Skip to content

National Situation Update: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Sunny and warm weather is forecast for the Southwest  today, with the exception of mountain snow from Utah eastward to Colorado.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for portions of western Colorado and eastern Utah.  An Extremely Critical Fire Weather area exists for extreme southern Colorado until 7:00 a.m. EST this morning. 
Midwest:
A system moving into the region today will produce rain, snow and strong, gusty wind across much of the Midwest and Great Lakes.  Northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan may see up to 12 inches of snow.  Blizzard conditions could develop in areas south and southeast of Lakes Superior and Michigan. 
Showers and thunderstorms will move up through the Ohio Valley.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for all of west and central upper Michigan through Thursday evening.  An Extremely Critical Fire Weather area exists for southwestern Kansas until 7:00 a.m. EST this morning. 
South:
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for most of the southeast through this afternoon.  Severe weather areas will include Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, southeast Arkansas and the Florida Panhandle.  Hail, damaging wind and tornadoes are possible in these areas.  A Red Flag Warning has been issued for all but the southeastern portions of south-central Texas and along and west of Sherman, Rockwall, and Hillsboro to the Cameron line in north Texas from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. this afternoon; a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for southeast New Mexico and a large portion of Texas through this evening.  An Extremely Critical Fire Weather area exists for far eastern New Mexico, and the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles until 7:00 a.m. EST this morning.  Flood Warnings continue for portions of the Black, White and Cache Rivers in Arkansas.
Northeast
A storm system moving through the Great Lakes today may bring some rain and snow across southern New England and from southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey southward.  Northern New York State and northern New England will likely see 4 to 8 inches of snow.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Winter Ice Storms - Update

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

Region IV

Kentucky

  • State EOC normal operations
  • Approximately 1,690(-4310) customers without power; power restoration should be completed by Feb 20
  • All shelters closed as of Feb 13th
  • All schools open; all roads and transportation systems fully operational
  • No hospitals on generator power; ESF-3 continues with the de-installation of generators
  • No resource shortfalls or limiting factors

Region VI

  • RRCC is at Watch/Steady State, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST, M - F
  • Denton MERS has deployed personnel and equipment to Oklahoma City, OK to assist with JFO set up.  (Denton MERS Ops Status Rreport, Feb 16th)
  • Operations are being conducted at the Initial Operating Facility until the JFO is established; no date when the transition to the JFO will take place.  (Region VI, Feb 17)
  • PA PDA and IA PDA teams are being demobilized in Oklahoma
  • IA PDA teams are being demobilized in Arkansas

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Volcanic Activity – Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

Although no eruption has occurred, unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues through variable amplitudes of volcanic tremors.  The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is staffed 24 hours a day and continues to closely monitor Redoubt.  The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE (second highest level) and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH (second highest level).  The picture below is a  comparative of images from 1990 and 2009 of the upper Drift Glacier Valley on the north flank of Redoubt Volcano.  The octagon pinpoints the approximate location of current ice holes emanating steam plumes (likely the toe of the lava dome). This aids in creating a good perspective of the amount of ice and snow in the upper canyon, and the location of the buried 1990 lava dome.  (USGS, Alaska Volcano Observatory Feb 17)

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

  • On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-1821-DR) for the state of Tennessee in response to severe winter storms and flooding that occurred January 27-31, 2009.  The Declaration authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance to seven counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The FCO is Terry L. Quarles of the National FCO Program.
  • On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-1823-DR) for the state of Oklahoma in response to a severe winter storm that occurred January 26-28, 2009. The Declaration authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance for four counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The FCO is Douglas G. Mayne of the National FCO Program.
  • On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-1822-DR) for the state of Missouri in response to a severe winter storm that occurred January 26-28, 2009.  The Declaration authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, to twenty counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide including the independent City of St. Louis.  The FCO is Thomas A. Hall of the National FCO Program.
  • The Governor of Illinois has requested a major disaster declaration as a result of a severe winter storm during the period of January 26-28, 2009.  Request is for Public Assistance for nine counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:24 EDT