National Situation Update: Sunday, February 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
Most of the region is under the influence of a large ridge of high pressure resulting in dry conditions and mild temperatures. Onshore flow from a Pacific system moving into Canada will produce showers across western Washington and northwest Oregon this afternoon through tomorrow morning. Several inches of snow accumulation is possible at elevations above 2,000 feet.
Midwest:
A few snow showers are possible from Colorado to the Dakotas, eastward to northern Minnesota.
High temperatures will only reach the teens across northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota.
South:
A cold front extending southward from Canada will combine with moisture flowing northward out of the Gulf of Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms will develop along the Texas Gulf coast and in the lower Mississippi Valley by this afternoon. A few of the thunderstorms could become severe in southeast Texas. To the north, the cold front will produce rain showers in northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, northern Georgia and Tennessee tomorrow. The rain could change to snow before ending with some light accumulations in the higher terrain of eastern Tennessee. Conditions in Tampa for the Super Bowl should be mostly sunny with temperatures in the 60s. Showers and thunderstorms will move eastward along the Gulf Coast tonight and early tomorrow as low pressure forms in the Gulf of Mexico. The low will move across the Florida Peninsula Monday afternoon producing thunderstorms from Tampa to Miami.
Northeast:
A warm front, extending from the low over Canada, is moving through the region producing light snow across northwest Pennsylvania, northern and western New York and northern New England with accumulation of an inch or less. Tonight and tomorrow the cold front will move into the region with a wintery mix. Snow showers will fall over West Virginia, central Pennsylvania and eastern New York. Rain showers are forecast for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and northern Virginia and will change over to snow Monday night. The low that passed over Florida will move northward over the western Atlantic late Monday night and Tuesday. This storm could get close enough to the coast to enhance the snowfall in the eastern Mid-Atlantic States and eastern New England. (National Weather Service and Media Sources)

Winter Ice Storm – Region IV

RRCC is activated at Level II with ESFs 1, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 11.
National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA) at Ft Campbell, KY:
- As of Jan 31, 10 truck loads each of water and meals turned over to National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA) at Ft Campbell, KY along with 73 generators.
- 10 truck loads of water, 6 truck loads of meals and 75 generators are en route. (Region IV)

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: 281,649 customers are without power; complete restoration is expected Feb 13. (DOE)
8 (of 11) hospitals and 9 nursing homes on generator power. (Region IV)
Shelters 146; Occupants: 6,000 (NSS)
Two Emergency Management Assistance Compacts were submitted to Tennessee and Florida; Tennessee National Guard is providing 30 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs).

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: 8,215 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: 46,219 customers without power. (DOE)
Shelters 21; Occupants: 354 (NSS)
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Illinois

EOC is not activated
The Governor issued a disaster declaration for 7 counties.
Power Outages: 151 customers without power. (DOE)
All shelters are closed.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VI

RRCC is activated at Level II, 7:00a.m.-7:00p.m. CST with ESF-3 and 7.
7 PA PDA teams deployed to Arkansas; 4 teams began assessments on Jan 30 and 2 teams began assessments Jan 31.
4 IA PDA teams on standby for Arkansas.
Arkansas has requested 1 truck load of tarps to be delivered to the EOC in Little Rock.

Arkansas:

EOC activated at Level 3 (Limited Activation); LNO deployed to State EOC.
FEMA Region VI IMAT has arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas (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: 6 ( Jan 31, Region VI)
Power Outages: 281,814 customers without power (DOE)
Shelters 47; Occupants: 2,555 (NSS)
One MDRC is deployed to Jonesboro; one MDRC deployed to Little Rock.
Seven hospitals in the designated counties are without power and operating on generators.
20 water facilities and 7 sewage treatment facilities requested generators.
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VII

RRCC is activated at Level 3 (Minimal Staffing) ESFs 3, 6, and 8. ESF 12 will provide support from a remote location.
2 FEMA State Liaisons deployed to State EOC.
An Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3303-EM) was declared January 30 for the entire state.

Missouri

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: 82,000 customers without power. (DOE)
62 generators were installed and an additional 123 mobilized.
Joint Local, State and Federal PDAs (for IA and PA) scheduled to begin February 3.
No limiting factors or unmet needs.

Volcano Activity - Redoubt

Redoubt Volcano is a stratovolcano located within a few hundred miles of more than half of the population of Alaska. The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH. The largest impact to infrastructure is the possibility of damage and loss of production capability to natural gas wells and transmission facilities from ashfall. 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

On Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 4:09 pm EST, an earthquake measuring 4.4 struck 8 miles WNW of Randsburg, CA or 98 miles NNE of Los Angeles, CA. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
On Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 1:02 am EST, a second earthquake measuring 3.0 struck Randsburg, CA. No reports of damage or injuries. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity