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National Situation Update: Saturday, April 11, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A storm system moving through the Intermountain West today may result in rain and snow.  Snow will move out of Arizona and into the Colorado and northern New Mexico mountains by tonight.  Some areas may receive snow accumulations of over 12 inches.  A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow has been issued for portions of western Colorado until 9:00 a.m. MDT Sunday.
Midwest:
No significant weather forecast.  Flood Warnings continue for the Red River in Minnesota and North Dakota.  The second crest projections at this time include snowmelt only; no additional precipitation is forecast over the next 24 hours. Any significant precipitation that does occur while the rivers in the Red River Valley are in flood will cause increases in the projected crest forecasts. Current forecasts indicate a chance of one tenth to one quarter inch of precipitation over the Red River Valley from late Sunday into Monday.
South:
Thunderstorms are possible across northern Florida, though sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected across much of the region.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers across the region.
Northeast:
Rain is forecast for Coastal areas from the Mid-Atlantic to southern New England.  Flood Warnings continue for rivers in northern Maine.  (National Weather Service, Various media Sources)

Region IV Flooding and Severe Weather

  • RRCC - Level III, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • RIV IMAT deployed to FL EOC with selected staff and ESFs.
  • FEMA LNOs deployed to GA EOC and to FL EOC.

Georgia:

  • State EOC remains at Level III (Normal Operations)
  • One confirmed fatality in Colquitt County; two injuries. 
  • All shelters closed.
  • Eleven river gauges continue to experience minor or moderate flooding
  • IA PDAs are ongoing for 19 counties. 
  • PA PDAs are ongoing for 39 counties.

Florida:

  • State EOC Level I (Full Activation) 24/7
  • Governor declared 18 counties disaster areas
  • Two confirmed fatalities in Okaloosa County.
  • Two shelters open; population 8
  • Voluntary evacuations remain in effect for four counties
  • Twenty river gauges  continued to experience minor or moderate flooding.
  • PA PDAs completed for 11 counties - ongoing in three counties.
  • Joint IA PDAs completed for three counties - ongoing or scheduled for five counties
  • Damages: Minor: 520; Major: 99; Destroyed: 95
  • Significant bridge and road closures.

Tennessee:

  • Tennessee EOC activated to Level III (Emergency/Minor Disaster)
  • Two confirmed fatalities; 32 injuries
  • Eight confirmed touchdowns in six counties
  • Damage assessments will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.
  • State may begin assessments late today or tomorrow
  • Joint IA and PA PDAs may be requested early next week

Kentucky:

  • State EOC remains at Level I (Normal Operations)
  • Two tornado touchdowns today in Christian County have been confirmed by Kentucky Emergency Management.  Wind damage to homes is confirmed in Calloway, Union, and Lyon Counties. 
  • 6 counties report damage to structures and/or power lines.  (FEMA Region IV)

Region VI Severe Weather and Wildfires:

  • The RRCC is activated at Level III 24/7
  • Region VI IMAT Team is on stand-by to deploy.
  • Six PA PDA Teams on standby
  • Acting Regional Administrator continues to coordinate with the open JFOs in AR, OK, TX for potential support.
  • State LNOs are on stand-by to report to Louisiana EOC, Oklahoma EOC and the Texas SOC if requested.
  • FMAGs have been approved for fires in Carter, McClain, Oklahoma, Payne, and Stephens counties in Oklahoma.
  • FMAGs have been approved for fires in Hamilton, Young/Jack, Montague, Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Wichita counties in Texas.

Wildfires in Texas & Oklahoma
Texas

  • Texas SOC is elevated Level I.
  • Texas Fire Service has responded to 21 fires for approximately 61,710 acres
  • Three confirmed fatalities; one injury 
  • 12 counties affected /26,500 acres burned
  • 43 fire departments have responded
  • The State Mass Care will open a VOAD Disaster Assistance Center Monday in Montague County.
  • Logistics has placed a 50-pack of generators, three trailers of Water, 3 trailers of meals, and 3 trailers of tarps on standby at LC Ft. Worth.
  • Texas JFO staff is ready to assist the State if required.
  • PDAs are expected to begin Tuesday.

