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National Situation Update: Saturday, April 12, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
High pressure centered near the Four Corners will dominate weather over the region through the weekend with dry and seasonable conditions.  A weak cold front will produce light precipitation in coastal Washington.  Highs will range from the 70s in the Pacific Northwest to near 90 in Southern California. Temperatures will continue to warm up over the next few days. Resulting in melting snowpack across the mountains of the West.

Midwest:
The low pressure system that produced a foot of snow and blizzard conditions in northern Minnesota has moved to the east. Southern Michigan had severe weather in the form of hail and Gusty winds.  A trough of low pressure will produce more snow and wind for northern Michigan. Areas from Minnesota to Missouri will see rain and snow showers with some gusty winds. Rain showers will fall from Lake Erie down to the Ohio Valley.  Highs across the region will range from 5 to 25 degrees below average, from 30s and 40s but 50s in the eastern Ohio Valley and the western high Plains.

South:
The cold front that moved through the region yesterday produced severe weather (tornadoes, gusty winds and large hail) from Louisiana to West Virginia. Specific reports discussed in the Severe Weather Outbreak listed below.  The cold front will continue to move over the Eastern Seaboard today producing widespread precipitation and scattered thunderstorms from Florida to Virginia. A few thunderstorms in Virginia and North Carolina may be severe with hail and strong winds.

Northeast:
The frontal system moving over the region will produce showers from western Pennsylvania through New England with snow in Northern Maine.  There may be a few severe thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic Saturday.  Weather over the region will remain unsettled through the weekend and temperatures will fall into the 30s across northern New England and the 50s from Virginia to Connecticut. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Severe Weather Outbreak

April 11, 2008.Ten tornados were reported in four states (Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Louisiana). 

Tennessee
Damage from possible Tornadoes April 11, 2008 2130 EDT.  Lawrence and Giles Counties affected, with a total of approximately 50 homes reporting minor damage. Several minor injuries in reported both counties.  State Emergency Operations Center has gone to Level III, and is monitoring the situation.   State has not requested Federal Assistance.
Department of Safety has activated two Safety Helicopters for deployment to Lawrence, Giles, Marshall and Bedford Counties to perform aerial assessments of the damage. (NWS, Region IV)

Oklahoma
Governor Brad Henry declared a State of Emergency to exist in 38 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms and flooding.  IA PDAs are 50% complete.   Initial estimates are 133 single family homes with major damage, 224 multi-family homes affected, 38 mobile homes destroyed, 11 businesses with minor damage.  Wister Lake is currently at 27.8 feet above normal (123% of flood pool) and rising.  The lake is forecast to crest at 29.1 (132% full).  The crest does not affect any citizens or structures; the crest of the pool is within federal property. 

Texas
The state is conducting preliminary damage assessments with their local partners.  Approximately 56,000 customers remain without power in the state.  Palo Pinto County: the Brazos River Authority has closed the floodgate at Possum Kingdom Lake to mitigate downstream flooding.

Mississippi Valley Flooding

CURRENT SITUATION
A frontal system moved through the Midwest yesterday.  Today additional precipitation will fall in the upper Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys from the low centered over the Great lakes.  Flood Warnings, and Watches are in effect for many areas from Texas and Louisiana to the Great Lakes. Localized river flooding will continue for parts of the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio River Valleys.

STATE and LOCAL RESPONSE
Arkansas
State EOC at Level IV; monitoring and minimally staffed.
Counties: 51 affected with 51 under State Disaster Declaration.
Major Disaster declaration, FEMA-1751-DR, declared March 26, 2008.
Homes destroyed/damaged: 151 homes destroyed and 471 damaged.
Green County had an agricultural levee breach; one home impacted.
The levee in Prairie County is being reinforced by the Corps of Engineers using barrels and sandbags to mitigate the problem. They will continue to monitor the levee. (Region VI)
Major/Moderate Flooding Update:
White River:
Georgetown crested April 8, 2008 at Moderate Flood Stage and is receding.  It is forecast to remain at Moderate Flood Stage through April 14, 2008.
Des Arc is at Major Flood Stage and will recede below Major Flood Stage on April 13, 2008.
Clarendon will hold steady at Major Flood Stage through April 14, 2008.
The Mississippi River:
Arkansas City is at Moderate Flood Stage and rising.  It is forecast to reach major Flood Stage through April 12, 2008. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service).
5 IA PDA teams and 3 PA PDA teams conducting assessments.

