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National Situation Update: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Rain and snow showers in the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.  Several inches of snow across the higher elevations of New Mexico.  Windy conditions over northern California and the Great Basin.   High temperatures will range from the 40s in the Rocky Mountains to near 100 across parts of southwest Arizona
Midwest:
Showers and thunderstorms from the Great Lakes down to the Ohio Valley.  Most of the Plains and Upper Midwest will be dry but a few showers in the western Dakotas.  High temperatures will range from the 50s around the northern Great Lakes and in western South Dakota to the 70s across the Ohio Valley and parts of Kansas.
 South:
Strong to severe thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging winds or some tornadoes are likely from northeast Texas to Mississippi.   Scattered thunderstorms across much of Kentucky and Tennessee.
High temperatures will range from 60 degrees across the Texas Panhandle to near 100 in the lower Rio Grande Valley.    Highs in the 80s across the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula.
Northeast:
Scattered thunderstorms across parts of western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Highs will range from the 60s to the 70s across the region  (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Wild Fires:

Florida
There are now ten (10) uncontrolled fires threatening 870 homes, 25 businesses, several schools and one airport (Melbourne International).
Five (5) homes have been destroyed and 15,000 residents evacuated.  55 homes have various degrees of damage
Interstate 95 has been closed in both directions from US 192 south to SR 60 (Approximately 33.4 miles.)
The State is continuing to monitor fire threat.  Florida Department of Forestry Red Strike Team has been deployed to Brevard County.
Approximately 15,000 residents have been evacuated from fire threatened areas.

Severe Weather Outbreak:

Federal Actions
Region VI:
Region leadership in communication with State EM Directors 
Coordinating with Arkansas and Oklahoma JFOs
Region VII:
Deployed an MDRC to Newton County.
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Regions coordinated with affected states' health departments, with nothing negative to report.
National Guard Bureau (NGB)
25 personnel in Picher, OK.
52 personnel in Stuttgart, AR
4 personnel in Kentucky.
National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC)
Will reach out to Department of Energy (DOE) concerning above-mentioned Missouri electrical transmission line down.
State Operations:
Georgia:
State EOC partially activated to Level II
The Governor has declared 6 counties for State of Emergency
The Governor added 7 counties to the State of Emergency.
One fatality reported in Laurens County
Joint IA and PA PDAs began May 12
21 counties affected
1,039 businesses, homes and mobile homes affected; 7 homes/4 mobile homes/ 1 business destroyed, 28 homes/8 mobile homes major damage, 71 homes/14 mobile homes minor damage
Oklahoma:
EOC is activated to lowest level (Minimum activation)
Ops personnel and County liaisons, as required
Seven confirmed fatalities  
150 reported injuries        
Town of Picher reports twenty block neighborhood impacted
Over 122 homes and 1 business destroyed. 95 homes damaged.
4800 customers without electric service; power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down
Power and communications out to entire town of Picher
Gas turned off as a precaution
American Red Cross opened a shelter; no shelter numbers
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) providing support
OK National Guard providing 25 soldiers
Tulsa’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team in Picher
State mobile command unit assisting
Arkansas:
EOC activated Level I (Normal Operations)
Joint IA PDAs began May 12
25-30 homes destroyed; 25-30 homes major damage; 40-45 homes minor damage (Stuttgart)
15 businesses destroyed (Stuttgart)
Damage assessments began in Phillips County
Missouri:
The State of Missouri has deployed Missouri Task Force One to impacted area
The State EOC is at normal operations.
16 confirmed fatalities; 85 injuries
Reported damage: 30 homes destroyed, 21 homes major damage
RNA initial estimated damage: 117 homes destroyed, 59 homes major damage, 4 businesses destroyed
Joint IA and PA PDAs began May 12
Approximately 4,000-5,000 are without power, power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down
(Region  IV, Region VI, Region VII, Federal Agencies, Affected States, FEMA HQ)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (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)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, May 12:
Initial attack activity: Light (161 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 8
Weather Discussion:  In Florida winds will diminish today but relative humidity will remain low. In the Southwest a cold front will bring cooler and wetter weather today to northern portions of Arizona and New Mexico with dry and windy conditions confined to the southern half of the Area. Warmer weather is on tap for California.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center,  NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Oklahoma:  The Governor of Oklahoma is requesting a major disaster declaration as a result of a severe storm and tornado during May 10, 2008.  The request includes Individual Assistance for Ottawa County, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  Direct Federal assistance is also requested.(FEMA HQ)