Oklahoma

  • State EOC remains at Level II (extended operating hours and key personnel).
  • Shelters are open in two locations in Oklahoma County.
  • Two IA PDA Teams will deploy to Oklahoma City April 13 to begin Joint PDAs on April 14.
  • Approximately 500-600 people remain evacuated
  • Fires broke out in south central and central Oklahoma on April 9.
  • An estimated 100+ homes have been destroyed.
  • The Oklahoma Department of Health reports 62 injuries across the state.
  • Total consumer power outages at peak: 3,557; Total remaining consumer outages: 31
  • Oklahoma JFO staff is ready to assist the State if required.

Louisiana Severe Weather

  • No major injuries or fatalities have been reported.
  • Local officials have begun damage assessments.
  • Approximately 20,000 power outages have been reported throughout the State (7 parishes).
  • Bossier and Caddo parishes have submitted declarations of a State of Emergency.
  • Caddo Parish has requested State IA and PA PDA Teams to assist with damage assessments.
  • The GOHSEP Crisis Action Team was activated this morning and is monitoring and responding to the situation.

Arkansas Tornado

  • State EOC has returned to Level 1 (Normal Operations)
  • Three confirmed fatalities; 22 injuries
  • Two shelters open; population unknown
  • Tornado struck Mena (Polk County)
  • Eight patients evacuated from a nursing home in Mena
  • Two IA PDA Teams will deploy to Arkansas today to begin Joint PDAs in Polk County.
  • Arkansas JFO staff is ready to assist the State if required.
  • The State is reporting 140+ homes damaged and 5+ businesses damaged in Polk County; 42 homes and two businesses were reported as damaged in four other counties.
  • Region reports 11 counties sustained damage.
  • FEMA LNO is at EOC
  • Requests for Federal assistance anticipated.

Red River Flood Preparations

Region VIII:

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, On-Call for the weekend   
  • National IMAT West deployed to ND EOC
  • FEMA LNO is deployed to SD OEM providing technical assistance to the State in planning for the second crest in mid-April
  • Levee construction operations in the Red River Basin have been reduced dramatically as the forecast for the crest has been reduced.

North Dakota:

  • State EOC activated at Level 1, 24/7
  • PA PDAs expected to begin NLT April 13
  • NOAA updated prediction of a second crest occurring April 16-18 at 38-40 ft.
  • The Grand Forks AFB NLSA will remain open until the second river crest occurs

Region V

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Region V IMAT began demobilization from MN SEOC; expect completion today
  • Region V commodities currently at the Grand Forks, ND staging area are being transferred to Dilworth Incident Staging Area

Minnesota:

  • State EOC partially activated 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT; State agencies on standby

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG 2310-FM-TX was approved on April 10 for the Breckenridge Fire, Stephens County, TX.
FMAG 2811-FM-OK was approved on April 10 for the Healdton Carter County Fire, Carter County, OK.
FMAG 2812-FM-OK, was approved on April 10 for the Velma Fire, Stephens County, Oklahoma.
FMAG 2813 FM-OK, was approved on April 10 for the Mulhall Fire, Payne County, OK. 
FEMA-2814-FM-TX was approved on April 10 for the 1148 Fire in Palo Pinto County, TX
FEMA-2815-FM-TX was approved on April 10 for the 617 Fire in Hamilton County, TX. (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)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness (as of April 10)

  • Level: 1 (Minimal Activity)
  • States affected:  AR, FL, MN, OK, TX & VA 
  • Initial attack activity:  Light (123 new fires)
  • New Large Fires:  14
  • Large Fires Contained:  3
  • Uncontained Large Fires:  18 (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

 The Governor requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Florida as a result of severe storms, flooding, flash flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing.  The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance for Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington Counties and Hazard Mitigation for the entire State.

The Governor requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Georgia as a result of tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, and flooding beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for 18 counties; Public Assistance for 30 counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

The Governor requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, flash flooding, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing through April 3, 2009. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for three counties; Public Assistance for 20 counties, including direct Federal assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The Governor further requested 100 percent Federal funding for the first 72 hours for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B) under the Public Assistance program.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:26:03 EDT