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National Situation Update: Thursday, May 8, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South:
Moderate rain and thunderstorms are forecast over the Carolinas, northern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and sections of Arkansas.  Thunderstorms could be severe in western South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia, most of Alabama and eastern and southern Mississippi.  A Red Flag Warning will be in effect 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT for northeast Florida due to low relative humidity and warm temperatures.  High temperatures in Texas will be above average; however, the rest of the south will be seasonal.

Midwest:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for southern Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, eastern Missouri and the Great Plains.  Flash Flood Warnings are in effect until early this morning for southeastern Kansas, and western Missouri.

Northeast: 
Southern New England will see some early morning rain.  A slow-moving front will bring moderate rain and isolated thunderstorms throughout the day to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northwest Virginia. 
High temperatures will range from the 50s in northern Maine to the 80s in southeast Virginia.

West: 
Rain and some thunderstorms will extend from Washington State to Colorado.  High temperatures are forecast to range from the 40s in the northern and central Rockies to the 90s in the Sonora and Mojave Deserts.  The Pacific Northwest will peak in the 50s and 60s.  (NWS)

Maine Flood Recovery

Recovery operatons continue from severe storms and flooding on April 28, 2008, and continuing.  Maine identified 22 flooded homes in Penobscot County and has asked FEMA to expand Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) to include this county.  FEMA is sending teams that include the Small Business Administration to meet with county officials this week and conduct the PDA.  IA PDAs for Aroostook County have already been completed.  (Region II)

Toxic Spill Update - Contra Costa County, CA

The California Office of Emergency Services (CA OES) Coastal Duty Officer advised that approximately 3,000 gallons of the chemical Toluene and water mixture have been recovered by the cleanup contractor since the spill into San Pablo Bay was discovered Monday.  Cleanup operations will be completed today May 8.  (CA OES)

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

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred offshore near the Alaska Peninsula at 5:45 p.m. EDT on May 7. The quake was located 47 miles SSW from Sand Point, Alaska, and 610 miles SW of Anchorage, Alaska, at a depth of 34 miles.  There are no reports of damages or injuries, and no tsunami watches or warnings were issued.
 (USGS, FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
States reporting large fires: California (1), Florida (4), New Mexico (2), Texas (2).
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, May 7:
Initial attack activity: Light (128 new fires)
New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 9
Weather Discussion:  Dry and windy conditions are expected to continue in southeast New Mexico and west Texas today. Another weak storm system will produce gusty winds for the southern Great Basin, northwest Arizona, and southeast California. Relative humidity (RH) will begin to improve over the Southeast; however, RH levels will still remain rather low. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

New Mexico
Trigo Fire (Torrance County) has burned 13,680 acres and is 60% contained.  Eighty nine structures are reported destroyed.  (National Interagency Coordination Center, Inciweb)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)