National Situation Update: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Early today showers will continue to linger over Ohio and eastern Kentucky from a departing upper low. Strong southerly winds mixing with impulses from a powerful western storm will bring an increase in the chances for showers and thunderstorms through the Plains states beginning later today through Thursday.
South:
The South will be dry today except for a few coastal showers in North Carolina and scattered thunderstorms in southern Florida. Late today through Thursday, the region will see an increase in showers and thunderstorms across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and the southern Plains.
West:
Low pressure across the West will bring much snow, up to 2-3 feet, across the northern and central Rockies with lower elevations seeing frequent rain showers. The most precipitation will be in the higher elevations of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, eastern Oregon, Nevada and Utah.
Northeast:
An area of low pressure will bring gusty winds and rain to the Central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic regions. The rest of the region, including Upstate New York and New England will remain dry.(National Weather Service, Various media Sources)

Region IV Flooding, Tornadoes and Severe Weather

RRCC at Watch/Steady State, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 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
FEMA SA elements at state EOC for additional coordination with state IT personnel regarding video-feed procedures

Florida (Severe Storms and Flooding beginning March 26):

State EOC Level II (Partial Activation), 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EDT
Governor requested a major disaster declaration on April 10
2 confirmed fatalities (Okaloosa County)
Joint IA and PA PDAs ongoing
11 IA PDAs requested, 6 completed and 5 ongoing
16 PA PDAs requested, 13 completed and 3 ongoing
Voluntary evacuations continue for low lying areas in 6 counties
3 shelters open (Hamilton, Madison and Suwannee); population 15
U.S. 90 at Suwannee River Bridge between CR 255 at I-90 Exit 275 in Suwannee County is now open
Flooding continues to be a major problem in the Suwannee River Basin in the Florida Panhandle
Flood waters have crested in the upper Suwannee, Withlacoochee and Alapaha rivers moving downstream to the lower Suwannee and the Santa Fe rivers

Tennessee (Tornadoes and Severe weather April 10):

State EOC activated to Level IV (Localized Emergency/Minor Disaster)
Several confirmed tornado touchdowns in Murfreesboro (Rutherford County) occurred April 10
Tennessee EMA reported damages in several locations affecting 13 counties
11 IA PDAs were scheduled to begin April 14, 2009
11 PA PDAs are scheduled to begin April 15, 2009

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

EOC activated 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
19 homes damaged or destroyed
Several roads closed - debris on roadways
One fatality (fallen tree)

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
26 IA PDAs requested, 17 completed and 9 ongoing
41 PA PDAs requested, 39 completed and 5 ongoing

Alabama (Severe Weather and Tornadoes April 10):

State EOC remains at Level III (Partial Activation; 24 hours with select staff)
Damages reported in 31 counties (downed trees and power lines); structural damage in 21 counties
128,900 homes were without power but full restoration was to be restored to 98,000 homes with no estimated time for full restoration for many of the others
IA PDAs were scheduled to begin April 14, 2009

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

State EOC activated at Level III (Partial Activation)
Numerous severe thunderstorms and reports of 8 tornado touchdowns occurred throughout the state late Friday into Saturday
Ten counties reported damages and power outages
Approximately 1,600 homes remain without power with full restoration anticipated in the next 24 hours
193 homes damaged or destroyed; 8 businesses damaged

Kentucky (Severe Weather and Tornadoes April 10):

State EOC remains at Level I (Normal Operations)
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
All FMAG wildfires are more than 50% contained
Region VI IMAT Team on stand by
State LNOs are on stand-by to report to Louisiana EOC, Oklahoma EOC and the Texas SOC and Arkansas EOC if requested

Arkansas Tornado

State EOC has returned to Level I (normal operations)
Tornado touchdowns reported in Mena (Polk County); 11 counties sustained damage
1 shelters; population 35
1 IA PDA completed and 2 are ongoing
157 homes destroyed; 140 homes with major damage

Texas Fires

State SOC is at Level I
6 FMAGs approved Friday, April 10
All FMAG wildfires more than 50% contained
Preliminary estimates: 105 residential homes and 107 outbuildings destroyed; more than 200 head of livestock injured or destroyed and numerous reports of additional loss to property
Damage Assessment Teams (DATS) will be conducting damage surveys in the coming week

Oklahoma Fires

State EOC has returned to Level I (Normal Operations)
5 FMAGs approved April 10
All FMAG wildfires 100% contained
1 IA PDA requested and was scheduled to begin April 14

Red River Flood Preparations

Region VIII:

RRCC activated at Level III, 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. MDT

North Dakota:

State EOC activated at Level I, 24/7
The stage of the Red River at Fargo, ND was 33.24 feet as of 3:00 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 14. The river is forecast to crest between April 17 at 38 feet. The emergency levee is at 46 feet.
The Sheyenne River at Valley City, ND was at 20.43 feet as of 4:00 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 14, and is expected to crest at 21.5 feet on April 18, and then hold steady around 21 feet for several days due to reservoir releases from Baldhill Dam. The emergency levee is at 28.7 feet.
National Guard is supporting with sandbagging operations.
Valley City (Barnes County) issued a voluntary evacuation for approximately 1,431 homes in the 500 year flood plain by 6:00 p.m. CDT April 15.
1 IA PDA (tribal) scheduled; time unknown
40 PA PDAs requested; 2 have been completed and 38 are scheduled to begin on April 15
Commodities at GFFSA was moved to Jamestown
Cottonwood Creek Dam; spillway erosion and possible evacuations

Region V

RRCC activated at Level III, 24/7 beginning 7:00 a.m. CDT April 15

Minnesota:

State EOC will be fully activated (24/7) beginning April 15
11 PA PDAs were scheduled to begin April 14 and are scheduled to be completed by April 16, 2009
Two FEMA LNOs at MN EOC to begin 24/7 Ops on April 15
IMAT to deploy to MN SEOC on April 15

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

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 6:44 p.m. EDT, 27 miles SSW of Hilo, Hawaii at a depth of 6.2 miles. No reports of injury or damage. No tsunami was generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity
National Preparedness (as of April 14)

Level: 1 (Minimal Activity)
States affected: FL, OK, TX, & NM
Initial attack activity: Light (103 new fires)
New Large Fires: 3
Large Fires Contained: 7
Uncontained Large Fires: 21 (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity