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National Situation Update: Friday, May 2, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

Midwest
Severe weather will extend from the Great Lakes all the way down the Mississippi River.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to contain large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Heavy snow is predicted for parts of the western Dakotas, western Nebraska and Wyoming.  High winds will create blizzard conditions at times.  Isolated locations in the Black Hills of South Dakota may see two or three feet of snow.
South
Severe weather will stretch from western Kentucky down to northwest Louisiana on either side of the Mississippi.  Severe storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Northeast
Light scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Maryland to Upstate New York and southern New England.
West
Snow and wind will continue today across parts of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado as the storm slowly moves out into the Plains.  Northeastern Wyoming could see snow totals up to three feet.  Blizzard conditions are possible.  Critical fire weather will continue over New Mexico through May 2 due to windy conditions.  Light showers are forecast for parts of the Pacific Northwest today through Sunday. (NWS)

Maine Flooding

Historically high flooding occurred on the St. John and Fish Rivers in Fort Kent, Maine with localized flooding in other regions of the state.  Rivers are currently receding, but still at or above flood stage.  Maine Emergency Operations Center is activated and is monitoring all rivers.  There was no overtopping of levees.  The Governor of Maine declared a State of Emergency for Aroostook County.

There are currently four wastewater treatment plants that are not treating waste: Presque Isle; Caribou; Limestone; St Agatha.  Maine Emergency Management Agency reported that four bridges are closed due to flood damage and are awaiting inspection by the Maine Department of Transportation.  Forty homes have been evacuated until U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) completed their inspection of the St John River levee.  Currently, two shelters have occupants: University at Fort Kent - 10 occupants; and Island Falls - 30 occupants.  There are reports of damage to multiple state and local roads, public buildings, private homes and property, and possible damage to selected bridges and the lower dam in Washburn.  No injuries or deaths have been reported. (Region I, NWS)

Severe Storm and Tornado Activity in Southeast Virginia

NWS will be assessing potential tornado activity in southeast Sussex County and James City, Virginia.

• Injuries: 216 treated and released; 4 currently hospitalized.
• No shelters reported open.
• Homes damaged: 49 (-7) destroyed ; 65 (-12) with major damage; 156 (-84) with minor damage
• Power outages: No power outages reported (as of 7:30 a.m. May 1)

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) began on May 1.  It is anticipated the Joint PDAs will conclude today, May 2.  The Governor of Virginia declared a State of Emergency on April 28, and four local declarations: City of Colonial Heights, City of Suffolk; Brunswick and Isle of Wight Counties.
Virginia State EOC is now transitioning to a recovery operation. (Region III)

Midwest Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Iowa
At approximately 7:30 p.m. CDT May 1, strong to severe thunderstorms moved across east central Kansas, west central Missouri, northwestern Missouri and extreme northwest Iowa, to include the Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas metro areas.  The storms produced heavy rains, large hail, lightning and damaging winds.  Several tornado warnings were issued, and tornadoes were reported in Rock Valley (Sioux County) and in Inwood, Doon, Rock Rapids and George in Lyon County, Iowa.  In Rock Rapids, the tornado reportedly struck on the west side of town, which is a fairly rural area.  Local citizens reported downed power lines in the wake of the storm, but the State has not received any reports of damage.
Missouri
Clinton County, Missouri law enforcement officials confirmed citizen reports of a tornado touch down approximately two miles east of Plattsburg near the intersection of Highway 116 and Hwy W.  Locals are reporting some downed trees.  No reports of damage to structures.  No injuries or fatalities have been reported.  Two brief tornado touchdowns were reported near the intersection of 215th and Prospect in Belton (Cass County), Missouri.  No damages have been reported.

Kansas
A brief tornado touch down was reported in an open field near Fredonia (Wilson County), Kansas and near Uniontown (Bourbon County), Kansas.  No damages were reported to the State EOC.

STATE/LOCAL RESPONSE: The states have not activated their State Emergency Operations Centers at this time and no FEMA State Liaisons have been deployed.  The State's have not received any additional reports of damages or requests for assistance.

FEDERAL RESPONSE: Region VII RRCC made contact with Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and no Federal assistance is required at this time.(All reports of tornadoes are preliminary, pending verification by NWS)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

FEMA Regional Offices, State EOCs, and the NRCC continue to monitor Flood Warnings and Watches in the Mississippi River Valley for Wisconsin and Illinois.  The Mississippi River remains at or above Flood Stage at locations in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.  Most Major Flood Stage gauges on the Mississippi River are beginning to recede.
Louisiana:
The Bonnet Carre Spillway remains open.  The USACE announced the immediate closure of 10 of the 160 spillways on April 30; the remainder will be closed by mid-May. (Region IV RRCC, Region VI RRCC, National Weather Service)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved at 8:59 p.m. EDT, May 1, 2008 (Declaration #2764-FM Texas) for the "Price Fire," located in Midland and Martin Counties, Texas.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred 45 miles west northwest of Adak, AK or 1,218 miles west southwest of Anchorage, AK at 9:33 p.m. EDT, at a depth of 6.2 miles.  Over one hundred aftershocks have been recorded in the area ranging from 2.5 - 4.1 magnitude.  No tsunami was generated, and no reports of injuries or damage have been received. (USGS, FEMA HQ, Region X)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, May 1, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Light (148 new fires)
New large fires: 5
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 12
The Trigo Fire, burning in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), NM, was 95% contained as of April 30, 2008; however, strong winds have renewed the fire threat, and several communities are now threatened.  The fire tripled in size and is now estimated to cover 12,000 acres.  The fire skirted the towns of Torreon and Tajique, NM last night as it burned through the Sherwood Forest subdivision.  Torreon and the Ten Pines area are still in the path, but there is a possibility the fire will burn back onto itself.  Torrance County and Tajique, NM have been evacuated.

Weather Discussion: Weather conditions will continue to increase this fire activity in the Southwest.  Arizona, New Mexico, and western portions of Texas and Oklahoma will continue to have strong winds and dry conditions.  The southeastern and New England states will experience low humidity again today. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment # 6 to Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1751-DR-AR for the State of Arkansas was received on May 1, 2008. Five counties (Desha, Poinsett, Arkansas, Van Buren and Hempstead), were added to those already approved for Individual Assistance.  Five counties (Hempstead, Benton, Miller, Nevada and Sebastian) were added to those already approved for Public Assistance.

On April 30, 2008, the Governor of Oklahoma requested a Major Disaster Declaration for twenty-three counties (Adair, Caddo, Coal, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Logan, Love, McIntosh, Mayes, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Tillman and Wagoner) as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began April 9, 2008, and continue.  The Governor is requesting Public Assistance (Categories A - G) for the above listed twenty-three counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)