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

National Situation Update: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms will cover portions of the northeast including New England, New York, western and central Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia.  Flood Warnings continue for numerous rivers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will cover most of the south-central U.S.  Severe storms, including a few tornadoes are forecast over western and north-central Texas and across Oklahoma.  Temperatures for the region are forecast with highs in the 70s and 80s.  Flood Watches remain in effect for Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect until 7:00 p.m. EDT today for southern Florida, and the eastern Florida panhandle because of low relative humidity below 35 percent.

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Ohio to southern Illinois.  Severe storms with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are forecast across the Plains from South Dakota southward.  Flood Watches remain in effect for Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.

West
Showers, mountain snow and isolated thunderstorms are forecast today from the Pacific Northwest and northern California eastward to the northern Rockies.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for most of Colorado and extreme southern Utah as a result of low humidity and increased wind.  A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Colorado from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for strong winds and low relative humidity. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

CURRENT SITUATION
Severe thunderstorms are moving across Illinois today, producing hail in some areas.  Scattered thunderstorms are forecast to continue in Illinois and move into Wisconsin and Michigan this afternoon and tonight bringing heavy rain, cloud-to-ground lightning, and the possibility of small hail; however, severe storms are not anticipated.  There have been no reports of injuries or damages.  Another round of moderate to heavy rainfall is expected the second half of this week.  This rainfall is expected to slow the rate of decline on rivers that have already crested.  Moderate Flood Stage exists on the Wisconsin River at Portage, WI and the Rock River at Newville, WI, Moline, IL and Rockton, IL.  Water levels are falling and forecast to move into Minor Flood Stage Wednesday through Thursday.  Most river gauges along the Mississippi River in Illinois are at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to rise one-half to one-and-one-half feet through Thursday morning, April 24, 2008, then begin to fall.  (NOAA)

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region IV
Mississippi: Joint IA PDAs are ongoing.
Kentucky Joint PA PDAs are ongoing.
No outstanding issues and no unmet needs.
FEMA Region VI
Oklahoma: Joint PA PDAs ongoing.
Arkansas: IA and PA PDAs are ongoing; 55 of 57 counties completed for PA; 44 of 47 counties completed for IA. 

STATE and LOCAL RESPONSE
Arkansas
Major/Moderate Flooding Update: Mississippi River: There are three flood gauges above major levels at Arkansas City.  White River: There are two flood gauges that are above major flood levels at Des Arc and Clarenden.  (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Louisiana:
No change to damages since last report
Major/Moderate River Flooding: Mississippi River at Baton Rouge: The Flood gauge is remaining steady at 43 feet and will stay at this level through April 28.(NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, GOHSEP Sit Rep) 
Mississippi:
Major/Moderate Flooding: Mississippi River: There are three flood gauges above major levels at Greenville and Vicksburg. (Region IV RRCC, Region V RRCC, Region VI RRCC, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Emergency Operations Center, Louisiana Governor's Office of State Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP), Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Texas Division of Emergency Management State Operations Center, National Weather Service, National Guard Bureau, USACE.)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No FMAG requested or issued. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No earthquakes above a 4.5 was reported.  (USGS, NOAA, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Wisconsin: Amendment 1 approved for FEMA-3285-EM-WI, adds PA for Kenosha, Racine and Waukesha Counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow removal, under Public Assistance.
Arkansas: Amendment 4 to FEMA-1751-DR dated April 21, 2008 adds 5 counties for Individual Assistance and 2 counties for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)