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National Situation Update: Friday, April 27, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
The slow moving storm system that has moved over the rest of the country this week will reach the East Coast today.  Rain is expected through Upstate New York and New England. Most areas will receive less than an inch of rain; however, this may be enough to sustain some river flooding in parts of Maine and New Hampshire.

Flash Flood Watches are in effect in New England due to the flooding threat along the larger rivers.

Severe Weather over eastern sections of the Mid-Atlantic are expected to produce some damaging winds, hail and possibly an isolated tornado.

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for parts of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Some thunderstorms may be strong to severe with large hail.

South
Scattered thunderstorms will be ahead of a front from the eastern Carolinas to the Florida Peninsula.  Some thunderstorms could turn severe, producing a few damaging wind gusts, some hail and an isolated tornado.

The band of showers will fade as it approaches the Southeast coast, offering little relief to Georgia and North Florida which are suffering drought and fire conditions. 

West
Expect high temperatures 5 to 25 degrees above average this weekend; 90s and low 100s in the Desert Southwest plus 70s and 80s from the Nevada Great Basin to Montana and Wyoming.

A front will keep temperatures closer to average in the Pacific Northwest with a few showers in western Washington and isolated thunderstorms eastward across northern Idaho and Montana.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Texas Tornado and Severe Storm Update

The April 24 tornado that struck Eagle Pass, Texas (and Piedras Negras, Mexico) killed 7 people in Texas and injured approximately 81 people.  The storm cut off power to the city's water treatment plant and destroyed 50 homes. As of April 26, 2007, the wastewater treatment plant is partially operational.  One shelter remains open with a population of 154.

A team from the National Weather Service Office, Austin/San Antonio, surveyed damage from the Eagle Pass tornado on April 25, 2007. The tornado was rated EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a path width of one-quarter mile and a path length near one mile.

Local officials implemented a plan at noon on April 26, 2007, to allow residents into the impacted area to inspect their homes.

On April 26, 2007, FEMA HQ received an expedited major disaster declaration request for the State of Texas as a result of severe storms and tornadoes on April 21 and April 24, 2007.

FEMA Region VI has activated to Level III in support the Texas recovery operations.  FEMA Individual Assistance (IA), Public Assistance (PA), Public Information Officer (PIO) and SBA staff are on-site in Eagle Pass (Maverick County) to begin pre-coordination for preliminary damage assessments.  FEMA IA, PA, and PIO are in the Texas panhandle meeting with the State Regional Liaison Officer to begin damage assessments in Moore and Swisher counties.

FEMA Region VI is providing one (1) truckload of tarps to local officials in Eagle Pass for use on damaged homes. (FEMA HQ,, American Red Cross, TX State Operations Center, National Guard Bureau)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

The following FMAG was approved: #2686 KneeKnocker Swamp Fire in Georgia. Towns threatened: Nahunta. Mandatory evacuation for 400 individuals.  This represents 150 homes.  A total of 528 homes are threatened along with 75 businesses, schools, and churches.  Approved on April 26, 2007, at 10:47 pm EDT. (FEMA HQ)

Sweat Farm Road/Big Turnaround Wildland Fire Update

The fires near Waycross, GA have burned approximately 61,000 acres and are currently about 50% contained. The estimated containment date is April 30, 2007. 

As of 7:30 pm EDT April 26, fire conditions were:

• Wildfires were moving in a northeasterly direction, due to high winds and low humidity.

• 14 local roads have been closed and residents living in those areas have been evacuated due to the threat of fire or smoky conditions.

• Local and State firefighters are concentrating efforts to contain the fires, especially along U.S. Route 1 which is the main transportation route connecting Waycross, GA with Jacksonville, FL.

• Firefighters have used bulldozers to widen fire breaks along both sides of U.S. Route 1 and airplanes to spray fire-retardant foam on the fires.  (Georgia Forestry Commission, media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Thursday, April 26, 2007, 4:16pm EDT: An earthquake (magnitude 4.5) was detected 105 miles west of Attu, Alaska, at a depth of 6.2 miles.  No reports of injuries or damage; no tsunami was generated.

Friday April 27, 2007, 4:02 am EDT: An earthquake (magnitude 6.3) was detected 50 miles WSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia at a depth of 18.6 miles. No reports of injuries or damage; no tsunami was generated.  (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Connecticut - Individual and Public Assistance PDAs in an undetermined number of counties have been requested. Due to continued flooding of rivers, limited PA PDAs began on April 19, 2007.

Kentucky - Public Assistance PDAs for six counties are scheduled to begin April 26, 2007.

Massachusetts - Individual Assistance PDAs for eight counties and Public Assistance PDAs for five counties began on April 23, 2007.

Rhode Island - Public Assistance PDAs for five counties began April 25, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1 (On a scale from 1 to 5)
Wildland fire activity is light throughout the country with 189 new fires reported. Two new large fires were reported: one in Florida and one in Mississippi.  There are currently six uncontained large fires.  (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a major disaster declaration for Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding during the period of April 14-20, 2007 in New Jersey (FEMA-1694-DR).  Six counties are designated for Individual Assistance.  All counties in the State of New Jersey are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)