National Situation Update: Thursday, February 21, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Forecast
Midwest
Light snow is expected from Kansas through Iowa and Missouri into the Ohio Valley. South of this snow line, a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will make travel treacherous from Kansas to the Ohio Valley.
Temperatures, meanwhile, will continue to run well below late winter averages over most of the region with highs ranging from near zero in northeast North Dakota to the 30s across the Plains Kentucky.
South
Except for southwest Texas and North Carolina, most of the southern U.S. will be rather wet tomorrow as a storm center moves over southern Texas. Rain is likely in Louisiana and Mississippi. Also, a few severe thunderstorms (with isolated tornadoes) may occur in Texas and Louisiana. In addition to rain and thunder, the storm will have a wintry aspect, too. At least modest amounts of sleet and freezing rain are expected to cause problems in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
High temperatures are forecast to range from the 30s in Oklahoma and Arkansas to the 80s in south Texas and along the west coast of the Florida Peninsula.
West
A front moving toward the West Coast from the Pacific tomorrow will produce showers from Washington State to California's Point Conception. The heaviest rainfall, perhaps near an inch, is expected in the coastal mountains of northwest California. In the Southwest, an upper-air disturbance will scatter rain and mountain snow showers Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Several inches of snow will frost the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.
High temperatures are predicted to range from the 20s in the Rockies to the 70s in the lower Colorado River Valley. (NWS, Media Sources)
Space Object Re-Entry Recovery
Approximately 10:26 p.m. EST February 20, 2008, the U.S. Navy fired a missile striking the satellite. The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine. Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours. Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris began to re-enter the earth's atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days. The NRCC Manager authorized partial release of NRCC Activation team; the NRCC is still activated at Level III and will continue to monitor and report on any developments. (Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Public Affairs, FEMA HQ)
Leadville, CO
The EPA has agreed to a plan to widen an existing shaft behind the blockage and pump water directly from the tunnel, a process that could begin in four-to-eight-weeks. The water to be drained is believed, by the EPA, to be clean water and will be pumped from the Gaw shaft directly into Arkansas River. Officials will test the emergency notification system at 5:30 p.m. MST, February 22, 2008. Officials recommended diverting clean water from two other sources, so that they don't flow into the tunnel. (US Bureau of Reclamation, Open Sources)
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
Amendment four was issued for AR-1744-DR adding: Marion County IA and PA; Union County IA; and Newton County PA.
Amendment five was issued for AR-1744-DR closing the incident period effective February 12, 2008.
Amendment two was issued for TN-1745-DR adding: Fayette County IA and PA; Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby and Sumner Counties PA categories C-G; Benton, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Perry, Trousdale and Williamson Counties PA; Haywood and McNairy Counties PA. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Feb-2008 07:38:11 EST