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National Situation Update: Saturday, March 29, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Midwest Flooding Update

CURRENT SITUATION
The Midwest will receive a break from the rains that have impacted the region.  The break will be short, however, as another system moves in later in the weekend.  Showers and thunderstorms may erupt Saturday night in Missouri as moisture returns from the Gulf of Mexico.  Waves of showers and thunderstorms, some with heavy rain should impact the Midwest and Ohio Valley Sunday.  Heavy rain will also fall on Monday and Monday night.

Rainfall amounts Saturday night through Tuesday could total between 2 and 4 inches with locally higher amounts.  Some rivers will have a chance to recede through early Sunday, but should rise again in response to the rain early next week.  There will also be severe weather on Monday. Areas of the Midwest from Oklahoma to Illinois will be under the gun. Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are likely.

A cold front will move into the South and stall March 29 - 30, 2008, causing scattered showers and thunderstorms.  Some storms could produce hail, high winds and an isolated tornado.

State and Local Response
Illinois:
The State EOC is at normal operations from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT.  There have been two fatalities attributed to the floods.  The Ohio River at Grand Chain Dam, IL crested and still remains above Major Flood Stage and is forecast to remain above Major Flood Stage through March 30, 2008.  The Little Wabash River at Carmi, IL is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to remain at Moderate Flood Stage through the week of March 31, 2008.  Local and State PDAs are ongoing with no requests for Federal Assistance. (IL EOC SITREP #5, Region V Incident Report # 7)

Indiana:
The State EOC has returned to normal operations, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT.  There was one fatality and eight injuries.  The White River at Petersburg, IN is at Moderate Flood Stage and will continue to recede to below Moderate Flood Stage by April 1, 2008.  Local and State PDAs are ongoing and there is no request for Joint PDAs.  There has been no request for Federal assistance.

Ohio:
There are nine counties with declared States of Emergency.  Two fatalities have been attributed to the flooding and 50 homes are threatened.

Arkansas:
The State EOC is at Level III, which is normal operations, and their hours are 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CDT.  There are 46 counties affected with 38 under State Disaster Declaration.  One fatality, four injuries and one missing person are attributed to the flooding.  Thirteen counties have had Public Assistance and 12 counties have had Individual Assistance PDAs conducted; there are requests for six additional counties for IA PDAs.

Louisiana
The State EOC is at normal operations from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT daily.  The Governor of Louisiana declared a State of Emergency on March 27, 2008.  The risk of flooding will increase along the Mississippi River.  The New Orleans District US Army Corps of Engineers and Jefferson Parish representatives are continuing to inspect the levee systems as a precautionary measure to ensure there are no problems.  The Potato Ridge Levee, across the fore bay from the Morganza Flood Control Structure and adjacent to the Mississippi river is forecast to be overtopped based on current river stage forecasts.  The river is forecast to rise 2.5 feet above the crown of the levee.

Missouri:
The State EOC has downgraded and is not activated.  Five fatalities have been attributed to the flooding.  There have been 1,980 homes as well as an estimated 50 businesses damaged or destroyed along with 2 wastewater lift stations.  Joint IA PDAs were completed March 28, 2008 as scheduled.  Joint PA PDAs will begin the week of March 31, 2008.

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region V
A Planning and Operations representative will remain in the RRCC, March 29 - 30, 2008.
FEMA Region VI
FEMA liaison officers are deployed to the Arkansas and Texas state EOCs.
Four Joint PA PDA teams are performing PDAs in Oklahoma for twelve counties for flooding.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report.  (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 Level: 1 (Lowest level on 1-5 scale)
National Fire Activity (Weekly Total):  Heavy (2,148 new fires).
New Large Fires: 38
Large Fires Contained: 39
Uncontained Large Fires: Seven.(National Interagency Coordination Center, National Incident Information Center)

Texas Wildfires
The Texas EOC is activated at Level I 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  There continue to be Fire Weather Watches active over much of the state.  Cumulative fire loss information as of 2:00 p.m. CDT March 28, 2008: Total Acres Burned - 1,030,600; Total Homes Lost - 152 (no change); and Total Homes Damaged - 36 (no change) (TX SOC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-DR-1735-OK JFO closed March 28, 2008.
Major Disaster FEMA-1751-AR, declared March 26, 2008, was amended to include 11 counties for Individual Assistance, 10 counties for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)