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

National Situation Update: Thursday, June 5, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A front moving ashore from the Pacific will produce showers in Washington, Oregon and northern Idaho. A trough of low pressure and an upper-air disturbance will produce showers and isolated thunderstorms over western Montana southward to northern New Mexico. High temperatures are expected to range from the 30s in the higher elevations of the Rockies to near 100 in southeastern New Mexico.
Midwest:
A complex low pressure system centered in Kansas is forecast to produce showery precipitation over much of the Region. Severe Thunderstorm activity is forecast for Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska Iowa, North Dakoata, South Dakoata, Minnesota and Wisconsin. High temperatures will range from the 50s in South Dakota to the 90s in the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.
South:
A high pressure ridge will result in another day of hot and dry conditions for most of the Region.  South Florida will have a few afternoon thunderstorms. Gusty southerly winds are forecast for areas west of the Mississippi River. The complex low pressure system centered in Kansas will produce severe thunderstorms in north Central Texas. High temperatures will range from the 90s to near 100 in Texas's Rio Grande Valley.
Northeast:
The front extending from the low in Kansas will produce precipitation from the mid Atlantic to New England. High temperatures will range from 70 in Maine to the upper 90s in Virginia. (NWS, Media Sources)

Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Outbreak

During the afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday, 4 June severe thunderstorms moved through the Mid- Atlantic region with hail, gusty winds and tornadoes and locally heavy rain.
Delaware:
Status of Utilities (Power): 7,864 customers without power (NICC)
State and Local Actions: EOC not activated.
District of Columbia:
Status of Utilities (Power): 13,081 customers without power (NICC)
State and Local Actions: EOC not activated
Maryland:
Shelters/Population: One shelter is open in Washington County and 10 families are being sheltered
Status of Utilities (Power): 215,913 customers without power (NICC)
State and Local Actions:
Maryland SEOC elevated to Level 2 (partial activation; increased watch and staffing) at 1530.
MEMA has received a report from Washington County of multiple structures with storm damage, including 4 with major damage.  The total number of structures with damage is unknown at this time.
Calvert County is reporting 14 homes damaged by downed trees.  Local emergency management will conduct a complete assessment and report updated numbers.
There is a report of a tornado touching down in Calvert County.  This is unconfirmed at this time.
Virginia:
Deaths: Fairfax County- 1 fatality is reported in Fairfax County as a result of a tree falling on to a motor vehicle
Shelters/Population: None Reported
One confirmed report of a tornado touching down in Fredericksburg, VA.  An unconfirmed report of a tornado touching down in Falls Church, VA. There are no damage reports at this time.
Status of Utilities (Power): 259, 147 customers without power (NICC)
State and Local Actions: VEOC normal operations; monitoring NWS; maintaining situational awareness and prepared to respond to request for assistance from impacted localities
Resource Requests:
VDEM Region 2 - coordinating request for damage assessment fly-over on 5 June
VDEM has received unverified reports of damage to homes and other structures from wind, downed trees and other storm related causes.  There are no specific reports from any counties at this time.
West Virginia:
Deaths: One reported from overnight flooding (Marion County)
Shelters/Population:
1 shelter has been reported with 20 people in Boothsville (Taylor); the shelter population has decreased throughout the day.
Four shelters are open in the northern portion of the state.  Population at the shelters is less than 60 at this time.
Evacuations: Approximately thirty families have self evacuated, with some local assistance.
Status of Utilities (Power):
Current power outages:  18,528 customers without power (NICC)
Allegheny Power is reporting the loss of one high voltage transmission line tower due to wind damage
ATT has lost a cellular node in Culloden due to lightening strike. This effectively negates wireless phone services throughout most of Southern WV for those using their network.   There is no estimated repair timelines at this time
State and Local Actions
State EOC is staffed with National Guard, State Police, WVDOH and Red Cross. West Virginia Conservation Agency is out inventorying local drain systems with a couple of significant stream blockages reported (Boothsville and Salem)
Several county EOC's are active. These counties include: Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Taylor, and the surrounding counties of Upshur, Lewis and Randolf
A state of emergency due to flooding, flash-flooding, river flooding, mudslides, landslides, disrupted transportation, downed trees, stream blockages and the potential for additional severe weather has been declared for Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Taylor and surrounding counties
Damage reports are being received from multiple counties in northern West Virginia.  Most of the storm damage is related to straight line wind.

FEDERAL ACTIONS:
National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) is Monitoring
Region III not activated but the Duty officer is monitoring.
No request for Federal Assistance (FEMA HQ,NICC,  FEMA Region III, National Weather Service, Various media Sources).

Mid-West Severe Weather Outbreak

Late last night the National Weather Service had preliminary reports of as many as 33 tornadoes in an area stretching from northeast Colorado across southern Nebraska to South Iowa. There was also a line of six tornadoes reported from Illinois ending in a single report in northwestern Indiana.
Local Damage Assessments and situational awareness updates continue today. 
No request for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA HQ, National Weather Service).

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2768-TX was issued for the Hughs Ranch Fire near Fort Davis, TX. The Fire has burned more than 9500 acres with 100 residences threatened, the Boys Ranch Church Campgrounds and the US Customs Drug Interdiction Blimp and facility. There are 100 voluntary evacuations from the Crows Nest subdivision.  The fire is 0% contained.  There is no estimated date for full containment. (FEMA HQ)   

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No activity.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. EDT, an earthquake measuring 4.7 struck about 159 miles southwest of Nikolski, AK, and approximately 1069 west-southwest of Anchorage, AK, in the Aleutian Islands, at a depth of 21.7 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (USGS, Media Sources)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, June 04, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Light (187 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 4
Extremely critical fire weather (gusty winds, high temperatures, and low humidity) for portions of southern/eastern New Mexico and western Texas. Critical fire weather for southern/eastern New Mexico much of western Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)