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National Situation Update: Friday, January 30, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
Under high pressure, the region will be mostly sunny and dry. A storm moving into British Columbia will produce showers in western Washington.  Santa Ana winds will slowly diminish across Southern California during the day. However, Chinook winds will increase in Montana with gusts to 75 mph.
Midwest:
The circulation on the backside of a low over Ontario, Canada will produce light snow across the Great Lakes and the eastern Ohio valley. A few areas east of Lake Michigan will pick up heavier accumulations of lake-effect snow.  A frontal system extending from a low in central Canada will produce a few snow showers in the Dakotas and western Minnesota.
South:
Most of the region will be dry except for the central Florida Peninsula where a cold front will produce up to six tenths of an inch of rain by this evening.  On Sunday, a cold front will move into the Oklahoma-Texas Red River Valley, producing rain and thunderstorms across eastern Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.  On Monday, a rapidly developing low pressure system will move northward from the Gulf of Mexico toward the Mid-Atlantic producing rain and thunderstorms across the Southeast. As colder air moves in behind the storm, the rain will change to snow from the lower Mississippi Valley to the southern Appalachians. Snow flurries may fall as far south as the Gulf Coast.
Northeast:
A weak area of low pressure will result in snow showers from West Virginia to Maine. Lake-effect snow will be heavier east of Lake Ontario later today.  A major winter storm is forecast to hit the region on Monday night and Tuesday. Areas along the coast will get rain, but areas from the Appalachians westward will get snow.  The exact storm track will determine the type and amount of precipitation. (National Weather Service and Media Sources)

Winter Ice Storm – Region I

  • The RRCC and most of the State EOCs remain at a Watch/Steady State.
  • New Hampshire EOC at Level I (normal operations)
  • Vermont EOC at Level I (normal operations)
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region II

  • The RRCC and NY SEMO are at a Watch/Steady State; NJ EOC has returned to normal operations
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region III

  • The RRCC and the State EOCs are at normal operations.
  • Power restoration efforts continue for impacted areas. The Department of Energy (DOE) reported 52,611 customers without power in West Virginia; approximately 114 remain without power in Virginia and 7 customers are without power in Pennsylvania.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region IV

  • The RRCC in Atlanta is activated to Level II.
  • The RRCC in Thomasville is at a Watch/Steady State and continues to monitor the situation.

Kentucky

  • Kentucky EOC partially activated at Level II.
  • The Governor declared a State of Emergency for the entire commonwealth.
  • An Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3302-EM) was declared January 28 for the entire commonwealth.
  • Power Outages: 408,115 customers are without power. (DOE  Jan 29)
  • Over 93,000 customers remain without access to water due to power outages and other storm damage; restoration of water services is closely connected with return of power.
  • Shelters 24; Occupants: 1,587. (NSS Jan 29)
  • The Kentucky National Guard activated 21 armories with approximately 500 guardsman supporting operations.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Tennessee

  • State EOC is at Level III (Partial Activation)
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region V

  • The RRCC remains at a Watch/Steady State status; LNO deployed to IN EOC.
  • No requests for Federal assistance. 

Indiana

  • EOC activated at Level III (partial) to monitor ongoing winter storm
  • Local State of Emergency has been declared for 18 counties.
  • Fatalities: 2 (as a result of the storm)
  • Power Outages: 93,388 customers without power (DOE  Jan 29)
  • Shelters 2; Occupants: 98 as of 0900 EST Jan 29 (NSS)
  • The Indiana National Guard has been partially activated and will support relocation and transportation operations to get victims to appropriate shelter locations.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Ohio

  • EOC is not activated.
  • Power Outages: 111,878 customers without power. Complete restoration is expected Feb 1. (DOE Jan 29)
  •  Shelters 2; Occupants: 3  (NSS Jan 29)
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Illinois

  • EOC is not activated.
  • Power Outages: 4,670 customers without power. (DOE  Jan 29)
  • Shelters 11; Occupants: 251 as of 0900 EST Jan 29(NSS)
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VI

