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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 31, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
Under high pressure most of the region will remain dry except for snow showers over the central Rockies.
Midwest:
The front extending southward from a low in central Canada will produce snow showers and gusty winds from North Dakota to Michigan. A blizzard watch is in effect for parts of eastern North Dakota for this afternoon. The blowing snow will limit visibilities. Southwesterly wind flow will produce temperatures from 5 to 20 degrees above average in the Plains and Mississippi Valley.
Tomorrow a shot of cold air will sweep over the Great Lakes, mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley.
South:
Under a ridge of high pressure most of the region will be sunny and cool. Gusty southwest winds are forecast for the southern Plains.
Tomorrow night, rain and thunderstorms will develop across eastern Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. The thunderstorms in Texas could turn severe - large hail, gusty winds and even tornadoes.
On Monday, developing low pressure will move from the northern Gulf of Mexico through Florida to the Outer Banks producing rain and thunderstorms across the Southeast. Rain will change to snow from the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians as colder air moves in behind the storm.
Northeast:
Most of the region will be dry except for a few snow flurries. However, in areas southeast and east of Lake Ontario lake-effect snow will produce accumulations of 6 to 12 inches. The low pressure forecast to develop in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend will need to be closely monitored since a track along the coast could produce snow from the  Mid-Atlantic to northern New England. (National Weather Service and Media Sources)

Winter Ice Storm – Region IV

The RRCC in Atlanta activated Level II as a result of severe winter weather in Kentucky. 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.
One 50 pack of (15 to 50kw) generators are at Ft Campbell NLSA, 88 generators inbound.
Power Outages: 486,477 customers are without power. (DOE)
Over 200,000 customers remain on boil water status or without access to water due to power outages and other storm damage. (FEMA Rg IV Jan 30)
Shelters 146; Occupants: 6,000(NSS)
The Kentucky ARNG activated 21 armories with approximately 500 guardsman supporting operations.
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
There have been no requests for Federal assistance. 

Indiana
EOC activated at Level III (partial) to monitor ongoing winter storm
The Governor declared a local State of Emergency for 17 counties.
Fatalities: 3 (as a result of the storm)
Power Outages: 62,930 customers without power(DOE)
Shelters 16; Occupants: 587(NSS)
The IN ARNG 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: 56,466 customers without power(DOE)
Shelters 21; Occupants: 354 (NSS)
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Illinois
EOC is not activated.
Power Outages: 2,601 customers without power (DOE)
Shelters 0; Occupants: 0 (NSS)
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VI

RRCC  is activated at Level II, 24 hour operations with ESF-3, ESF-7 and DOD/NLSA: McAlister, OK
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 (Region VI)
Power Outages: 255,237 customers without power (DOE)
Shelters 47; Occupants: 2,555 (NSS)
One MDRC is deployed to Jonesboro; one MDRC deployed to Little Rock.
One 50 pack of (15 to 50kw) generators are at Jonesboro NLSA, 4 large generators inbound.
One 50 pack of (15 to 50kw) generators are at Fayetteville NLSA, 55 small and 8 large generators inbound.
Six hospitals in the designated counties are without power and operating on generators. 
FEMA Region VI IMAT has arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas (State EOC)
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Oklahoma:
EOC activated at Level I (normal operations); LNO has been 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: 24,172 customers without power(DOE)
Shelters 0; Occupants: 0(NSS)
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.
An Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3303-EM) was declared January 30 for the entire state.
The Missouri EOC activated at Level II, 24 hour operations, with all State Agencies in the EOC.
Fatalities: 6 (verified storm related)
Shelters 40; Occupants: 2,313 (NSS)
Power Outages: 77,251 customers without power(DOE)
Joint Local, State and Federal PDAs (for IA and PA) scheduled to begin February 3.
Utility officials estimate one week for full power restoration.  (NWS, Region VII Incident Report)
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. The largest impact to infrastructure is the possibility of damage and loss of production capability to natural gas wells and transmission facilities from ashfall.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
Intense seismicity continues at Redoubt. Clear webcam views, satellite, and radar data indicate that the volcano has not yet erupted. 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 President has signed a Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1817-DR for Washington as a result of a Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides and Flooding.  The incident period is January 27, 2009 and continuing.  The declaration authorizes FEMA to provide Individual Assistance for the following counties:  King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum.  The declaration also authorizes Hazard Mitigation statewide.  Willie G. Nunn has been designated as the FCO.

The President has signed an Emergency Declaration FEMA-3303-EM for Missouri as a result of a Severe Winter Storm.  The incident period is January 26, 2009 and continuing.  The declaration authorizes FEMA to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal Funding for 114 Missouri Counties and the Independent City of St. Louis.  Thomas A. Hall has been designated as the FCO. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:45 EDT