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National Situation Update: Saturday, June 14, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
High pressure over much of the West will cause temperatures to gradually rise over the next few days.  High temperatures will range from the 80s in low elevations of eastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to almost 100 in the Central Valley of California and near 118 across the Desert Southwest.
Midwest:
A line of strong storms is forecast to spread from the lower Great Lakes to North Texas producing flooding rain, large hail, and damaging wind with the potential for tornadoes.  High temperatures will range from the high 70s to the mid 80s.
South:
Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will increase chances for showers and thunderstorms in the Southeast. 
Heavy rain is possible from the southern Plains to Arkansas throughout the weekend.  High temperatures will range from the 80s in the Tennessee Valley to the 90s in the Carolinas.
Northeast:
A front moving through the Plains and Midwest will move into the Northeast today causing showers and thunderstorms throughout the region.  Thunderstorms may be strong to severe from New York and western New England to West Virginia and parts of Virginia.  High temperatures will range from the 70s in New York to the low 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 has produced a second severe weather outbreak on 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.

Midwest Flooding

FEMA Region V RRCC:
Activated at Level II 24/7
Region V LNOs deployed to IN, WI, and IL EOCs

Illinois:

  • Governor requested expedited Major Disaster Declaration for direct Federal assistance for 13 counties
  • I-94 is closed for 64 miles between Chicago and Minneapolis
  • The State is requesting from FEMA additional sandbags and generators to continue flood fight.

Indiana:

  • Joint IA PDAs completed on June 13 for 16 counties
  • Joint PA PDAs begin next week
  • 3 fatalities; 4 injuries
  • 5 shelters; population: 110
  • 27 high hazard dam inspections completed; 2 dams found to be in danger of imminent failure in Owen and Morgan Counties.
  • The State is requesting two hoist capable helicopters from the USCG.
  • Federal Assistance needs will continue.

Minnesota:

  • Joint PA PDA's completed on June 13 for Fillmore, Houston, Power and Freeborn counties.

Wisconsin:

  • The Governor of Wisconsin has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on June 5, 2008, and continuing. 
  • Individual  Assistance was requested for six counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
  • PDAs ongoing in affected states.
  • Joint IA PDAs completed in Crawford, Sauk, Columbia and Milwaukee counties
  • Joint PA PDAs begin next week
  • EOC activated with ESFs 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8.
  • 30 counties affected;  all are under State Emergency Declaration.
  • 4 injuries; no fatalities reported
  • 7 shelters; population: 38

FEMA Region VII RRCC:

  • Level II  6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. CDT (Weekend)
  • The Governor of Nebraska has requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 22, 2008, and continuing.  The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for 21 counties, Public Assistance for 53 counties and Hazard Mitigation for the entire State. 

Iowa:

  • State EOC partially activated 24/7.
  • 21 fatalities; 108 injuries
  • 11 shelters; population: 461
  • Severe downtown flooding in Cedar Rapids, including evacuation order for approximately 9,000 residents.
  • 10 truckloads of water a day will be delivered for a total of 5 days (June 11-June16)
  • Region IV IMAT team arrived June 13

Kansas:

  • Chapman, KS (Dickinson County) struck by tornado last night; RNA team deployed to assess needs
  • 69 homes destroyed; 28 with major damage
  • 2 shelters; population 0

Missouri:

  • 10 counties affected
  • The Mississippi River Current Level above Flood Stage and will crest on 6/19.
  • Ralls County, ferry service to Illinois, is closing. 
  • Missouri State Water Patrol is providing assistance to locals as requested and has officers and boats staged at Big Lake in Holt County.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FEMA-2773-FM was approved for the Evans Road Fire in NC.  (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:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

4.9M earthquake occurred 328 miles SW of Portland, OR, at a depth of 6.2 miles. No reports of damage, injury, and no tsunami warning generated
 (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs are ongoing for Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin. (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Humboldt Fire, Butte County, CA

  • 22,000 acres; 20% contained
  • 13 injuries; 1 unconfirmed fatality
  • 40 residences destroyed; 5,800 structures threatened
  • 8,600 residents under immediate threat evacuation notices in Paradise, CA
  • 3 shelters;  population: 261
  • Butte County EOC is activated
  • 2,842 personnel committed to this fire

Martin Fire, Santa Cruz County, California

  • Fire is currently 600 acres and is 65 percent contained
  • Two (2) residential structures and ten (10) outbuildings have been destroyed
  • Power has been restored to the area
  • All road closures have been lifted with the exception of those in the fire area.
  • American Red Cross shelters have now closed
  • Santa Cruz County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has returned to duty officer status.
  • Total of 804 personnel committed to this incident.
  • A Fire Assistance Management Grant (FMAG) has been approved for this incident.

Bridger Fire, Fort Carson, CO

  • 42,000 acres burned; 10% contained
  • No fatalities or injuries reported
  • 8 residences threatened
  • 289 personnel committed to this fire including five hot shot teams
  • 8 Blackhawk helicopters; 4 type1 and 4 type 3

National Fire Activity as of Friday, June 13, 2008:

  • National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
  • Initial attack activity: Light (199 new fires)
  • New large fires: 4
  • Large fires contained: 1
  • Uncontained large fires: 13(National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

  • The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA 1767-DR for Montana as a result of a severe winter storm occurring May 1-2, 2008.  The Declaration provides Public Assistance for Carter, Custer, Fallon, and Powder River Counties and Hazard Mitigation Statewide
  • Amendment # 4 to FEMA-1766-DR for Indiana was approved and added 14 counties for Individual Assistance
  • Amendment # 2 and # 3 to FEMA-1763-DR for Iowa was approved and added 15 counties for Individual Assistance and 10 counties for Public Assistance.  This disaster was declared as a result of severe storms May 25 and continuing. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:35:34 EDT