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National Situation Update: Thursday, February 12, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National National Weather Forecast

West:
The region will experience sporadic light rain, mostly  for western Oregon and northwest California, and snow showers for the mountains of eastern Nevada, Utah and northwest Colorado.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for east-central California until 4:00 a.m. PST this morning.
Midwest:
Gusty winds will gradually decrease today as the low pressure system moves towards the Northeast Snow showers and flurries will be scattered over eastern North Dakota through Minnesota and Wisconsin into Michigan, as well as parts of Indiana and Ohio.  High wind warnings are in effect tonight across the Midwest from Indiana through Ohio and into central Pennsylvania, with gusts up to up to 65 mph.  Minor flooding is occurring along several streams and rivers in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
Flood warnings are in effect along several rivers in Nebraska and Iowa, with only minor flooding occurring.
South:
The region will be dry with the exception of sporadic rain showers throughout portions of central Florida.
Northeast:
Strong winds will move eastward across the region today, with possible gusts as high as 50 mph.  The rear of the storm will bring snow showers to Upstate New York and Pennsylvania.  Wind blown rain showers will prevail from northern New Jersey and Long Island northward into New England, although Maine will experience a mixture of rain, snow and ice.  High wind warnings are in effect from daybreak through late afternoon across all of western and north-central New York.  Sustained winds of 30-40 mph are expected, with gusts to 60 mph possible. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Winter Ice Storms - Update

Recovery efforts continue for impacted areas.  Federal, State and Local governments are coordinating these response and recovery operations.

Winter Ice Storm – Region IV

RRCC Status: at Watch/ Steady State; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST (M-F)

  • Kentucky JFO stood up on February 7th;  hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST (12/7)  (RIV Status Briefing, 1818-DR, EST, Feb 7& KY JFO Sitrep #2 as of Feb 9)
  • Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3302-EM-KY) was signed on January 28, 2009
  • Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-1818-DR-KY) was signed on February 5, 2009

Kentucky

  • State EOC remains activated at Level III (Full Activation)
  • Fatalities: 35 (+5) confirmed for FEMA 1818-DR-KY and FEMA 3302-EM-KY  (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • Shelters: 10 (-9) Occupants: 166 (-247) (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • Power Outages: 31,000 (-11,169); some cooperatives are estimating it may take up to a month to restore all individual customers, although the bulk of customers should be restored within a week (ESF-12 as of 4:00 pm EST  Feb 11)
  • Boil Water Advisories remain in effect for 19 (-3) counties affecting a total population of 47,219 (-26,481) (KY JFO SITREP#4 Feb 11)
  • The Critical Facilities Assessment Task Force currently is moving crews throughout the Commonwealth for power site assessments/data analysis for critical infrastructure/key resources; as of February 9th, assessments have been completed on 396 out of 2,030 structures (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • As of COB February 10th, 11 PA PDAs have been completed out of 120 counties (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • The Community Health Assessment Teams (CHAT) finished their assessments and demobilized at COB February 10th (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • MERS personnel are supporting disaster operations at 4 different sites; all MERS assets will be demobilized by February 13th (KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)
  • All medical facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes and critical care facilities are fully operational; 1 (-1) nursing home remains on generator (KY JFO SITREP #3 Feb 10)
  • A total of 157 generators have been installed; 73 de-installs have been requested and 39 have been completed(KY JFO SITREP #4 Feb 11)

Winter Ice Storms & Severe Tornado Weather – Region VI

RRCC Status:  at Level III, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST (M-F)

Winter Ice Storm

Arkansas

  • Arkansas JFO is located in North Little Rock; MEOV and IMAT personnel are currently located at the JFO
  • Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3301-EM-AR) was signed on January 28, 2009
  • Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-1819-DR-AR) was signed on February 6, 2009
  • Individual Assistance (IA) PDAs are on-going; 6 (+3) PDAs of the 16 (+1) requested counties have been completed as of COB February 10th (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
    • IA PDAs are anticipated to be complete by COB February 13th (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
  • State EOC activated at Level IV (Full Activation) 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST (12/7)
  • Level I (Normal Operations/Monitoring) from 7:30 p.m. CST - 7:30 a.m. CST
  • Fatalities: 19 confirmed fatalities (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
  • Shelters 5 (-3); Occupants: 51 (-19) 1 independent shelter open for feeding only  all American Red Cross Shelters are closed   (JFO  Sitrep Feb 11)
  • Power Outages: 18,964 (-7,682) customers; restoration unknown at this time (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
  • 53 (-24) generators installed; no requests for more installations, and no requests for de-installations (currently 102 de-installed) (JFO  Sitrep Feb 11)
  • 1 hospital and 1 nursing home in Clay County remain on generator power (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
  • Boil water orders remain in place for 10 (-2) counties (JFO Sitrep Feb 11)
  • No limiting factors or unmet needs

