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National Situation Update: Friday, March 6, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Snowfall exceeding a foot is possible across parts of the northern and central Rockies.
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect until Friday night for most of New Mexico and extreme western Texas due to strong winds and low relative humidity.

Midwest
Some light rain is expected over the southern Great Lakes and northern Ohio Valley; A few showers will also extend southward into northern Kentucky and westward to central Illinois. Snow showers will move eastward out of Montana into the Dakotas and northern Minnesota.

Northeast
A minor weather system will produce some freezing rain across Upstate New York and northern New England; some rain showers are expected southward into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southeast New York and southern New England.

South
Strong southwest winds are forecast from the Southern Plains into the Tennessee Valley; the fire danger will remain high in the Southern Plains with temperatures in the 80s.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Texas Wildfires

Loma del Norte (Brewster County): 800 acres has burned; there is 50% containment; approximately 100 residences and 50 outbuildings have been saved. FMAG #2797 was approved on March 3, 2009.

Pawnee #21 (Bee County): 600 acres has burned; there is 50% containment. All Texas Fire Service resources have been released.

Rhodes Ranch Fire (Taylor County): 3,026 acres has burned; there is 90% containment. Two structures were destroyed. FMAG #2795 was approved Feb 27, 2009.

Wilderness Ridge (Bastrop County): 1,491 acres has burned; there is 90% containment. 29 homes, 12 businesses, and 13 other structures were destroyed; however, 200 homes, 5 businesses, and 30 outbuildings were saved. FMAG #2796 was approved on Feb 28, 2009. (Texas Fire Service, Mar 5)

Natural Gas Explosion - Bozeman, MT

A natural gas explosion occurred in downtown Bozeman, Montana on Thursday morning; three buildings collapsed and a two-block area was evacuated. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no reported deaths or injuries; however, one person was reported missing. The cause of the incident is under investigation. A shelter has been opened to provide care for displaced persons.(Region VIII)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

On March 5, 2009, FEMA-2798-FMAG-Texas was approved for the Tuscola Fire, located 3 miles northeast of Tuscola, Texas (Taylor County), and 15 miles south of Abilene, TX. The 150 acre fire is threatening a 50-75 home subdivision northeast of Tuscola. Twenty people have voluntarily evacuated. The fire is being handled by the State Incident Command.

On March 5, 2009, FEMA-2799-FMAG-Oklahoma was approved for the Taloga Fire, located six miles south of Lenora, near the town of Taloga, Oklahoma (Dewey County). 200 people have voluntarily evacuated. Some homes and out buildings have been destroyed. Some oil and gas facilities have exploded as a result of the fire. Media reports a shelter has been established with a current population of 30. (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-1828-DR-Indiana
On March 5, 2009, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1828-DR for the State of Indiana for the Severe Winter Storm that occurred January 26-28, 2009. The declaration provides for Public Assistance for the counties (15): Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick and Washington. All counties in the State of Indiana are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation. The FCO is Regis Leo Phelan of the National FCO Program.(FEMA HQ)

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