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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 31, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
A new weather system organized Wednesday afternoon over the central and southern Rockies and is moving through the southern Plains today and northeast into the Great Lakes region by tonight.  Winter Storm Warnings are in effect today for the four corners region including northern Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas.  Warning areas may see three  to eight inches or more of snow accumulations as this system intensifies and pushes north through the Great Lakes and east into New England.  Winter storm watches extend from the four corners area northeast through the Ohio Valley, with a possibility for six to ten inches of snow accumulation across the area on Friday.  Snow may mix with sleet or freezing rain across the Ohio Valley which could reduce snowfall accumulations.  High temperatures are forecast to range from the single digits in eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota to the 40s in Kentucky and southern Ohio.

Northeast:
A new system is moving in from the Midwest tonight and Friday will bring rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain to the Hudson River Valley, western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, western Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania.  Icing is expected in some areas.  High temperatures are forecast to range from the teens in extreme northern Maine to the low 50s in far south-central Virginia.

South:
Rain and a few severe thunderstorms are forecast from southeastern Texas through Louisiana into Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  Possible isolated tornadoes may occur near the Gulf Coast.  Much-needed rain is forecast for Alabama, Georgia, eastern Tennessee and the southern Appalachians late in the evening.

West:
The California Office of Emergency Services requested use of the Gilroy and Sunnyvale National Guard armories for 24-hour warming shelter operations in central California.  Rain, strong winds, interior and mountain snow will continue from the north Pacific Coast, east to the Rockies and from the Canadian border south to San Francisco Bay and the Great Salt Lake.  Temperatures will be below mid-winter averages with highs ranging from teens in the Rockies to the 60s in Southern California and southwest Arizona.  Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for southern Texas through 7:00 p.m. today.(NWS, Media Sources)

Texas Fires

Texas: Texas National Guard fire suppression packages (rotary wing assets with fire buckets) began flying missions on Wednesday.  Texas State Operations Center (TSOC) activated to Level I in support of the wildfires.  TX SOC reported that there were 19-24 fires; 37,000 acres burned; and an estimated 24 homes were destroyed.  All power has been restored to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area customers.  There has been no request for Federal Assistance. (FEMA Region VI, AR EOC, TX EOC, NOC, NORAD)

Midwest Flooding Update

Indiana:
Flood Warnings continue for the Kankakee River at Davis affecting La Porte, Starke, and St. Joseph Counties, and at Shelby affecting Lake and Newton Counties.

Illinois:
A flood warning continues for the Rock River near Moline, Joslin, and Latham Park.  A flood warning continues for the Kankakee River near Wilmington, affecting Grundy and Will Counties.  Ice jams combined with high water levels continue to pose a threat upstream of Joslin, Illinois and downstream to Moline, Illinois.  River levels along this stretch of the Rock River continue to slowly rise and are affecting Henry, Rock Island, and Whiteside Counties. (FEMA Region V, NWS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new 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

The President signed a Declaration, FEMA-1740-DR, for severe storms and flooding in Indiana January 7, 2008 and continuing.  Nine counties are eligible for Individual Assistance.  All counties are eligible for Hazard Mitigation, statewide.  The FCO will be Michael H. Smith. 

On Wednesday, January 30, 2008, Governor Rick Perry issued a State Disaster Proclamation for more than half the counties in Texas as a result of wildfires that began on January 29, 2008.  The Governor's order makes 152 of the state's 254 counties eligible for state assistance.  (FEMA HQ)