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National Situation Update: Thursday, February 7, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
The southern United States will experience a few showers and isolated thunderstorms today.  Dry and seasonable temperatures are expected with highs ranging from the 40s in the extreme northern portions of Oklahoma and Arkansas, and much of Tennessee, to the 80s in the southern half of the Florida Peninsula.

Northeast
As a low pressure system moves slowly northeast of the Ohio Valley, a wintry mix of freezing rain, snow and sleet is expected to impact in western and central New York.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 10:00 a.m. EST Thursday for south central Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York.  A Flood Warning is in effect for the Mohawk River at Utica until late tonight.  Minor flooding is occurring and is forecast.  The level is expected to crest at 403.8 feet this morning and then begin decreasing (flood stage 403 feet).

Midwest
High temperatures on Thursday will range from near 20 in far northeast North Dakota to the 40s from south-central South Dakota to western Kansas, southern Kansas, southern Missouri and southern Illinois into Kentucky.

West
Snow and strong winds will continue in the mountains of the Washington Cascades, and from the Olympics to the Bitterroots and Tetons and continuing to the Wasatch and northwest Colorado Rockies.
Rain or a mixture of rain or snow will occur from western Washington, western Oregon and northwest California to the lower elevations of the northern Great Basin.  High temperatures will range from the 20s in the Rockies to the 70s in far southeast California and southwest Arizona.

Mississippi Valley Severe Weather

Arkansas:
The Governor of Arkansas has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for ten counties (Baxter, Conway, Independence, Izard, Pope, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, Union and Van Buren) as a result of flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes beginning February 5, 2008 and continuing.  The state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is fully activated.  Two FEMA Liaisons are on site and supporting the Arkansas EOC.  There are 12,000 customers statewide without power, and 250-280 estimated homes destroyed or sustained major damage.  There are13 confirmed fatalities, 138 injuries and 12 missing (AR Emergency Management Agency - February 6, 2008, 5:30 p.m. CST).  Two shelters are open.  Region VI ERT-A deployed to Little Rock IOF; 5 Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA) PDA teams deployed.  The Federal Incident Response Support Team from Chicago is deployed to East Little Ro and the FIRST Chicago deployed to Little Rock, AR (FEMA Region VI)

Mississippi:
The state EOC is fully activated.  The FEMA State Liaison deployed to MS SEOC.  MEMA Area Coordinators and SERT Chief personnel deployed to DeSoto and Lafayette Counties.  State EOC has requested a damage assessment flight by Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at first light.  There has been no declaration request at this time.  There are 4,400 customers without power, and 18 homes have been destroyed or sustained major damage.  There are no fatalities reported (MS Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) - February 6, 2008, 5:00 p.m. CST).  There are seven people in shelters; and the American Red Cross is opening a shelter at North Oxford Baptist Church. (FEMA Region IV)

Tennessee:
The state EOC is fully activated.  FEMA State Liaison deployed to TN SEOC.  There has been no declaration request at this time.  There are 45,500 customers statewide without power, and there are 18 counties reporting damage; five homes were destroyed and 24 homes and businesses damaged.  Union University reported three dorms destroyed with 1,000 students displaced.  There are 31 confirmed fatalities and 109 injuries (TN Emergency Management Agency - February 6, 2008, 5:00 p.m. CST).  There are five shelters with a population 140 citizens sheltered.  FIRST Atlanta deployed to Nashville, TN.  (FEMA Region IV)

Kentucky:
The state EOC is activated at Level II.  The Governor of Kentucky declared a State of Emergency for 6 counties (Calloway, Allen, Meade, Laure, Mercer and Garrard) on February 6, 2008.  FEMA State Liaison deployed to KY SEOC.  KY National Guard providing generator and security support in Muhlenburg.  There are seven confirmed fatalities (KY Emergency Management Agency - February 6, 5:00 p.m. CST).  There are 50,175 customers without power, and 20 homes destroyed.  There are four American Red Cross shelters open. (Region IV)

Alabama:
State EOC is fully activated, supported by Emergency Support Function (ESF) agencies - 5, 6, 10, and 13.  No declaration request at this time.  There are 6,000 customers statewide without power; but full restoration is expected by Thursday morning.  61 homes have been destroyed.  There are five  confirmed fatalities (AL Emergency Management Agency - February 6, 5:00 p.m. CST).  Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments are being conducted by the state in both Lawrence and Jackson Counties (FEMA Region IV)