Illinois
State EOC not activated.
Counties: 19 Counties with Declared States of Emergency.
The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe storms producing heavy rain and flooding beginning on March 17, 2008 and continuing; Hazard Mitigation statewide; and Individual Assistance for 15 counties. (Region V)
Major/Moderate River Flooding:
Big Muddy River:
At Plumfield is at moderate flood stage affecting bottomlands and low lying areas.
Murphysboro is at moderate flood stage affecting some homes downstream and low lying agricultural areas.
Ohio River:
Cairo is holding steady at Moderate Flood Stage.
Shawneetown is at Moderate Flood Stage and is expected to fall below Moderate Flood Stage on April 13, 2008.
Cairo is at moderate flood stage impacting low lying agricultural areas. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)

Louisiana
State EOC is partially activated.
On March 27, 2008, the Governor of Louisiana issued a State of Emergency from March 24, 2008 to April 22, 2008.
9 Parishes have declared States of Emergency.
Major/Moderate River Flooding:
The Mississippi River:
Red River Landing is currently at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to continue rising through April 13, 2008. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Baton Rouge is at Major Flood Stage and will continue to steadily rise through April 14.  River traffic and industrial activity will be affected.  (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Based on NWS, the New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness, and USACE assessment that no levees will be overtopped and river will crest well below the maximum protection height of the New Orleans levees. (NO OEP/NWS/USACE/Region VI)
USACE has fortified over two miles of the "Potato Ridge" levee across the Fore Bay to the Morganza Flood Control structure and is continuing to provide engineering support. (NICC)
LA DOTD providing 40 dump trucks to haul sand to sandbagging operations in Vidalia to control "sand boils" below the levees.  No levee issues reported and local districts are working on sand boil issues.

Mississippi
EOC at Level III (Partially Activated w/MEMA and key State agencies only).
Governor's State of Emergency for Mississippi River Flooding signed April 4, 2008 in 33 counties.
95 people displaced. No major roads or interstates closed as this time.
Mississippi State PDAs indicate 3 home destroyed and 37 homes with major damage.
Major/Moderate Flooding:
The Mississippi River:
Greenville, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to rise, reaching Major Flood stage by April 14, 2008. Practically all areas between levees are flooded and approximately 50 buildings have water inside.
Vicksburg, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and rising. The river is forecast to continue rising, reaching Major Flood stage April 14, 2008.
Natchez, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to steadily rise through April 13, 2008.
The State of Mississippi has requested 1 PA and 2 IA Joint PDA teams due to damages from the severe weather on April 4-5, 2008. The assessments began April 9, 2008. (Region IV)

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region IV
RRCC at Level III, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. EDT (Mon-Fri).
PDAs are ongoing in Mississippi

FEMA Region V
RRCC at Level III, 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
Monitoring river levels and maintaining communication with State Emergency Operation Centers and regional Emergency Support Functions.
FEMA state liaisons identified for state EOCs, if requested.

FEMA Region VI
RRCC at Level II, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
USACE activated to report to the RRCC April 11, 2008.
FEMA state liaisons deployed to state EOCs in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
Conducting daily conference calls with Texas and the National Weather Service.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans District is currently conducting levee patrols/inspections along the Mississippi River and providing technical Assistance as necessary.
FIRST Atlanta on site at Little Rock, AR JFO, based on anticipation of additional severe weather.
PDAs are on-going in Arkansas.
ERT-As have been identified.
PDA Teams are on stand-by to deploy to the affected states.

FEMA Region VII
RRCC at Level III, 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
Region VII continues to coordinate with Region IV on potential support for the Mississippi Flooding.
FEMA state liaison deployed to Missouri EOC. (Denton MOC, Region V, Region VI, Region VII, USACE, USCG, (Region V, Region VII, Region VI, NWS, NSS, NGB,NICC, ADEM, TX SOC, IL EOC, ARC, MEMA, NOAA)

Other Federal Agency Response Activity
US Coast Guard (USCG) District 8
Anchorage cleared at Bonnet Carre Spillway on Mississippi River, Louisiana. 
Should be responding with additional information about Bonnet Carre Spillway

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
130 personnel deployed.
Personnel in Arkansas monitoring the White, Arkansas and Little Rivers.
54 pumps issued to State and local authorities.
Bonnet Carre Spillway on Mississippi River north of New Orleans, Louisiana, will be opened at 12:00 p.m. CDT April 11, 2008, for approximately two-to-four-weeks to keep the river moving no faster than 1.25 million cubic feet per second.
No shortfalls reported; evaluating supplies and replenishing, as necessary.

National Guard Bureau (NGB)
2 personnel on State Active Duty (SAD) in Arkansas.
50 cots and blankets delivered to Berryville, Arkansas (Carroll County); unknown number of personnel.
Louisiana National Guard (LANG) closed mission at Morganza Levee.

Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas reports tornado activity.
Cemetery Administration reports headquarters building at Fort Smith, Arkansas damaged by golf-ball-sized hail and high winds.

General Services Administration (GSA)
Currently checking all federal buildings in affected states.
Fort Worth, Texas Federal Center reports all power out.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex damaged by severe weather.  (OFAs as Identified)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant 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)