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National Situation Update: Friday, May 23, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Heavy rain is forecast today for parts of Montana and Wyoming; parts of Arizona could see heavy rain today.  Snowfall will continue today across the Rockies from Montana to Arizona with snow levels lowering to between 6000 and 7000 feet.  Some higher elevations could accumulate between one and three feet of snow.

Midwest
Severe thunderstorms are forecast today in South Dakota, Kansas and western Missouri with the threat of large hail, tornadoes and damaging wind gusts.  This system will then continue to move through the Ohio Valley this weekend.  Severe thunderstorms will extend from North Dakota and western Minnesota to Kansas and western Missouri on Saturday and move into the Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes on Sunday.  On Memorial Day, thunderstorms are forecast from the southern Great Lakes to the lower Ohio and mid-Mississippi Valleys.  Tornado Warnings are in effect until 12:00 a.m. EDT for southern Nebraska, most of Kansas and the north central Oklahoma.  Tornado Watches will remain in effect until 6:00 a.m. EDT and may be upgraded to a warning at any time. 

South
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, north Georgia and the Carolinas today; the thunderstorms will cause downpours in southern Georgia and northern Florida.  The southern Plains will experience severe thunderstorms later today across parts of west-central Oklahoma and north-central Texas.  Scattered thunderstorms will move from the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley from Sunday into Monday.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for west Texas and southeast New Mexico until late this evening for decreased humidity and increased winds.  

Northeast
A small craft advisory is in effect for the Coastal Northeast today.  Mild temperatures are forecast for the region through the Holiday weekend, with a chance of showers on Monday.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tornado Activity

Colorado:
One confirmed fatality, three unconfirmed fatalities.  One shelter is open at the Budweiser Event Center.  The number of occupants is not known at this time.  The state reported they are sending two trailers of 150 cots each to the shelter.  In Windsor, there are reports of 40-50 homes destroyed or with major damage.  Businesses, infrastructure damaged/destroyed are TBD.  Colorado DEM reported 13 of the overturned railroad cars at a train yard in Windsor contained residual ethanol.  There are no reports of hazmat leaks.  In Windsor, all waste water facilities are working.  Some are being powered by generators.  The water treatment facility is operational with no issues.  There are approximately 20,000 customers without electrical power.  CO EOC is operational 24/7.  Joint State/FEMA PDAs will begin on May 23.  FEMA Region VIII RRCC has been activated to a Level III status and will operate 24/7 until further notice.  The State Support Team has been deployed to the Colorado State EOC.
There has been no request for Federal assistance at this time.  (FEMA Region VIII, National Weather Service, and Weld County OEM)

Wyoming:
Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WY OHS), reports no injuries or deaths in Laramie County (2000 Census Population 14,573) WY associated with the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on May 22, 2008.  There are reports of property damage and widespread debris; the extent of damage is not known.  There are 8,200 customers without power.  Local jurisdictions are responding and there has been no request for State assistance at this time.  The WY OHS Emergency Operations Center is not activated.  FEMA Region VIII is in contact with WY OHS and is monitoring the situation.  Region VIII State Support Team (SST) will be deployed to the state EOC in Wyoming, 23 May 2008. (FEMA Region VIII)

New Orleans Levees:

Experts report seepage has been discovered at the 17th Street Canal in the Lakeview district.  The seepage is being blamed on soft ground.  Engineers say the problem afflicts other levess, which could fail during a storm.  An engineering expert predicts there is a 40 percent chance the 17th Street Canal would collapse if water rises six feet above sea level.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the seepage is not expected to cause a breach or a failure of any kind.  They believe a new floodgate could be used to stop the flow of water into the canal and reduce pressure on the levee. (NICC and Media Source)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

On May 22, 2008, A Fire Management Assistance Grant (2766-FM-CA) has been approved for the Summit Fire, Corralitos, CA (Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties).  Corralitos, CA has a population of 45,000; 500 Mandatory, 500 Voluntary evacuations and 500 homes and 20 Business are threatened, 10 Homes confirmed destroyed.  Over 3,000 acres are involved. (FEMA HQ)   

Joint PDA Requests

Delaware:
Public Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin in Kent County on May 29, 2008.

Georgia:
Joint PDAs began yesterday, May 22, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for Cherokee County consisting of one Public Assistance team and three Individual Assistance teams. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean: No significant Activity to report.
Eastern Pacific: No significant Activity to report.
Western Pacific: No activity affecting U.S. Territories. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity to report. (USGS, PTWC)

Wildfire Update

Florida
Ocala National Forest- Lake County Fire -
1,081 acres burned; 20% contained.  This complex is burning three miles northeast of Paisley, FL.  Evacuations mandatory for the Deerhaven Community of 140 homes, evacuated as a precaution.  Red Cross has opened a shelter with current population unknown.  (FEMA Region IV & NIFC)
Mustang Fire - 39,465 acres burned; 80% contained. Firefighters have made good progress containing the fire in Everglades National Park.  The fire perimeter showed no growth yesterday and acres consumed remains at approximately 40,000 acres. (InciWeb)

California
Summit Fire; Santa Cruz County
A brush fire has burned approximately 3,000 acres in the Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, 15% contained.  The fire is being driven by 30 mph wind gusts.  No fatalities or injuries reported at this time. 500 residential and 20 commercial structures threatened.  Three shelters opened with an unknown amount of occupants.  Helicopters, Dozers, Water Tenders, Air tankers, and approximately 500 firefighters are currently fighting the fire.  No critical infrastructure or key resources impacted at this time.  No request for Federal assistance at this time. (CA OES and CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President has signed FEMA-1759-DR for South Dakota.  The incident is for a severe winter storm and near record snow May 1-2, 2008.  Zero counties designated for Individual Assistance.  Five counties designated for Public Assistance.  Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)