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National Situation Update: Friday, June 13, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Under a ridge of high pressure, most of the Region will be dry, except for a few showers over eastern Montana and Washington.  High temperatures will be above seasonal averages ranging from the 50s in Washington to over 100 in the desert southwest.
Midwest:
The slow-moving cold front will continue to produce rain showers and severe thunderstorms from Missouri to southern Michigan. Some areas may pick up an additional 4 inches of. rain accumulation. Heavy precipitation is also forecast over the Great Lakes, south across the Ohio River and south to Tennessee.   High temperatures will range from the high 50s along the border to the 90s in Oklahoma.
South:
A moist onshore flow will produce showers and scattered thunderstorms across the Region.  An upper level disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico will move toward the Gulf Coast and produce areas of heavy precipitation and localized flooding along the coast.   High temperatures will range from the 80s in the Tennessee Valley to over 100 degrees in western Texas.
Northeast:
High pressure centered just offshore of New Jersey will result in dry conditions for the Region except for a few isolated thunderstorms over western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  Tomorrow, the cold front will move in from the Midwest and produce strong-to-severe thunderstorms from western parts of Virginia to the western portions of New York and New England.   High temperatures will range from near 70 in Maine to the 90s in Virginia.(NWS, Media Sources)

Midwest Severe Weather Outbreak of 11-13 June 2008

A frontal system that continues to move slowly through the Midwest produced a second severe weather outbreak last night, 12-13 June. The National Weather Service's Severe Storm Center issued several Tornado Watches and had preliminary reports of over 22 tornado touchdowns from east-central Kansas to southeast Wisconsin. There were no early reports of damage or injuries.

The outbreak of 11-12 June produced over 50 tornadoes caused significant damage and loss of life in Iowa and Kansas.

Iowa
State EOC partially activated 24/7.
A tornado destroyed the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Turin (Monona County) east central Iowa. The community is located 50 miles North of Omaha, NE.  Four fatalities and 48 injuries.  There were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the 1,800-acre camp. 
Kansas
State EOC activated
3 Counties affected:  Dickinson, Riley, and Jackson.  Several injuries across the state and 2 fatalities (1 Chapman, 1 Soldier).  Three truckloads of water en route to Forbes Field in Topeka KS.
Chapman

  • EF3 tornado damage was noted in Chapman. 
  • Electricity, gas, and water outages in Chapman (sewer operable).
  • There are two shelters open with a population of zero.
  • 60 homes destroyed - 28 major damage.
  • Fire Station major damage.
  • All schools destroyed.

Manhattan

  • EF4 tornado damage was noted in Southwest Manhattan.
  • 3 business destroyed - 10 major damage and 20 minor damage.
  • 45 homes destroyed - 67 homes major damage and 75 minor damage.
  • Numerous buildings damaged on Kansas State University.
  • Kansas State University research reactor building sustained damage.(NWS Severe Storms Center, FEMA HQ, Region VII)

