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National Situation Update: Monday, May 26, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Memorial Day Severe Storms

Midwest
Thunderstorms will occur from Michigan and Ohio Valley into Kansas today as a cold front moves southward. Severe thunderstorms are likely; and Kansas, in particular, could be impacted with tornadoes and large hail. In the lower Midwest, the storms will mainly produce strong, damaging winds. Elsewhere, showers are possible across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a few showers may develop in Nebraska. Gusty winds will prevail from the Upper Midwest to the Great Plains.

South
Scattered to isolated thunderstorms will affect Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Humid south to southeast winds will develop in parts of Oklahoma and Texas.

West
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will impact a large area of the West due to a stalled upper-air low.

Northeast
A few strong thunderstorms will develop in the western reaches of the northeastern U.S. this afternoon in advance of a cold front expected to extend from southeastern Canada to Kansas.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tornado Activity

Colorado Tornadoes Update:
One confirmed death; 4 hospitalized The damaged areas have been opened to residents and owners. Crisis counselors, EMTs and Public Safety personnel are patrolling the areas attending to victims as needed. 61 National Guard and local law enforcement are providing security in the impacted areas. The State of CO/FEMA PDAs identified 485 uninhabitable structures, 355 with minor damage that are inhabitable and 78 that were destroyed by the storm. Debris removal plan is in progress completion expected by 05/26/08.  JEFFCO IMT transferred incident command back to the Town of Windsor at 1900, May 24, 2008. The Weld County EOC in Greeley is closed and Colorado EOC is in operation 0700 to 1900 hours with minimal staffing. Currently power has been restored to all but about 4,000 customers.  Xcel Energy has 44 crews working on restoration. American Red Cross will close the Budweiser Event Center Shelter on 25 May 2008. Disaster Request has been received and is being processed.

Wyoming Severe Weather/Tornadoes:
A tornado touched down in Albany County, in and around the town of Laramie on May 22. All power outages have been restored as of midnight, May 23, 2008. The Region VIII State Support Team deployed to WY on May 23 to evaluate damages.  IA and PA PDAs complete May 24. Returned to Region. Joint IA-PA Team completed all assessments. 3 homes destroyed; 2 homes with major damage; 227 minor damage.
Region VIII reports that there is not enough damage to warrant a Governor's request for a declaration. (FEMA Region VIII)

Wisconsin
The State partially activated their EOC in response to strong thunderstorms moving through the state, but has now returned to normal operations. Barron County Emergency Management reported power lines and trees were down and there was major damage to a house in Dallas Township and Prairie Farms Township. (Region V)

Minnesota
The State is reporting one fatality in Hugo due to severe thunderstorms with large hail and possible tornadoes Sunday evening, May 25, 2008. The Washington County EOC has been activated but the state EOC has not been activated; there has been no request for federal assistance at this time.  The state has not received any reports of missing people from the Washington County EOC Coordinator. (Region V)

Iowa  
State notified the Denton MOC that the state EOC has activated.  A tornado was reported to have touched down in communities of Parkersburg and Aplington (Butler County) Sunday, May 25, 2008.  The state indicated there was damage to both communities.  There are reports of causalities, but not confirmed at this time.The Governor issued an emergency proclamation for Butler and Black Hawk County. The state's Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Human Service and the American Red Cross is at the state EOC. The County has requested a communication trailer, public safety support and state search and rescue team.There has been no request for federal assistance (Denton MOC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No request has been made.  (FEMA HQ)   

Joint PDA Requests

No request have been made.   (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Colorado is requesting a major disaster declaration as a result of a series of severe storms and tornadoes on May 22, 2008. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for Weld and Larimer Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean: No significant Activity to report.
Eastern Pacific: No significant Activity to report.
Western Pacific: No activity affecting U.S. Territories. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

May 25, 2008 between 3:18 - 23:53 PM. EDT, approximately 80 miles SSW of Old Harbor, AK four (4) earthquakes occurred, measuring 6.2, 4.0, 4.1 and 4.5 respectively, in the Kodiak Island Region of Alaska. The reported depths were 6.2, 14, 12.8, and 16.4 miles.There was no reported damage and no tsunamis was generated. (USGS, PTWC)