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National Situation Update: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
A cold front will move ashore and produce showers and mountain snow from Washington, to northern California spreading into the northern Rockies. Tomorrow, the Pacific Northwest will see just a few showers and mountain snow showers behind the front.

Midwest:
The front that produced significant weather over the region the last few days has moved east. Most of the region will be dry except for a few showers in the Ohio Valley and a wintery mix of rain and snow over much of the Great Lakes this morning. Tomorrow and Monday a cold front will bring precipitation including snow to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.

South:
A weakening cold front will extend from the New England to Florida and gradually move eastward throughout the day. Expect rain showers from Louisiana to the Carolinas with some locations receiving between one half and one inch of precipitation.
The front should push off the Southeast Coast tomorrow but remain draped across central Florida, with a few rain showers across the Carolinas and parts of Georgia.

Northeast:
The frontal system will produce widespread precipitation from the Great Lakes to New England and Mid-Atlantic. Some areas will receive more than an inch of rain. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Region VI Severe Weather

Louisiana - Heavy Rains and Flooding
Due to several days of heavy precipitation many rivers in Louisiana are forecast to flood most significantly:
• Bossier Parish - Bodcau Dam is at 198.6ft and may exceed 200 ft; extensive lowland flooding will occur
• At 200ft-Red Chute Levee is in danger of overtopping; if overtopping occurs 800-1,200 people may be evacuated
• Pointe Coupee Parish - Mississippi River at Red landing is forecast to crest at 47.5 on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

• Access roads will be inundated and evacuation of all river islands must be accomplished
• State preparations:
• Governor declares a state of emergency for 15 counties in anticipation of severe weather on October 31, 2009
• Five parishes have submitted flood related declarations to the state
• Provided over 200,000 sandbags to affected areas to protect against existing or potential flooding
• One shelter open with 15 occupants in Haughton, LA

Arkansas - Tornadoes, Severe Storms and Flooding 

• One fatality reported (Independence County)
• 19 homes damaged - (4) Desha County & (15) Ouachita County
• Little Rock has one shelter open with an unknown number of occupants
• County assessments are on-going
• Five counties have submitted flood related declarations to the state; 11 counties have submitted verbal declarations 
• The City of Saline is planning evacuations due to the overflowing of  ponds and holes in a nearby levee
• Two shelters open with an unknown number of occupants
No requests for federal assistance at this time, however, PDA Teams and State Liaisons are ready to deploy.(Region VI, Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center) 

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Sunday evening.
Western Pacific 
No activity threatening United States Territories. (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 Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Friday, October 30, 2009
Initial attack activity:  Light (61 new fires)
New large fires:  0
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires:  1
States affected:  AZ   (NIFC) 

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)