Texas Fires

Texas Governor certified that 184 counties are currently threatened by extreme fire hazard. The TX SOC is activated at Level I; Emergency Conditions. A FEMA State Liaison is stationed at TX SOC. The Texas Forestry Service (TFS) reported 44 fires covering 22,183 acres and the Volunteer Fire Departments reported 274 fires covering 44,917 acres for fires occurring January 31 through February 6, 2008. The TX SOC activated 10 aircraft from Texas Military Forces. TheTexas Department of Transportation is providing fuel for fire apparatus, two dozers, 15 maintainers, 49 vehicles, 99 personnel, six loaders, ten Dynamic Message Signs, and two Portable Changeable Message Signs (FEMA Region VI, TX EOC)

Midwest Winter Storm

Indiana:
IN EOC remains partially activated with 24-hour operations to monitor situation.  No state declarations have been made.  There are 10,920 customers are without power.  Red Cross reported seven shelters open with a population of one.

Wisconsin:
No state declarations have been made.  Heaviest snow fall, with potential for 16-20 inches accumulation, will occur in the southwest part of the state to the Dane County area (roughly Dubuque, Iowa to Madison, Wisconsin).  There are no requests for Federal assistance. (FEMA Region V)

Northwest Winter Storm

Washington:
The Governor declared a State of Emergency in 16 counties of Eastern Washington as a result of recent significant snowfall.  WA State EOC remains activated at Phase II, with ESF-1.  WA Dept. of Transportation activated to support avalanche control on interstate highways.  There are no requests for Federal assistance.  The shelter closed.

Idaho:
The Governor declared a statewide State of Emergency as a result of recent significant snowfall.  State EOC is activated at Phase III Emergency Operations.  National Guard assisting with snow removal in six counties.  No requests for federal assistance.  One shelter open; zero occupants.(NWS, FEMA Region X, Media Sources)

Midwest Flooding Update

Illinois:
Flood Warnings continue for the Wabash, Illinois, Ohio, Embarrass, Rock, Sangamon, Iroquois and Vermillion Rivers. Snowmelt in eastern Illinois combined with 2-4 inches of rain since Monday has contributed to flood conditions.

Indiana:
Flood Warnings continue for the Tippecanoe, Wabash, White, Eel, St. Joseph, Kankakee, St. Mary's, Maumee, Elkhart and Yellow Rivers. The Norway Dam operator reported the floodgates on the Norway Dam were opened and the discharge from the dam is fluctuating at approximately 22,000 cubic fps.  Oakdale Dam Operator is reporting a discharge of 25,933 cubic fps which is causing flash flooding downstream of Norway Dam on the Tippecanoe River.

Michigan:
Flood Warning continues for the Grand River

Ohio
Flood Warnings continue for the Black, Maumee, Blanchard, Auglaize near Defiance Power Plant, Tiffin, Mahoning, Chagrin, Huron and Grand Rivers. (FEMA Region V, NWS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

On February 4, 2008, DHS/FEMA received a request for a Fire Management Assistance Declaration from the State of Texas for the Mesquite Grove Fire burning in Kent County. At the time of request, the fire was eight miles from the town of Jayton, population 680 people.  Two hundred homes were threatened, and the fire had burned 5,550 acres.  No evacuation requests were issued.  The fire was 100 percent contained five miles from the town. The FEMA Assistant Administrator determined that the Mesquite Grove Fire destructive threat level would not constitute a major disaster.  The State's request was denied on February 5, 2008, at 5:25 PM EST. (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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On February 6, 2008 the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1743-DR for the State of Hawaii for Severe Storms, High Surf, Flooding, and Mudslides that occurred December 4-7, 2007. The declaration designates Public Assistance for the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The FCO is Kenneth R. Tingman of the National FCO Program. (FEMA HQ)

The Governor of Arkansas requested a Major Disaster Declaration for ten counties (Baxter, Conway, Independence, Izard, Pope, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, Union and Van Buren) as a result of flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes beginning February 5, 2008 and continuing. (FEMA HQ)