National Situation Update: Sunday, February 10, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A cold front is moving into the Pacific Northwest. Snow levels will lower to 1500 feet by tonight in the Washington Cascades ahead of this system. Snow will continue to accumulate in from the Cascades to the northern and central Rockies. The avalanche threat will remain very high from the Cascades to the Teton and Bitterroots to the Wasatch of Utah and San Juan of Colorado. California and the Southwest will be dry through early next week with above average temperatures reaching the 80s in the lower desert.

Midwest:
Under a cold dome of high pressure the Region will be very cold and largely dry. Precipitation will be limited to snow in the Dakotas and Nebraska and Lake-effect snow across northern Wisconsin, Michigan, northwest Indiana and northeast Ohio. The Midwest will be extremely cold under this arctic air mass.  Temperatures will be 15 to 35 degrees below average. Morning lows will range from 25 below zero in parts of North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to just below zero in Chicago. Highs will only reach 10 below along the Canadian border to the 30s in the Ohio Valley. East of the Mississippi River across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley northwest winds will gust up to 50 mph. The combination of low temperatures and wind will result in dangerously low wind chills.

Northeast:
A frontal system associated with a low over Quebec will produce widespread precipitation, gusty winds and falling temperatures across the Region. Three to six inches of snow is forecast for the mountains of West Virginia to northern New England.  A foot or more is expected in areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario across northwest Pennsylvania, southwest New York and the Tug Hill Plateau. West to northwest winds could gust to 45 or 50 mph. Temperatures range from the 30s from Washington to Boston and the 20s and teens from northern Maine to western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The combination of low temperatures and wind will result in dangerously low wind chills - down to 10 below zero in northwest Pennsylvania and western New York.

South:
The Region will be dry as there is little moisture associated with the cold front moving into the area.
The front will bring gusty northwest winds that could gust to 60 mph over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians and decreasing temperatures across Tennessee, North Carolina, northern Georgia and upstate South Carolina. Temperatures will be above average in other parts of the Region reaching the 60s and 70s from Texas to Florida. (National Weather Service)

Mississippi Valley Severe Weather

CURRENT SITUATION: Recovery efforts continue in southeastern U.S. following severe weather that occurred on February 5, 2008.  Weather outlook continues to be favorable for ongoing recovery and damage assessments in affected states.

STATE and LOCAL RESPONSE

  • Tennessee
    • Major Disaster Declaration approved by President on February 8, 2008
    • Public and Individual Assistance approved for five counties; Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby, and Sumner Counties
    • 34 confirmed fatalities, 192 injuries, 1 missing
    • 2 shelters; population of 85
    • 2,500 customers without power
    • Estimated damaged homes: 700; 606 destroyed / major damage
    • 24 TN National Guardsmen supporting recovery operations
    • Individual Assistance (IA) Joint PDAs began 02/08/08 for Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Madison Counties
    • Five Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) deployed.
  • Arkansas
    • Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the President on February 8, 2008
    • Public Assistance (Categories A and B) approved for 10 counties and Individual Assistance for 5 counties
    • 14 confirmed fatalities, 150+ injuries
    • 7,000 customers without power
    • 114 businesses damaged; 402 homes damaged or destroyed 
    • Region VI RRCC activated at Level II - ESFs: 3, 7, 8 and DCO
    • 109 AR National Guardsmen supporting recovery operations
    • State EOC at Level III
    • Chicago FIRST-Team proceeding to impacted areas to assist with needs assessments.
    • Four Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) and 13 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) deployed to Arkansas
  • Alabama
    • A Major Disaster Declaration has been requested
    • State has requested Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for 4 counties
    • 6 fatalities, 6 injuries
    • Approximately 100 homes damaged/destroyed
    • State EOC is at full activation, supported by ESFs 5, 6, 10 and 13
  • Kentucky
    • Disaster declaration has not been requested
    • 7 confirmed fatalities; numerous injuries
    • State of Emergency declared by Governor for six counties; however, 37 counties affected
    • 2,100 customers without power
    • 20 homes destroyed
    • 89 KY National Guardsmen supporting recovery operations
    • State EOC at Level IV; normal operations
    • PDA's have been requested by the State for eight counties, and began on 02/09/08

    FEDERAL RESPONSE

    • FEMA Region IV
      • Region IV RRCC activated at Level III
      • Region IV ERT-A in TN
      • FIRST-Team Atlanta is at Dobbins ARB, and is reconstituting
      • MERS communications operational at TN EOC
      • 5 MDRCs deployed to TN
    • FEMA Region VI
      • Region VI RRCC activated Level II w/ ESFs 3, 7, 8 and DCE
      • Two FEMA state liaisons remain at Arkansas State EOC
      • Region VI ERT-A and FIRST-Team Chicago deployed to Little Rock, AR  (Region VI, AR EOC)
      • Initial Operating Facility (IOF) operational 02/07/08 in North Little Rock, AR
      • JFO will be operational in AR no later than 02/12/08
      • Chicago FIRST-Team proceeding to impacted areas to assist with needs assessments (FEMA HQ, Regions 4, 5, 6)

Midwest Flooding Update

The Region V RRCC is activated to Level III (8:00 am - 5:00 pm CST)
Current Situation: 

Illinois:  

  • Moderate flooding is widespread in Illinois with several forecast points already at Moderate levels or are forecast to rise to Moderate levels over the next few days.  The Illinois River mainstem and many of its tributaries have significant rises from the saturated soils and heavy rainfall the past couple of days.
  • One shelter open with 20 occupants
  • State EOC not activated

Indiana:

  • The Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge, Kouts, and Shelby, Indiana continues to rise.  River is expected to crest only slightly higher than current levels (1/2 foot or less) between Sunday and Monday in these areas. The Wabash River from Terre Haute to New Harmony continues to rise and is expected to crest starting Sunday and continuing through the end of the week downstream.  Other river levels across the state are steady or receding.  The National Weather Service is forecasting up to an inch of additional rainfall in southwest Indiana on Monday that may exacerbate the current situation.  The state and counties are monitoring the situation.
  • Five fatalities and two injuries have been confirmed due to the flooding in Indiana. One shelter was open overnight, with a population of six.
  • Local emergency declarations have been made for 11 counties. The State EOC is partially activated and operating 24 hours.  National Guard continues to stage at Lafayette and Elkhart. There have been no requests for state assistance. 
  • A FEMA Region V Liaison is deployed to the State EOC. There have been no requests for Federal assistance.

Ohio:

  • Widespread flooding continues over much of the Ohio Valley particularly in the northwestern basin (Ohio, White, Wabash rivers). A lack of significant snow melt or widespread heavy rain through Monday will allow the situation to improve somewhat.  The potential for additional flooding, prolonged flooding or higher crests than expected in areas yet to crest, will increase by Tuesday as significant precipitation moves into the basin again.
  • There have been no reports of fatalities or injuries. There was one shelter open in Ohio, however no one stayed overnight.
  • Four counties will be conducting local damage assessments starting today.  Local emergency declarations have been made for nine counties. The Ohio State EOC Assessment Room is being staffed from 0700 to 0400 EST over the weekend. There have been no requests for state assistance. 
  • A FEMA Region V Liaison is deployed to the State EOC. There have been no requests for Federal assistance. (FEMA HQ. Region V, NOAA NWS North Central River Forecast Center and Ohio River Forecast Center)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Feb-2008 08:00:02 EST