Skip to content

National Situation Update: Friday, February 6, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
A low pressure system over the west coast will bring precipitation to the entire region. Lower elevations will see one half of an inch in Washington and up to four inches in southern California. All western mountain ranges will get snow from this system, with up to 18 inches of new snow in the southern Sierra above 3,500 feet.   Showers and mountain snow will continue to spread inland through the Great Basin and the Rockies. Rain and higher elevation snow will spread eastward through Arizona, southern Utah into western Colorado.
Midwest:
The most significant weather in the region will be temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees above average in the central Plains. Highs will range from near 30 in northern Michigan to the 70s in southwest Kansas.  The southwesterly winds bringing warmer air over the existing snow cover will produce extensive fog.  Critical fire weather and associated red flag warnings are forecast for portions of eastern Colorado, western Kansas, eastern New Mexico, and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles.
South:
Under a large surface high pressure, the region will be dry. However, nighttime radiational cooling will result in freezing temperatures this morning in southern Alabama, southern Georgia and northern and central Florida.  Freeze Warnings and Watches are in effect for these areas.   Warmer temperatures are expected later today as milder air moves into the region.
Northeast:
Under a ridge of high pressure extending northward from the High in the southeast the region will be generally cold and dry. (National Weather Service and Media)

Winter Ice Storm – Update

Recovery efforts continue for impacted areas. Federal, State and local governments are coordinating commodities and distribution from the National Logistic Staging Areas.

Winter Ice Storm – Region IV

RRCC Status: activated in Atlanta at Level II, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST
ESFs 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 and EMAC are activated.
Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3302-EM-KY) was signed on January 28, 2009.
Region IV ERT-A; 20 FEMA LNOs, and the Regional Administrator are on-site at the KY EOC.
PA, and SBA PDA teams are on stand-by in Kentucky; IA PDA teams on-hold.

Kentucky
State EOC remains activated at Level III (Full Activation)
Fatalities: 28 confirmed fatalities (per Region IV phone confirmation with KY EOC Feb 5)
Shelters: 155 / Occupants: 4,638 (ESF6, 3:00 pm EST Feb 4)
Power Outages: 95,580 (-9,950); total number does not include non-regulated electric utilities which have not been reported to the KY EOC (Region IV Status Briefing Feb 5 1400 EST)

All hospitals are on the power grid; 7 (-15) nursing homes are on generator power.
3 hospitals are at capacity, five are near capacity, and two have some beds
FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers are assisting in generator installations.
Statewide water outages: 4 (+1) drinking water facilities requesting generators
Statewide wastewater systems: 7 (-7) wastewater facilities requesting generators
44 Boil Water Advisories in effect (6 lifted)

Inbound support to the FEMA Logistics Fort Campbell National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA):  1 truckload of meals (21,312) due late evening Feb 4; 18 truckloads of water (324,000 liters) due late evening on Feb 4.

Peanut Butter Recall
Certain peanut butter products have been found to be contaminated with salmonella. Commercial meal kits, manufactured by Red Cloud Food Services, Inc., under the Standing Rock label, have been provided to disaster survivors in impacted communities. These kits may contain peanut butter which is part of the precautionary national recall underway in accordance with the FDA

No MREs were shipped to Kentucky - all the meals shipped were commercial meals Some commercial products provided by a company named SOPACKO were subject to the recall. 13 pallets of the recalled lot numbers were found at distribution center Fort Worth (9,984 meals). These were segregated, isolated in a secure location, and labeled "do not issue" All other distribution centers and prepositioned sites completed inventories for recalled lot numbers, none were found.


Meals donated to the VOADs (e.g. ARC) were also found to not be subject to the recall. Purchase of additional meals will be monitored to ensure they are not subject to the recall. Over one million meals have been delivered and there have been no reports of illness.

Winter Ice Storm – Region VI

RRCC Status:  activated at Watch/Steady State; 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST
RRCC transitioned operations to the IOF on February 3
Arkansas IOF is located in North Little Rock; operational with limited communications

On February 4, the Governor of Arkansas requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe ice storms beginning on January 26, 2009, and continuing.  The Governor specifically requested Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, for 25 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The
Governor further requested 100 percent Federal funding for Public Assistance (all categories).

On January 28, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA-3301-EM for the State of Arkansas for Severe Winter Storm that occurred January 26 and continuing.

Arkansas
State EOC activated at Level IV (Full Activation) 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST
Fatalities: 15 confirmed fatalities (AR DEM SITREP Feb 5)
Shelters 36 / Occupants: 580 (-107) (AR DEM SITREP Feb 5)
A total of 31 counties are requesting PDAs; 29 have been completed; anticipate all PA PDAs to be completed by Feb 5.

