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National Situation Update: Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather

Midwest:
As the storm low moves eastward over the Great Lakes snow showers will linger over eastern North Dakota, Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan.  Winds gusting from 20 to 30 mph will impact portions of the upper-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes.  Temperatures are expected to be below average through much of the region especially the Upper Midwest where high temperatures will remain below freezing. A new storm emerging from the Rockies will begin to spread rain into parts of the Central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley tonight and tomorrow. As the storm intensifies, rain and wind will spread to the Ohio Valley and into the Great Lakes by tomorrow night.
South:
A frontal system will stall over the Gulf Coast and produce significant precipitation - with some areas receiving six to nine inches in the next 48 hours.  Showers will move through the Carolinas today but heavier rain will continue across parts of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Many rivers are already at Flood or Moderate Flood Stage and are forecast to continue.  Localized flash flooding is also possible.
A second storm dropping into Texas will produce rain showers and thunderstorms over the Southern Plains tonight and over the Mississippi Valley Thursday, then eastward through Alabama and Georgia by Thursday night.  Some of the thunderstorms will be severe. Areas from eastern Oklahoma and extreme northeast Texas through the Lower-Mississippi Valley to Alabama and the Gulf Coast are at risk for large hail, damaging wind and tornadoes.
Northeast:
The front extending from the Midwestern storm low will produce rain for much of the region.  The rain will begin in the mid-Atlantic and move northeastward to New England later tonight.
West:
The storm system that dumped rain and snow over the Pacific Northwest yesterday will be moving southeastward.  This will result in a foot of new snow across the Wasatch, Tetons and the Colorado Rockies.  Winds gusting 50 to 60 mph are forecast for portions of Arizona and New Mexico causing a high fire danger.  By tomorrow another storm will move into the Pacific Northwest resulting in rain and snow above 1000 feet into the Cascades. This system will produce snow in the Rockies as the storm moves inland. (NWS, and Various Media Sources)

Red River Flood Preparations

Federal Response:
FEMA Headquarters

• FEMA NRCC is at Level III (8:00 am - 4:30 PM EDT); 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 Mar30 7:00 p.m.):
  
• On Hand:(DR-1829-ND)
  
  • Meals (ea)                  181,485    
    
  • Water (lt)                   186,624   
    
  • Cots (ea)                      28,195   
    
  • Blankets (ea)                62,546 
    
  • Generators (ea)                   54    
    
• Inbound (DR-1829-ND):
  
  • Water (lt)                     61,345    
    
  • Cots (ea)                        1,728   
    
  • Blankets (ea)                 7,844    
    
  • Generators (ea)                     1   
    
  • MDRC (ETA 31 Mar)         0
    
• On Hand (EM-3304-MN):
  
  • Water (lt)                    72,288   
    
  • Meals (ea)                   40,320   
    
  • Cots (ea)                       4,400    
    
  • Blankets (ea)                4,412 
    
  • Generators (ea)                  50   

Region VIII:

• RRCC is at Level II - 24/7; ESFs 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 DMAT operational; four are being staged; one on alert

North Dakota

• State EOC Level I - 24/7
  
• Two confirmed fatalities; 62 injuries
  
• Six shelters; population: 243
  
• National Guard has 2,155 soldiers activated throughout ND

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.
  
• National Guard has 13 soldiers activated throughout SD
  
• James River and tributaries remain above flood stage

Region V

• The FEMA Region V RRCC is activated at Level II with ESFs 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.
  
• Maynard MERS at Moorhead, MN
  
• 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: 8
  
• 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 646 soldiers activated throughout northwest MN.
  
• Joint PA PDAs are scheduled to be complete by April 3.
  
• Maynard MERS and MEOV on station in Detroit Lakes (Becker County).
  

Mt Redoubt

Webcam views are currently showing a low elevation steam-rich plume at the summit and clear weather. This plume may contain very small amounts of ash.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are still in effect over Mt. Redoubt and the Drift River Terminal Facility at a 10 mile radius over the mountain up to 60,000 feet.
Level: WARNING / Aviation Color Code: RED

Flooding Southern States

NOAA issued flood warnings and watches for northern Florida, southern Georgia, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi due to recent rainfall.  Precipitation amounts could exceed nine inches in this area over the next five days.  Saturated soil and additional rainfall could raise rivers and streams above flood stage to major flood stage. (NWS, and Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting U.S territories in the Western Pacific. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On March 31, 2009 at 11:55 PM EDT, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 20 miles east southeast of Wewak, New Guinea, PNG, at a depth of 6.2 miles.  There were not reports of damage or injuries and no Tsunami Warning or Advisories were published.

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The State of Alabama requested PDAs for six (6) counties for PA and three (3) counties for IA as a result of Severe Storms and Flooding from March 27-28, 2009.(FEMA HQ)