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National Situation Update: Monday, February 18, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:  Winds gusting 55-to-70 mph at times downed trees and power lines, and damaged homes  across the counties in-and-around Atlanta, GA.  Numerous strong to severe thunderstorms are ongoing from SC to the Florida Panhandle.

There is a risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of AL, GA, NC, SC, and the Florida Panhandle during the overnight hours Sunday, February 17 - 18, 2008.  The current forecast suggests an isolated tornado threat may continue across central GA through the early morning hours of Monday, February 18, 2008.

Midwest:  The combination of warm temperatures, melting snow pack and heavy rainfall Saturday, February 16, 2008 and today, February 17, 2008, resulted in rapidly rising water levels across the Midwest.  The rain has lessened and in some areas is turning to snow as temperatures drop.  Temperatures are forecast to drop over the next few days, which could freeze the flood waters. 

Windy, cold weather will dominate the Midwest and Plains Monday, February 18, 2008.
Precipitation will be limited to scattered snow showers and flurries, primarily in the Midwest, but some could affect the western Plains.

Temperatures around the Great Lakes will range from the single digits near Duluth, MN, to the low or mid-30s near Cleveland, Ohio.   (NWS, Media Sources)

Southeast Tornadoes

Severe thunderstorms hit parts of Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle Sunday, February 17, 2008.  One severe line of thunderstorms produced tornadoes from the Florida Panhandle to Macon, Georgia. 

State and Local Response

Alabama:

• Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) states widespread major damage in Prattville, AL.
• Alabama State Emergency Operations Center (AL SEOC) is activated at Level III (partial activation) to monitor storm.
• AEMA requested Joint PDAs, February 17, 2008.  Letter faxed to Thomasville RRCC.

Florida:

• Florida State Emergency Operations Center (FL SEOC) is at Level II (monitoring). Florida State Warning Point (FL-SWP) reports scattered damage in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
• Escambia County Emergency Management reports four homes destroyed in Molino, as well as other minor damage.
• Santa Rosa County reports power lines, and trees down along with minor damage in Allentown. 

Georgia:

• Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) EOCs activated in Carroll and Cherokee Counties, with no reports of major damage.
• Carroll County reports minor damage and no injuries.
• Cherokee County EOC partially activated, and reports some wind damage.
• No requests for Federal assistance at this time.

Federal Response
FEMA Region IV:

• FEMA State Liaison Officer arrived on site at Alabama State Emergency Operations Center (AL SEOC) at 8:00 pm EST, February 17, 2008.
• One PA and two IA PDA teams will report to AL SEOC by 12:00 pm CST, February 18, 2008, as requested.
• Region IV RRCC Thomasville will activate to Level III at 7:00 am EST, February 18, 2008, to provide support to PDA teams.  (FEMA Region IV, NWS)

Midwest Flooding

The combination of warm temperatures causing extensive melting of the snow pack and heavy rainfall Saturday, February 16, 2008 and today, February 17, 2008, resulted in rapidly rising water levels across the Midwest.  The rain has lessened and in some areas is turning to snow as temperatures drop.  Temperatures are forecast to drop over the next few days, which should freeze the flood waters on the Kankakee, Illinois and Rock Rivers.

Flooding continues for eleven counties in Illinois and Flood Warnings are in effect for small streams in eight counties in north-central Indiana; four counties in northeast Indiana; and three counties in Michigan.  The flooding impact is limited to agricultural or rural areas.

State and Local Response
Wisconsin:

• Emergency Operations Center is activated to monitor storm.
  
• No requests for Federal assistance.  

Illinois:

• American Red Cross (ARC) reports three shelters open, with a population of thirty-two.
  
• State EOC not activated.
  
• No requests for Federal Assistance.

Federal Response
FEMA Region V:

• State Liaison Officer Deployed to Wisconsin EOC.
  
• RRCC is activated at Level III 7:00 am-5:00 pm CST.   (FEMA Region V, NWS)

Damaging Tornadoes Reported In South

Severe weather moved through much of the nation Sunday, February 17, 2008, producing damaging tornadoes in the South that injured nearly 30 people and treating parts of the Midwest to freezing rain, snow and flooding.

A tornado damaged or destroyed about 200 homes and businesses in Prattville, outside Montgomery, AL, where the Mayor said crews searched for people trapped in the wreckage.  No fatalities were immediately reported, but two people were critically injured, said a Fire Department official. Twenty-seven people had minor injuries, officials said.  "It's very possible we may have more injuries," the Fire Department Official said, adding that some trapped people had been rescued.

A 35-bed mobile hospital unit was set up outside a Kmart to treat victims with minor to moderate injuries so that hospitals could take those with serious injuries, a local doctor said.

Toppled utility poles and storm debris littered the area, northwest of Montgomery about 5 miles off Interstate 65. Shelters opened at churches, and school buses shuttled storm victims out of the stricken area to the city center.

About 9,000 homes and businesses lost power in Prattville after storms swept across the South, damaging homes elsewhere in Alabama and in the Florida Panhandle.  A tornado destroyed four homes in Escambia County, Fla. About 60 other homes, businesses and storage buildings were damaged to varying degrees, said a county spokeswoman.

Residents hustled to clear debris, cover broken windows and spread tarpaulins on roofs. Across the border in Escambia County, Ala., two houses were destroyed by a possible tornado in rural Dixie, the Weather Service said.  The storm damaged some structures in Covington County, Ala., and toppled trees, said the assistant director of the county emergency management agency.  The National Weather Service warned of tornado threats and winds of 70 mph as the storm system moved into Georgia. The severe weather in the South comes on the heels of a tornado outbreak this month that killed more than 50 people in several states, including Alabama.  (Media Sources)

More Severe Weather across the Midwest

Freezing rain and snow fell across the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin, still recovering from a major snowstorm that stranded hundreds of motorists and snarled travel for days.  Numerous crashes were reported, and authorities urged people to stay off roads. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for much of Iowa and Wisconsin, as well as flood warnings in parts of the two states.

Heavy snow and slush closed Kansas City International Airport for almost six hours, the longest closure in its 35-year history, authorities said. Dozens of flights were canceled.   (Media Sources)

Leadville, CO - Mine Drainage Tunnel Update

More than 1 billion gallons of contaminated water is still trapped behind mine blockage at the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel. New seeps threaten to leach contaminants into the Arkansas River during spring runoff and are contaminating ground on Leadville's east side. Part of the water supply of the Parkville Water District, which serves Leadville, is also threatened. Officials plan to begin pumping water out of the tunnel sometime this week.

Four major actions to reduce short-term problems associated with mine blockage at the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel were agreed upon at a series of meetings of government officials.

• The Environmental Protection Agency will begin pumping water from a shaft directly below the Yak treatment plant believed to connect to good-quality water that can be released directly into the Arkansas River.
  
• The Bureau of Reclamation will nearly double the capacity of its treatment plant at the Leadville Tunnel in order to relieve pressure within the tunnel.
  
• The Department of Natural Resources will work with the Colorado Geological Survey on developing an action plan for independent testing to isolate any downstream inundation and contamination.
  
• Reclamation will test the siren system to ensure it is in good working order to warn residents if an emergency were to occur and the county will work with the state in reviewing evacuation plans.   (NICC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity to report.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

On Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:46:41 AM (EST) a 4.7 magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck about 40 miles south from Nikolski, AK at a depth of 22.4 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no Tsunami generated.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Various Media Sources )

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)