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National Situation Update: Monday, April 5, 2010

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A winter storm is producing widespread rain, mountain snow and gusty winds over much of the region. Heavy rain is expected along the entire West Coast with heavy snow in the Sierras, Cascades and as far south as the Los Angeles County Mountains. Precipitation will move inland with the front, spreading into much of the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountain chain. The heaviest snows are expected across the windward slopes which include the Wasatch, Tetons, Sawtooths and much of the Central Rockies. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph are possible, especially in higher elevations. Critical fire weather is forecast this afternoon from New Mexico to Nebraska and parts of adjoining states due to low relative humidity and gusty winds.
Midwest:
Rain showers and severe thunderstorms are forecast from the Southern Plains into the Great Lakes along a warm front. The heavy rainfall will produce localized flooding.
South: 
Fog is forecast this morning for the Deep South and along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Under high pressure the region will be unseasonably warm and dry; some high temperature records may be broken. Onshore flow may produce a few showers and thunderstorms in southeastern Texas this afternoon. Red Flag Warnings are in effect during afternoon hours for much of the Florida Panhandle.
Northeast:
A frontal system will produce sporadic precipitation from New York to New England. Amounts will be limited to a few tenths of an inch, not enough to exacerbate the flooding in Massachusetts. Unseasonably warm temperatures will continue for a few more days. A few more record highs can be expected today and tomorrow. (NOAA, National Weather Service and various media sources) 

Northeast Flooding

The Charles River at Dover remains in moderate flood, but is expected to fall to minor flood today.  The Taunton River at Bridgewater has fallen below moderate flood stage and continues to recede. Across northern New England snow melt continues to result in diurnal variations, however across the far north snow melt is resulting in steady rises that could bring the flow at Skowhegan on the Kennebec River to near flood stage and the stage on the Saco River at Conway to within a foot of flood stage. Elsewhere, minor flooding continues across a handful of locations across southern New England and on the Mattawamkeag River at Mattawamkeag, ME. (Northeast River Forecast Center)

FEMA HQ Response
The FEMA NRCC is on Alert for possible activation. The FEMA National IMAT-East is deployed to the Massachusetts JFO. The US&R MA-TF-1 is partially activated to provide support to Flood Reconnaissance Operations. There are 15 MERS vehicles and 26 personnel deployed to RI and MA in support of FEMA-1894-DR-RI and FEMA-1895-DR-MA.

FEMA Region I
Region I is activated to Level II (Partial Activation) with ESFs 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ARC, and DCE LNO. Region I State Liaison Officers (SLOs) are deployed to CT, MA & NH. Region I and Region IV IMATs are deployed to the Rhode Island EOC. The National IMAT-East is deployed to the Massachusetts JFO. The US&R MA-TF1 demobilized on April 3.

Two Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) are committed to Region I. One MDRC is operational in Warwick, RI and the other one is in Cranston, RI. Five additional MDRCs will open in St. Lakeville, St. Quincy, St. Middleton, Billerica, and St. Lancaster. (FEMA HQ, Regions I and II) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

American Samoa
On April 4, 2010, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred at 4:28 p.m. EDT, approximately 460 miles south-southwest of America Samoa at a depth of 14.3 miles.  There have been no reports of injuries or damages. No tsunami was generated.

Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake – Baja California, Mexico
At 6:40 p.m. EDT on April 4 a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred approximately 16 miles from Guadalupe and 108 miles from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico at a depth of 6.2 miles. The earthquake was approximately 120 SE of San Diego, California, where reports show it was lightly felt. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center reported no tsunami expected.

Numerous aftershocks, magnitude 2.3 to 5.4, occurred in the same general area on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. One of the largest, a magnitude 5.0, occurred 16 miles southwest of El Centro, CA, and 84 miles east of San Diego, CA at 11:15 p.m. EDT.

The open press is reporting two fatalities in Mexicali, Mexico. Some injuries and other structural damage have also have been reported in northwest Mexico. Telephone communications were cut off with the border city of Mexicali, 30 miles to the northwest of the epicenter near Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico.

No significant damage or injuries have been reported on the U.S. side of the border. Reports of moderate damage to bridges and roadways, some water main breaks, phone outages and power outages were reported in southern Imperial County, CA. The City of San Diego reported water main breaks and minor damage to a few buildings. The Naval Air Facility El Centro tower and airfield are closed due to damage. No request for Federal assistance has been received.

Background – Baja California, Mexico Earthquake History
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred 55 miles northwest of this one in Imperial Valley, California on October 15, 1979. The estimated population exposure of 294,000 resulted in 0 fatalities, 91 injuries, and an estimated $30 million dollars in damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused landslides and liquefaction that may have contributed to losses. (USGS, WCATWC) 

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 05-Apr-2010 08:31:13 EDT