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National Situation Update: Friday, February 29, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A low-pressure system will push east from the Dakotas to southeast Ontario and New York by Saturday morning, March 1, 2008.  Snow accumulations across the Great Lakes region will range from one to three inches, and up to eight inches over Lower Michigan.  The Ohio Valley will have a light rain/snow mix. High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average in the Plains, ranging from the 50s in western North Dakota to the 60s and low 70s in Kansas.
On Sunday, a new cold front will be moving eastward from the Plains toward the Mississippi Valley, producing snow and a wintry mix from the Dakotas to Michigan.
River conditions continue to improve in Illinois and Indiana with most rivers out of the Moderate Flood Stage; however, Flood Warnings are still in effect for parts of these states. Some river flooding will continue across the area through the week, and the risk of ice jams on rivers will persist as colder air returns.

Northeast
The system affecting the Midwest will bring snow to Pennsylvania, New York, North Jersey and New England beginning later today and into Saturday. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York can expect from one to six inches of snow.  Rain is forecast across the remainder of the Mid-Atlantic. As the storm exits into Nova Scotia tonight and Sunday, parts of Maine and New Hampshire will see accumulations of six to twelve inches or more.

South
The weather system bringing snow to the Great Lakes and the Northeast will bring rain to the Tennessee Valley and lower Mississippi Valley today and into the southeast tonight and early Saturday.
Saturday will be mainly dry and warm across the region, but rain and thunderstorms will increase across Oklahoma and Texas Sunday.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 6:00 p.m. EST tonight for most of the eastern Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend (away from the coast).  A dry air mass will linger over the area Friday, with relative humidity falling below 35 percent by noon. Fire activity continues in Texas; there are 10 uncontrolled fires in the state, consuming 300,000 acres with record setting fire behavior.

West
A cold front will move across the Pacific Northwest today and Saturday with locally strong winds, mountain snow and rain in the lower-elevations. Snow will linger over the Rockies Sunday as the front moves eastward into the central states. At the same time, gusty winds will move southward through California and the Great Basin and Southern California could experience a weak Santa Ana wind by Sunday morning. (NWS, Media Sources)

Suspicious Substance - Las Vegas, NV

Nevada: Authorities in Las Vegas are investigating what they believe to be Ricin discovered at an extended stay hotel after staff found a suspicious substance in one of the rooms. Presumptive tests indicated the substance may be Ricin, a toxin that can be made from waste left over after processing castor beans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the request of the Las Vegas Police Department and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, the Nevada National Guard's 92nd Civil Support Team responded at 8:30 p.m. EST Thursday, February 28, 2008. The Las Vegas Police Department (LVPD) reports that all of the areas checked during the investigation into this incident have tested NEGATIVE for Ricin; only the bag containing the suspicious substance tested positive. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deems this incident to be criminal in nature with no nexus to terrorism.(NGBJOC, NICC, DHS/NOC)

Archer Fire, TX

Texas: The Archer Fire is a 13,000 acre fast moving grass fire located 1 1/2 miles south southwest of the town of Archer City, TX. The fire jumped containment at 10:00 a.m. EST on February 28, 2008 and is currently threatening 170 homes, plus businesses, a school, utilities and other structures to include the municipal airport. 28 people have been evacuated from a nursing home, the school board released all students and there have been some voluntary evacuations. Point protection actions are being taken by fire crews to protect homes. One incident commander is on scene with five bulldozers, some air support and a heli-tanker. (FOC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Texas: Fire Management Assistance Grant FMAG-2749-TX was issued at 6:49 p.m. EST on February 28, 2008 for the New Archer Fire, which jumped containment at 10:00 a.m. EST from the previously turned down Archer City Fire. (FEMA HQ)

FEMA Supports National Earthquake Conference

The 2008 National Earthquake Conference, hosted this year by Seattle, Washington, 22-26 April, is being supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Science Foundation. The Conference is chaired by the four national earthquake and emergency consortia groups (NESEC, CUSEC, WSSPC, and CREW). The program contains over 100 nationally and internationally renowned speakers, and features an evening forum webcast on applying the lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. For information on who should attend the conference, and why, see www.earthquakeconference.org.

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

Kansas: Major Disaster Declaration 1741-DR (dated February 1, 2008) was amended February 28, 2008 to include five additional counties (Gove, Logan, Sheridan, Thomas, and Wallace Counties) for Public Assistance for severe storms and flooding in Kansas December 6-19, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)