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National Situation Update: Monday, April 13, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:
Strong to severe thunderstorms may develop over southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas this afternoon due to a low pressure system moving from the middle Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley.  A Tornado Watch is in effect for southeast Mississippi, southwestern Alabama and northwest Florida until 10:00 am CDT today.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers across the region.
Midwest:
Low pressure moving from southern Missouri to southwestern Ohio will cause rain and thunderstorms across a good portion of the Midwest today.  Some of the thunderstorms in the lower Ohio Valley could become severe, producing large hail, damaging wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes.  Flood Warnings continue for the Red River in Minnesota and North Dakota.  The North Dakota tributaries of the Red River continue to rise due to snowmelt runoff making its way into the river system.  Expect overnight lows at or above freezing in most places for the next several days.  This will allow for continuous melting 24 hours a day and accelerate the current runoff.
West:
Rain, snow and thunderstorms will accompany a cold front moving through the Northwest today.  Snow accumulations could reach a foot in higher elevations
Northeast:
Red Flag Warnings will be in effect from 10:00 am through 7:00 pm EDT for all of Vermont and southern New Hampshire.  Flood Warnings continue for rivers in northern Maine.  (National Weather Service, Various media Sources)

Region IV Severe Storms and Flooding; Tornadoes and Severe Weather

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

Florida (Severe Storms and Flooding beginning March 26):

  • State EOC Level I (Full Activation) 24/7 operations
  • The Governor requested a major disaster declaration on April 10
  • 3 shelters; population: 7
  • Joint IA and PA PDAs ongoing
  • Essential Service Centers are scheduled to open in Hamilton and Madison counties on April 14
  • The IMAT SA Element continues to support the FL DEM flood assessment mission
  • Voluntary evacuations continue for low lying areas in 7 counties.

Tennessee (Tornadoes and Severe Weather - April 10):

  • State EOC activated to Level III (Emergency/Minor Disaster)
  • Several confirmed tornado touchdowns in Murfreesboro (Rutherford County) occurred April 10
  • Tennessee EMA reported damages in several locations affecting 13 counties
  • Joint IA and PA PDAs may be requested this week

Georgia (Tornadoes and Severe Weather - April 10-11):

  • EOC Level III (Normal activation)
  • Reports of multiple tornado touch downs - Friday night
  • 21 counties in North Georgia affected
  • Numerous reports of wind and hail damage, trees down and power outages
  • Undetermined number of homes/structures damaged
  • Several roads closed - debris on roadways
  • Reports of injuries but no reports of fatalities
  • One nursing home evacuated due to windows blown out
  • Patients transported to VA hospital and other medical facilities

Georgia (Severe Storms and Flooding beginning March 26):

  • EOC activated Level III, Normal Operations
  • 56 counties impacted
  • 1 confirmed fatality / 2 injuries
  • All shelters closed
  • IA PDAs ongoing for 19 counties
  • PA PDAs ongoing for 39 counties

Alabama (Tornadoes and Severe Weather - April 10):

  • 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
  • Damage assessments ongoing

South Carolina (Tornadoes and Severe Weather - April 10-11):

  • State EOC activated at Operating Condition III
  • Numerous severe thunderstorms and reports of 8 tornado touchdowns occurred throughout the State late Friday into Saturday
  • Ten counties reported damages and power outages

Kentucky (Tornadoes and Severe Weather - April 10):

  • State EOC remains at Level I (Normal Operations)
  • The KY EM reported two tornado touchdowns in Christian County April 10
  • Three counties (Calloway, Union, and Lyon) have experienced wind damage to local residences.
  • Damage assessments ongoing

Region VI Severe Weather and Wildfires:

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT
  • State LNOs are on stand-by to report to Louisiana EOC, Oklahoma EOC and the Texas SOC if requested

Arkansas Tornado

  • State EOC has returned to Level 1 (normal operations)
  • Tornado touchdowns reported in Mena (Polk County); 11 counties sustained damage
  • 2 shelters; population unknown
  • Joint PDAs are ongoing

Texas Fires

  • State SOC is at Level I
  • 6 FMAGs approved Friday, April 10
  • State and local officials continue with the response/ recovery operation
  • Damage assessment teams and Mass care will move into affected areas today to accommodate local and county requests

Oklahoma Fires

  • State EOC has returned to Level I (Normal Operations)
  • 5 FMAGs approved April 10
  • IA PDA teams will begin damage assessments on April 14

Red River Flood Preparations

Region VIII:

  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State, 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. PDT   

North Dakota:

  • State EOC activated at Level 1, 24/7
  • The stage of the Red River at Fargo, ND was 32.22 feet as of 4:15 a.m. EDT Monday, up about 0.9 foot in the past 24 hours.  The river is forecast to crest between April 16 and 18, at 38 to 40 feet.  The emergency levee is at 46 feet.
  • The Sheyenne River at Valley City, ND was at 19.88 feet as of 4:00 a.m. EDT Monday, and is expected to crest between 22 and 23 feet April 14 to 15, and then hold steady for several days due to reservoir releases from Baldhill Dam.  The emergency levee is at 28 feet.  The National Guard is supporting with sandbagging operations.
  • 11 highways are closed due to water saturation
  • PA PDAs expected to begin on April 15 and be complete by April 18

Region V

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

Minnesota:

  • State EOC will resume normal operations today at 8:00 a.m. CDT
  • 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
  • On April 10, the State of Minnesota requested PA PDAs for 10 counties and the White Earth Tribal Community.  PDAs are scheduled to begin April 14-16, 2009

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)

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 16:25:52 EDT