 2008 has been amended to include Haywood County for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:37:19 EDT