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National Situation Update: Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
Showers and thunderstorms will be scattered across the region as an upper level low begins to move east and an upper level trough begins to move into the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies.
High temperatures will range from the 50s in the Pacific Northwest with 90s in the deserts of Southeast California.
Midwest:
Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Central Plains again today. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will move into the Plains and combine with a weak disturbance moving out of the southern Rockies to produce thunderstorms from west Texas to Wisconsin. A frontal system and upper level trough will produce widespread precipitation over the entire Region today with some areas receiving an inch or more of precipitation. Heavy rain is likely tomorrow and Thursday as the system causing the storms begins to move east into the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley exacerbating ongoing flooding.  High temperatures will range from around 50 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the 80s in southwest Kansas.
South:
As discussed above thunderstorms are expected in west Texas and rain, locally heavy at times, is possible in elsewhere in Texas.  High pressure will produce fair skies over the Southeast.  The heavy rain and thunderstorms will move slowly through the southeast, reaching the East Coast by Friday.
Highs will range from the 70s to a few 90s in the Rio Grande Valley.
Northeast:
A weak cold front will produce a few showers from northern New York to New England.
Highs today will be in the 60s and 70s. Warmer than average temperatures are expected over the Region through midweek. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Central US Severe Weather:

Widespread severe thunderstorms impacted parts of the Central United States May 1-3, 2008.  There were over 480 reports of severe weather with 70 to 80 reports of possible tornadoes.  Approximately 64 homes destroyed, and over 852 damaged.  There were approximately 10 businesses destroyed and 43 with minor to severe damage.  All States affected during event, except Arkansas, have returned to normal operations.  At the height of the event, FEMA LNOs were deployed to Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri and placed on alert for several additional States.(NWS, FEMA HQ)

Arkansas:
The State EOC is at Level I, Normal Operations.  The FEMA LNO is on standby at Arkansas JFO and available to be deployed to State EOC upon request. 
There have been seven confirmed fatalities and 23 injuries.  Reports of damage to homes in eight counties; 95 destroyed, 428 damaged, and there have been 8 mobile homes either damaged or destroyed.  Reported business damages include; six damaged and seven destroyed.  Four low water bridges in Van Buren County sustained major damage.
Joint FEMA/State PDAs to began, May 5, 2008.  The Arkansas National Guard (NG) provided 36 Army National Guard soldiers for security.  Requested tarps arrived at State EOC May 3, 2008. (Arkansas Department of Emergency Management SITREP, 12:00 p.m. CDT, May 3, 2008, Region VI).

Mississippi Valley Flooding

FEMA Regional Offices, State EOCs, and the NRCC continue to monitor Flood Warnings and Watches in the Mississippi River Valley. (Region IV, Region V, Region VI RRCC, National Weather Service, FEMA HQ)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant activity reported (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: 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, May 05, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Light (43 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 7
Weather Discussion:
The Southwest may see thunderstorms and gusty winds today over portions of Arizona and New Mexico.
California will see an onshore flow today with mild temperatures and moderate humidity. With a slight chance of thunderstorms over the mountains.
Much of the Southeast will have low humidity today, especially over Florida and Georgia.

Mobile Air Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Deployment:
Seven MAFFS aircraft and personnel arrived at Channel Islands ANGB May 4.  This deployment will provide aerial firefighting certification for Federal Request for Assistance.  The 146 AW (California ANG) is hosting the certification exercise.  Personnel from the 145 AW (North Carolina ANG), 153 AW (Wyoming ANG), and the 302 AW (Peterson AFB AFRC) are participating in the training.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center,  NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

New Mexico
Trigo Fire (Bernalillo County) has burned 13,680 acres and is 45% contained.
59 structures have been destroyed.
Joint PDA will commence on Tuesday May 6, 2008.

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1752-DR-OK was declared on May 5, 2008, for Severe Storms, Tornadoes and flooding, from March 17-23, 2008.

Thirteen counties were approved for Public Assistance.
All counties are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program  (FEMA HQ)