Midwest Flooding

FEMA Region V RRCC:
FEMA Region V RRCC is activated at Level II.
FEMA Region V Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) on scene.
Joint Field Office (JFO) for FEMA-1766-DR-IN will be operational Friday June 13, 2008.
The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1766-DR for the State of Indiana on Sunday, June 8, 2008. Public Assistance for 29 counties was approved.
The Governor of Minnesota has requested Public Assistances PDA's for the Counties of Fillmore and Houston.  The PDA's will begin on Friday June 13, 2008.
The Governor of Wisconsin has requested Individual Assistances PDA's for the Counties of: Columbia, Crawford, Sauk, and Vernon. 
PDAs ongoing in affected states.
Illinois EOC:
Governor declared six (6) counties disaster areas.
Levee leaks occurring in Warrant County.
Evacuations are ongoing in Lawrenceville
Levee breaches in Lawrence County.
Boiled water order in Martensville and Casey.
Indiana State EOC:
Activated at Level II, 24-7, with full ESF support.  FEMA LNO, FCO, RV IMAT, DFCO, USACE, USCG and EPA on site.
30 counties under State Emergency Declaration, 45 counties impacted.
Initial Operating Office (IOF) opened next to State EOC.
JFO to be fully operational in Indianapolis on June 13, 2008.
Eight (8) truckloads of potable water June 12, 2008, per FEMA HQ Logistics.
IMA-USACE conducting levee assessments.
Washington (Davies County) levee overtopping; evacuations underway.
IN Army National Guard (IN ARNG) assisting with water issues/sandbagging missions.
Federal Assistance needs will continue.
Minnesota EOC:
2 counties under emergency declaration; Filmore and Houston.
The Governor has requested PA PDAs for the Counties, the PDAs will begin on June 13.
Wisconsin EOC:
Level I activation (highest level); 24-7 operations throughout the week.
30 counties under State Emergency Declaration.
WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitoring dams; dozens have been overtopped, several have breached into agricultural areas.
Sandbags and pumps requested.
IA PDAs requested of FEMA for five (5) counties; began June 12, 2008.
5 shelters open with 22 residents.
FEMA Region VII RRCC:
Activated at Level II, 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT (M-F); 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (S-Su).
FEMA LNO at IA State EOC.
Received request from State of Iowa for Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments for Individual and Public Assistance for Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Floyd and Franklin counties.
Mission assignments have been issued to the USACE, USPHS and NOAA for technical assistance to FEMA and the State of Iowa.
Iowa:
EOC fully activated.
Twenty one (21) fatalities reported.
54 counties under State Emergency Declaration.
Estimated 2,500 people under mandatory evacuation from Cedar Rapids, Palo, Waterloo, Greene and New Hartford (65 from Waterloo sheltered at University of Northern Iowa, which has a capacity of 200 occupants).
Cedar Rapids/Linn downtown residents and businesses within the city's 500 year flood plain are under a mandatory evacuation order.
Special needs shelter in Cedar Rapids was relocated due to power loss.
Des Moines issued a voluntary evacuation for Birdland Marina area affecting 200 residents.
PDAs for counties requested.
Seven shelters are open with a population of 312.

Kansas (Topeka JFO):
Fourteen counties under Flood Warning.
PDAs in 31 counties for PA and 1 for IA began June 9, 2008, with a possible future 40 - 45 counties add on with no additional IA PDA requests.
MO River in Fort Leavenworth area flooding at minimal levels.
No evacuations/no shelters open.
State Coordinating Officer (SCO) anticipating a declaration.
Missouri:
10 counties affected
The Mississippi River Current Level above Flood Stage and is forecast to crest June 19.
Ralls County, ferry service to Illinois is closing. 
Missouri State Water Patrol is providing assistance to locals as requested and have officers and boats staged at Big Lake in Holt County.
Nebraska/FEMA Region II ERT-N:
Ten PA PDAs were completed on June 12, 2008; 22 IA PDAs were requested, 19 are complete.
Governor to request Major Disaster Declaration June 13, 2008 for flooding that began on May 22, 2008 and continuing.
0 fatalities, several minor injuries.
No critical issues to report.
FEMA Region VIII RRCC:
Level III Watch, 6:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. MDT (T-F).
SD determining county assessments.  11 PA Teams assessed 28 of 32 counties; five (5) IA Teams assessing nine (9) counties and three (3) reservations.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.  (FEMA HQ)   

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
A disorganized area of disturbed weather is located about 700 miles south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.  Any development is expected to be slow to occur as this system moves slowly to the west or west-northwest.
Elsewhere, 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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

California
CA State SOC is activated
Inland OES Region is Open activated
Humboldt Fire, Butte County, CA
Currently 19,000 acres burned with 10% containment
10 residences have been destroyed with another 5,000 or more threatened. 
Evacuations are underway for the communities of Paradise, Butte Valley and Butte Creek Canyon.
Evacuation Center opened in Chico.
Martin Fire, Santa Cruz County, CA
C urrently 600 acres burned with 25% containment.
10 residences have been destroyed.
1,400 residents have been evacuated.
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, June 12, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Heavy (367 new fires)
New large fires: 5
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 11 (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment # 1:  FEMA-1752-DR-OK. (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding) One county was included for Public Assistance in the State of Oklahoma.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:35:35 EDT