  • RRCC is activated at Level II, 24 hour operations with ESFs 3 and 7.
  • DOD/NLSA: McAlister, OK
  • FEMA Region VI IMAT has arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas (State EOC)
  • Region VI has prepositioned MREs and water to fulfill possible requests.
  • The Region and State are evaluating the need for Category A and B measures.
  • Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA) teams are notified and on stand by.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

 Arkansas:

  • EOC activated at Level 3 (Limited Activation); LNO deployed to State EOC.
  • The Governor signed a State Disaster Proclamation for 18 counties.
  • An Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3301-EM) was signed January 28 for the State of Arkansas.
  • Fatalities: 4 ( Jan 29, Region VI)
  • Power Outages: 321,602 customers without power(DOE Jan 29)
  • Shelters 26; Occupants: 1,564 as of 0900 EST Jan 29(NSS)
  • Six hospitals in the designated counties are without power and operating on generators. 
  • One MDRC is deployed to Jonesboro NLSA; a second team is in transit.
  • NLSA Jonesboro is fully operational with limited communications; four heavy generators have been ordered.
  • One 50 pack of (15 to 50kw) generators are being transported to Jonesboro NLSA.
  • NLSA Fayetteville is awaiting the delivery of eight heavy generators and 55 lower end generators.
  • EOC has requested one trailer of cots and one trailer of blankets for delivery to their office by tomorrow afternoon.
  • MERS Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle has arrived at the NLSA in Fayetteville.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Oklahoma:

  • EOC activated at Level I (normal operations); LNO was released from the State EOC.
  • The Governor declared a State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties.
  • Fatalities / Injuries: 2 and 200 injuries, all from traffic accidents.
  • Power Outages: 21,252 customers without power (DOE Jan 29)
  • Shelters 5; Occupants: 76 (NSS Jan 29)
  • McAlister NLSA has begun the demobilization process.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VII

Missouri

  • RRCC is activated at Level 3 (Minimal Staffing) ESFs 3, 6, and 8. ESF 12 will provide support from a remote location.
  • The Missouri EOC activated at Level II, 24 hour operations, with all State Agencies in the EOC.
  • Fatalities: 6 (verified storm related)
  • Shelters 18; Occupants: 1,458 (NSS Jan 29)
  • Power Outages: 86,208 customers without power(DOE Jan 29, NSS)
  • 8 generators are being transported to Popular Bluff, Missouri.
  • Joint Local, State and Federal PDAs (for IA and PA) expected to begin February 3.
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Earthquake/Volcano Activity - Redoubt

Redoubt Volcano is a stratovolcano located within a few hundred miles of more than half of the population of Alaska.  A volcanic eruption has the potential to occur within days due to increased levels of seismicity at the Redoubt Volcano. Seismicity remains well above background levels. A further increase in seismic activity is expected to accompany an eruption.  The largest impact to infrastructure is the possibility of damage and loss of production capability to natural gas wells and transmission facilities from ashfall.  Anchorage is supplied with natural gas for power generation from two sources, the Beluga Gas Fields and the Drift River area production platforms in the Cook Inlet.  Turbine compressors could be damaged or need to be shut down and would stop the transmission of natural gas to power generation facilities. This lack of power generation would affect the entire Anchorage area. Another area of concern is the Drift River Oil Terminal located just northwest of Redoubt volcano in the drainage area of the Drift River into the Cook Inlet.  Marine Safety Detachment Kenai reports that the Drift River Oil Terminal is a manned facility and has seven 270,000 barrel storage tanks.  The facility is accessible only by boat or aircraft. Alaska Volcano Observatory Staff are currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day. There is concern for aviation within the ash affected areas. There are no reports of damages or injuries and no requests for Federal assistance at this time.(Region X, (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Missouri has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration as a result of a severe winter storm beginning January 26, 2009, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation (entire state); and Small Business Administration disaster loans. The Governor is also specifically requesting Hazard Mitigation grant assistance (entire state) in the amount of 20% of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made with respect to this major disaster.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:46 EDT