Power Outages: 65,268 (-10,873) customers (AR DEM SITREP Feb 5); complete restoration to take at least one week, possibly more in some areas.

Inbound support to the FEMA Logistics Storm Support, Fayetteville and Jonesboro NLSAs: 6 truckloads of water inbound to the Fayetteville NLSA late evening on Feb 4; 8 truckloads of water inbound to Jonesboro NLSA late evening on Feb 4.

82 generators installed; 104 requested - initially had cancellations but many counties have re-requested
Boil water orders issued for 20 counties (-3) (AR DEM SITREP Feb 4)
No limiting factors or unmet needs

Winter Ice Storm – Region VII

RRCC Status: activated at Level III, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST the need for continued activation will be evaluated on an on-going basis.
RRCC transitioned storm operations to the JFO at Jefferson City, MO as of Feb. 3.
ESF 12 is activated; ESFs 3, 6 and 8 are on standby; ESF 12 continues to provide support from a remote location; FEMA Region VII LNO is deployed to the MO State EOC.
PA PDAs began in 20 counties in Missouri Feb 3; expect PDAs to be completed by Fri; state continues to evaluate the need for IA PDAs (Region VII Daily Ops Report).
On January 30, 2009, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA-3303-EM for all 114 counties in Missouri to include the Independent City of St. Louis.

Missouri
State EOC activated at Level II (7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. CST.).
Fatalities: 8 confirmed
Shelters: 8 (-7)/Occupants: 225 (-255) (MO EMA SITREP Feb 5)
No unmet needs and issues.
Power outages: 19,901 (-1,599) customers (Region VII Daily Operations Report Feb 5, MO EMA SITREP Feb 4); outages located in extreme southeastern portion of  Missouri; some portions may be out of power for up to a week as the electrical systems will need to be re-built.

Volcanic Activity – Mount Redoubt, Alaska Update

The FAA continues to restrict air travel in a 10 mile radius around Redoubt to 60,000 Mean Sea Level (MSL). There is anticipated concern if an eruption occurs that will create an ash event which will cause respiratory concerns for local populations and interruption of international air traffic. Staff at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH. (Region X, AVO, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Volcanic Activity Alert-Notification System

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program has adopted an alert-notification system nationwide for characterizing the level of unrest and eruptive activity at volcanoes. The standardized USGS alert-notification system for volcanic activity was designed to be useful to people on the ground and to those in aviation. To meet these goals, the alert-notification system has two parts - a four-tiered Volcano Alert Level and a four-tiered Aviation Color Code.

Volcano Alert Level
The four-tiered Volcano Alert Level uses the terms Normal, Advisory, Watch, and Warning (from background levels to highest threat - see Table 1)

Table 1. SUMMARY OF VOLCANO ALERT LEVELS
NORMAL Volcano is in typical background, noneruptive state or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has ceased and volcano has returned to noneruptive background state.
ADVISORY Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
WATCH Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.
WARNING Hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected.

Aviation Color Code
The Aviation Color Code notifications are issued in conjunction with the Volcano Alert Levels. The color codes (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red - see Table 2) are used to provide succinct information about volcanic-ash hazards to the aviation sector. Volcanic activity threatens safe air travel when finely

Table 2. SUMMARY OF AVIATION COLOR CODES
GREEN Volcano is in typical background, non-eruptive state or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has ceased and volcano has returned to noneruptive background state.
YELLOW Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
ORANGE Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR  eruption is underway with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions [ash-plume height specified, if possible].
RED Eruption is imminent with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere likely OR eruption is underway or suspected with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere [ash-plume height specified, if possible].

pulverized, glassy, abrasive volcanic material is explosively erupted into the atmosphere and dispersed as airborne clouds in flight paths of jet aircraft. The color codes are in accord with recommended ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) procedures to help pilots, dispatchers, and air-traffic controllers who are planning or executing flights over broad regions of the globe quickly ascertain the status of numerous volcanoes and determine if continued attention, re-routing, or extra fuel is warranted.

Additional information on the alert-notification system can be found in the Fact Sheet U.S. Geological Survey's Alert-Notification System for Volcanic Activity. (USGS)

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

FEMA-1818-DR-KY was declared for Severe Winter Storms and Flooding that occurred January 26, 2009 and continuing. The Declaration authorizes FEMA to provide emergency protective measures (Categories A & B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding for 93 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide  The FCO is Kim R. Kadesch of the National FCO Program. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:39 EDT