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National Situation Update: Saturday, April 4, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather

West:
Much of the West, with the exception of eastern Utah and western Colorado, will have pleasant weather today.  A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until midnight MDT for heavy snow in the mountains of western Colorado and eastern Utah. Periods of snow, heavy at times, are expected.  Total snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 inches can be expected by late this evening.  In addition, north winds will gust to over 40 mph creating areas of blowing and drifting snow, along with greatly reduced visibility.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect through Saturday evening for the desert lowlands of south-central New Mexico and far west Texas for strong winds, low humidity and very high or extreme fire danger.
Midwest:
A low pressure system will spread snow across portions of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado.  Accumulations of six to 12 inches of snow are possible from central and northern Colorado and southern Wyoming east to southeastern South Dakota and northeastern Nebraska.  Some locations will receive up to 18 inches.  Blizzard conditions are expected across South Dakota and northern Nebraska with winds over 35 mph.  A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through midnight MDT for southern South Dakota, northeastern Colorado and central Nebraska.  Heavy snow will develop and 10 to 15 inches of snowfall is expected. In addition to the snow, gusty north winds of 25 to 40 mph will create areas of blowing and drifting snow which will reduce visibility to less than 1/4 mile.  Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. MDT for northwestern South Dakota, western Nebraska and western Wyoming for snow.  Snowfall accumulations of eight to 16 inches are expected in these areas.
South:
No significant weather forecast.  Flood Warnings have been issued for several rivers throughout the region.
Northeast:
Partly cloudy skies and cool temperatures forecast for most of the region.  Northern portions of the region may get some rain and snow.  A Flood Watch has been issued for Maine and portions of New Hampshire for heavy rain and snowmelt that may result in flooding. (NWS, and Various Media Sources)

Red River Flood Preparations

Federal Response:
FEMA Headquarters

  • FEMA NRCC is at Watch/Steady State; 24/7 (Watch only)
  • National IMAT - West deployed to ND EOC
  • National IMAT East has returned to normal status
  • FEMA's National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA)/Grand Forks (LMD commodity update as of April 3) 2:00 p.m.):
  • On Hand:
    • Meals (ea)                   345,789    
    • Water (lt)                    366,913  
    • Cots (ea)                       40,299   
    • Blankets (ea)               104,908 
    • Generators (ea)                  104
    • MDRC                                   5

 Region VIII:

  • RRCC is at Watch Steady State- On-call for the weekend
  • ERT-A deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • IMAT-West deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • Denver MERS deployed to Bismarck, ND
  • 600 pet carriers have been requested and are en route from Monroe, LA. Estimated ETA is April 5.

North Dakota

  • State EOC Level I - 24/7
  • Two confirmed fatalities; 62 injuries
  • All shelters are closed.
  • NWS forecasts no precipitation over the next 7 days.
  • NWS forecasts a 75% probability that the Fargo/Moorhead area will experience a second crest in late April.
  • Levees remain until more information is known about the second crest
  • IA PDAs ongoing
  • No limiting or unmet needs at this time

Region V

  • Region V RRCC is activated at Level III - On-call for the weekend Region continues to monitor flooding and maintain communications with USACE and ESFs
  • Implementing transition plan from IOF to JFO
  • One FEMA LNO; Region V IMAT at MN SEOC
  • Maynard MERS at Moorhead, MN
  • JFO location has been contracted in Dilworth, MN
  • No unmet needs

Minnesota Flooding - Red River Basin

  • The State EOC will be operational 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT this weekend
  • All shelters are closed. 
  • PA PDAs requested for the original seven counties are completed; add-on counties are in process.
  • IA PDAs scheduled to be complete today
  • State is in monitoring mode with a second series of river crests anticipated in late April.

Flooding and Severe Weather in the South

  • There were numerous reports of severe weather Thursday (including nearly a dozen tornadoes, over 100 reports of damaging winds, and 70 reports of hail, primarily across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana).
  • Another strong storm system will affect Florida on Sunday and Monday. There will be potential for large hail and damaging wind gusts.
  • Region IV RRCC in Atlanta is currently at Watch/Steady State and monitoring the situation.

Alabama:

  • State EOC will be at Level III (Partial Activation) Normal hours with select staff working 24 hours
  • Governor issued an Emergency Proclamation on March 30, 2009 for 11 counties.
  • 2 fatalities (Houston County)
  • 2 shelters; population: 40
  • 1,259 customers remain without power throughout the state. Expect full restoration tonight.
  • 37 counties reported damage.
  • PA PDAs are scheduled to begin April 7 in six counties.
  • IA PDAs are scheduled to begin April 14 for three counties.

Florida:

  • State EOC will be at Level II (Partial activation); select staff working until midnight.
  • Local States of Emergency declared for 15 counties
  • North Florida has received between two to 12 inches of rain since Tuesday.
  • River Flood Warnings remain in effect for 13 rivers and streams.
  • PA PDAs requested for six counties.
  • Shelters are open in 5 counties.
  • Damages: Minor - 160; Major - 29; Destroyed - 11

Mississippi:

  • State EOC is no longer activated and has returned to normal operations.
  • Damage was reported in 38 counties.
  • No fatalities; 29 injuries
  • No shelters open at this time
  • 808 structures reported damaged or destroyed

Mt Redoubt

The Unified Command, Drift River Terminal Coordination, is planning to move oil stored at Drift River Oil Terminal, approximately 22 miles northeast of Mt Redoubt. Oil will be removed from two tanks. Each currently holds 3.1 million gallons, five other tanks are not in use. On Saturday, a tanker will be brought to a platform near the terminal to remove some of the oil. Once the oil is off-loaded, it will be taken to a storage facility at the Tesoro refinery in Nikiski to be processed. Nearly 1.7 million gallons will be left in each tank to prevent them from becoming buoyant and floating away if the dike protecting the terminal fails and the terminal floods. (NICC)

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

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 16:26:21 EDT