Skip to content

National Situation Update: Monday, March 30, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather

West
A storm moving across the Northwest tonight will produce heavy snow and blizzard conditions across southeast Montana, eastern Wyoming and the mountains of Colorado.  Strong winds are possible in portions of Colorado and much of New Mexico, including Denver and Albuquerque.  Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect until 6:00 a.m. PDT for west-central Montana, northern Utah and portions of north-central Idaho.  Blizzard Warnings remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. MDT for southern Montana and northeast Wyoming.  Snow is expected to occur through tonight, with accumulations of 8 to 12 inches expected. Strong north to northeast winds from 25 to 45 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, will produce blizzard conditions with visibilities below a quarter mile.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect through this evening for all of southwest and south central New Mexico and the lower Colorado River valley for low humidity and strong winds with high to very high fire danger.
Midwest
A storm system moving through the region will produce snow, wind and blizzard conditions across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest today and tomorrow.  Snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches is expected in portions of the Dakotas.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for rivers in western Minnesota and much of eastern North Dakota. Major flooding will continue from Wahpeton to Oslo, with Drayton and Pembina forecast to go to major flooding.  The Fargo and Wahpeton areas will see a slow fall this week, while ice jams will impact Halstad, east Grand Forks and Oslo.  Runoff has decreased greatly due to cold weather.  Blizzard Warnings are in effect for west and central North Dakota, and western South Dakota through tonight.  Winter Storm Warnings are in effect until 7:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday for snow in portions of South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
South
Mostly calm weather is forecast throughout the region today.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect through this evening for far west Texas due to low humidity and strong winds with high to very high fire danger.  Red Flag Warnings remain in effect until 7:00 p.m. EDT for all of the eastern Florida panhandle and Florida big bend due to possible long durations of relative humidity below 35 percent.  Numerous Flood Warnings remain in effect for rivers in the region.
Northeast
A low pressure system moving through the region will produce rain and snow showers from Upstate New York to northern New England.  An off-shore low pressure system will produce strong winds from southern New England to the Mid-Atlantic.  A Flood Warning remains in effect for the Mohawk River at Delta Dam in Albany, New York. (NWS, and Media Sources)

Red River Flood Preparations

Federal Response:
FEMA Headquarters

  • FEMA NRCC is at Level II (24/7, with limited night shift); including select ESFs
  • National IMAT - West deployed to ND EOC
  • National IMAT East is on alert for possible deployment
  • FEMA's National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA)/Grand Forks (LMD commodity update as of Mar 29 7:00 p.m.):
  • On Hand:
    • Meals (ea)                  312,669      8 TL
    • Water (lt)                     46,656    16 TL
    • Cots (ea)                        3,868    28 TL
    • Blankets (ea)                33,771    6 TL
    • Generators (ea)                    53    8 TL
  • Inbound (DR-1829-ND):
    • Water (lt)                   247,969    16 TL
    • Cots (ea)                      25,507    28 TL
    • Blankets (ea)               89,224    20 TL
    • Generators (ea)                    2       2 TL
    • MDRC (ETA 31 Mar)         5
  • Inbound (EM-3304-MN):
    • Water (lt)                     72,288   4 TL
    • Meals (ea)                   40,320   3 TL
    • Cots (ea)                       4,400    3 TL
    • Blankets (ea)                 4,512    1 TL
    • Generators (ea)                  50     6 TL

 Region VIII:

  • RRCC is at Level II - 24/7; ESFs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, DCE and a representative from the National Weather Service
  • ERT-A deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • IMAT-West deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • Denver MERS deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • IRCT operational in Bismarck, ND
  • One VA LNO; one VA Plans Officer deployed to IRCT
  • One DMAT operational; four are being staged; one on alert
  • Two FEMA Region VIII LNOs are deployed to the ND EOC

North Dakota

  • State EOC Level I - 24/7
  • Two unconfirmed fatalities; 61 injuries
  • Five shelters; population: 264
  • Fargo City Health reported 2,000 special needs individuals were successfully relocated
  • Overnight breach at Oak Grove Campus in Fargo; the levee is no w stabilized and a secondary dike is holding. No evacuations were required.
  • Numerous highways are closed due to water over the roadway
  • I-94 is closed from Mandan (west of Bismarck) to the MT border (150 mi) as a result of the blizzard
  • ND National Guard has two quick response teams being deployed. 
  • The ice jam on the Sheyenne River has eased and more water is flowing towards the Red River.
  • Following increased releases from Garrison Dam, the Great River Energy power plant has restarted and is operating at full capacity.
  • A Tribal LNO is working with Standing Rock Tribal Emergency Services to identify needs and potential FEMA assistance.

South Dakota

  • The State EOC is activated at Level 4 to coordinate the state response and provide resource assistance to impacted counties and communities.
  • On March 25, the Governor of South Dakota signed an emergency declaration to help with flood response efforts.
  • James River and tributaries remain above flood stage
  • Area of concern (debris clogging RR bridge) on Jim River; NG investigating & sandbagging community

Region V

  • The FEMA Region V RRCC is activated at Level II with ESFs 1,3,8,9 10, DCE and USCG 
  • JFO scheduled to open April 3 in Moorhead
  • Region continues to monitor flooding and maintain communications with USACE and ESFs
  • Region V IMAT at MN SEOC
  • Region V IMAT Staging Area Supervisor is at Grand Forks AFB, to assist in Joint NLSA
  • 2 FEMA LNOs and 2 FEMA External Affairs personnel at MN SEOC
  • No unmet needs

Minnesota Flooding - Red River Basin

  • The State EOC is activated 24/7.
  • No fatalities, injuries or missing individuals have been reported.
  • One shelter; population: 103
  • On March 26, 2009, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA-3304-EM for the State of Minnesota as a result of the severe storms and flooding.
  • The MN National Guard has 661 soldiers activated throughout northwest MN
  • Voluntary evacuations are ongoing in Clay County. 
  • The State continues to work with Red Cross on identifying possible shelter locations should they be needed
  • Storm systems currently impacting the area, will continue to monitor how this may affect the Red River basin
  • Main priority is working with Army National Guard and Corp of Engineers to resolve ice jam issues
  • Joint PA PDAs are scheduled to be complete by April 3.
  • No Tribal impacts at this time.

Winter Storm

Region VI
Oklahoma

  • The Governor of Oklahoma declared a State of Emergency for 50 counties.
  • One unconfirmed fatality; numerous injuries
  • ARC shelters are closed.
  • Due to snow drifts, roads in Harper and Beaver Counties remain inaccessible.

Louisiana

  • Six tornado touchdowns were reported in the State of Louisiana late Friday and early Saturday.
  • No fatalities or injuries 
  • Significant flooding is occurring in some areas.
  • Shelters were open in Houma because of flooding.
  • The State requested Joint IA PDAs for East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Mt Redoubt

  • Another explosive eruption of Redoubt volcano occurred at approximately 23:14 AKDT (7:14 UTC).
  • NWS reports clouds with radar cloud tops above 20,000 ft above sea level.
  • Mudflows in the Drift River valley are possible
  • The Alaska Volcano Observatory Aviation Color Code remains at RED and the Alert Level remains at WARNING. 

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:26:32 EDT