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National Situation Update: Sunday, April 12, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:
Severe thunderstorms with large hail, heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes will be possible through tonight, from southern Oklahoma and north-central Texas eastward across eastern Texas to the lower portions of the Mississippi Valley as a low pressure system moves through the region.  Gusty winds will create a high fire danger across portions of southwest and south Texas.  A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 11 a.m. EDT today for portions of northwestern West Virginia and northern Kentucky.  A high pressure system will provide clear skies overnight, allowing for temperatures to drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s this morning.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers across the region.
West:
Rain and snow will accompany a cold front moving into the Pacific Northwest today.  Snow is expected in areas 4,500 feet and above.  Snow accumulations of a foot or more are possible in the higher elevations of the Washington Cascades.  Rain is possible in the coastal areas of Washington and Oregon and accumulations could reach one quarter to three quarters of an inch.  A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow has been issued for portions of western Colorado until 6:00 a.m. MDT today.
Midwest:
Rain will extend from the Northern Plains to the Central Plains and east to the mid-Mississippi Valley through tonight, with the heaviest rain expected from Kansas to Missouri.  Rain mixed with snow is possible over portions of Kansas and Nebraska.  A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. CDT today for portions of southern Ohio and central Indiana.  A high pressure system will provide clear skies overnight, allowing for temperatures to drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s this morning.  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. Current forecasts indicate a chance of one tenth to one quarter inch of precipitation over the Red River Valley through Monday.
Northeast:
No significant weather forecast.  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 select ESFs
  • FEMA LNOs deployed to GA EOC and to FL EOC

Florida:

  • State EOC Level I (Full Activation) 24/7 operations; Governors State of Emergency for 26 counties
  • Governor requested a major disaster declaration on April 10, as a result of severe storms, flooding, flash flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing
  • Two shelters; population: 7
  • Thirteen PA PDAs completed (additional counties pending water recession)
  • Five IA PDAs completed; three partially completed/ongoing
  • Voluntary evacuations still in effect for five counties

Tennessee:

  • State EOC activated to Level III (Emergency/Minor Disaster)
  • Fatalities: 2 / Injuries: 41 (7 in critical condition)
  • Several confirmed tornado touchdowns in Murfreesboro (Rutherford County) yesterday; Damages: 100 homes destroyed; 150 major damage; 200 minor
  • Significant power outages throughout the County, affecting approximately 9,500 customers (peak outages were 15,500)
  • Tennessee Department of Health reports that all medical services, transportation and communications are undamaged; no assistance requested
  • The only other county reporting damage is Benton County; four to six homes destroyed; 25 damaged; no injuries or fatalities
  • All other counties are reporting no destroyed property, only roof damage caused by falling trees and debris blocking roads
  • Joint IA and PDA may be requested early next week

Georgia:

  • State EOC remains at Level III (Normal Operations)
  • Fatality: 1 (Colquitt County) / Injuries: 2 
  • All shelters closed
  • Governors State of Emergency for 33 counties; 56 counties impacted
  • Damage reports received for 21 counties
  • IA PDAs are ongoing for 19 counties.  PA PDAs are ongoing for 39 counties
  • GEMA has not received any requests for state assistance

Alabama:

  • State EOC remains at Level III (Partial Activation)
  • Severe weather was reported in 11 counties in Alabama. Residential damage reported in Marshall and DeKalb Counties; trees and power lines down throughout the State
  • Damages reported in 10 counties
  • Damage assessments are underway

South Carolina:

  • State EOC activated to Level III (Partial Activation)
  • One fatality; five injuries
  • Power outages peaked at 14,479
  • Numerous trees and power lines down
  • State damage assessments are underway in Aiken and Anderson counties

Kentucky:

  • State EOC remains at Level I (Normal Operations)
  • The KY EM reported two tornado touchdowns in Christian County. Three counties (Calloway, Union, and Lyon) have experienced wind damage to local residences 
  • Damages to homes and vehicles were also reported in Lee and Lincoln counties
  • Numerous trees and power lines down

Region VI Severe Weather and Wildfires:

  • The RRCC is activated at Level III; no night shift; will examine situation today and make further decisions as necessary concerning activation
  • State LNOs are on stand-by to report to Louisiana EOC, Oklahoma EOC and the Texas SOC if requested

Wildfires in Texas & Oklahoma
Arkansas Tornado

  • Arkansas EOC has returned to Level 1 (normal operations)
  • Tornado touchdowns reported in Mena (Polk County); 11 counties sustained damage
  • Two shelters; population unknown
  • Joint PDAs began April 11

Texas Fires

  • Texas SOC is elevated Level I
  • The State is handling all Mass Care issues using State and VOAD resources
  • The State indicated that preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) will begin next week when the local jurisdictions are ready
  • Texas Forest Service reports that 162 out of 254 counties have burn bans; 753 fires have burned this year; 178,143 acres have been destroyed

Oklahoma Fires

  • State EOC remains at Level II (extended operating hours and key personnel)
  • The State has requested joint IA PDAs in Oklahoma County to begin April 14

Red River Flood Preparations

Region VIII:

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, On-Call for the weekend   

North Dakota:

  • State EOC activated at Level 1, 24/7
  • 36 of 53 counties are currently under Flood Warning
  • PA PDAs will begin on April 15 and are expected to be complete by April 18
  • There are no shelters open

Region V

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CDT

Minnesota:

  • The State EOC is not activated
  • Region V Logistics has established an Incident Staging Base (ISB) in Dilworth, MN.  All commodities earmarked for Minnesota and previously staged at Grand Forks, ND NLSA arrived at Dilworth ISB on April 10, 2009

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)

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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:26:00 EDT