Severe Weather / Tornadoes in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas

A strong storm system moved through southwest and central Oklahoma and Texas Tuesday evening February 10, and overnight, resulting in severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and high winds impacting counties in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas

Oklahoma

  • State EOC is at Level II (limited, with extended hours for key personnel)
  • 4 FEMA LNOs supporting Oklahoma EOC
  • Fatalities: 8 in Lone Grove (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • Injuries: Total unknown. 14 serious injuries reported in Lone Grove. 3 minor injuries reported in Oklahoma City (treated and released) (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • Power Outages: 2,773 (-6,000) (DOE as of 5:00 pm, Feb 11) 
  • Shelters (Red Cross): 3 / Occupants: unknown (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • Destroyed: 6 residences (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • Damaged (Minor/Major): 22 residences, 62 mobile homes, and 1 commercial building (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • State will move to recovery phase this morning; assessments continue (OK Spot Report #4, Feb 11)
  • Oklahoma National Guard providing law enforcement support to Lone Grove, OK (25 personnel State Active Duty) (NGB SitRep 9:45 a.m. Feb 11)
  • No request for Federal assistance

Texas

  • State EOC is at Level I (emergency [normal] operations)
  • Fatalities: 0 / Injuries: 3 (treated and released)
  • Power Outages: 7,500 (TX SOC Sitrep, Feb 11)
  • Minor Damages reported in 30 counties
    • Minor Damage: 12 residences
    • Major Damage: 11 residences
  • Destroyed: 2 residences, 1 commercial building and 1 airport hangar
  • Several roads closed; no major highway closures (TX SOC Sitrep #2, Media Sources)
  • No request for Federal assistance.

Arkansas

  • State EOC is at Level IV (Full Activation) (previously activated at Level IV due to Ice Storm)
  • Injuries: 7 (AR DEM Sitrep Feb 11)
  • Three counties have declared emergencies: Izard, Randolph, and White (AR DEM Sitrep Feb 11)
  • Damages: Total unknown. Trees down, debris blocking roads, power lines down in the (8) counties of Benton , Carroll, Columbia, Johnson, Lafayette, Stone, Van Buren and White
  • Independence County: Damage to homes, businesses and power lines. Multiple homes damaged in the Mable Springs area
  • Randolph  County: Grain bin and diesel storage tank blown over
  • Van Buren County: Barn blown over; 9 homes reported with roofs off
  • Power Outages: total unknown. Power outages reported in Benton County; Johnson County (restored); Van Buren County (widespread power outages); White County (2,000 customers)
  • Several roads closed
  • No request for Federal assistance(AR DEM Sitrep Feb 11)

Winter Ice Storm – Region VII

  • RRCC Status: activated at Level III (minimal staffing), 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST
  • ESFs 3 and 8 are on stand-by; ESF 12 continues to provide support from a remote location.

Missouri

  • Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3303-EM-MO) was signed on January 30, 2009
  • State EOC (SEOC) activated at Level II (all state agencies activated), 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST
  • Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration on February 6
  • PDA:  IA PDAs continue in Missouri for 16 counties; PA PDAs were completed for 20 counties
  • Fatalities: 8 confirmed (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • Shelters: 3 (-1)  / Occupants: 21 (+21) (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • Power outages: 7,629 (-1,097) customers; estimated time or restoration for most customers will be by the end of this week, with the exception or some rural areas, which will be by February 17th (MO EMA SITREP Feb 11)
  • Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) reports 1 road is closed due to utility damage and 21 roads are closed due to rain from yesterday morning (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • Five nursing homes on generator power (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • 3 Boil Water Orders in effect (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • Precautionary Boil Water Orders are in effect for the cities of Arbyrd and Cardwell (MO EMA SITREP, Feb 11)
  • No unmet needs and issues

Volcanic Activity – Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

As of February 11th, unrest at Mount Redoubt continues with little change over the past 24 hours.  Volcanic tremors with variable amplitudes are ongoing and the FAA continues to restrict air travel in a 10 mile radius around Redoubt to 60,000 MSL.  Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) collected water samples and an infrared camera recorded temperature data.  Current observations reveal that exposed rock in the active fumaroles was warm (approximately 80 fahrenheit) and the outflow stream on the west side of the Drift Glacier is still frozen.  The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.(Region X, AVO, 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

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred Wednesday, Feb 11 at 12:34 p.m. EST in the area of Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia about 285 miles SSE of General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines

  • Reported depth of 21.7 miles
  • There have been a total of 33 aftershocks ranging from 4.6Mw to 6.2Mw
  • No damages or injuries reported, and no tsunami warning, watch, or advisory was generated  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

  • FEMA-1817-DR-WA Amendment #2 adds the Public Assistance Program, including 22 counties
  • FEMA-1819-DR-AR Amendment #1 adds 6 counties for Public Assistance (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:33 EDT