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National Situation Update: Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Midwest Ice Storms

Ice storm warnings remain in effect for portions of extreme northern Texas through Oklahoma, Missouri, and northeastward into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. 

The storm has produced major power outages, broken tree limbs, and numerous traffic accidents and fatalities from northern Texas to Illinois.  No reported impacts to nationally significant critical infrastructure. 

More freezing rain, sleet and snow will be affecting parts of the southern Rockies, Central Plains, and Midwest by Tuesday morning.  Additional ice accumulations are forecast to reach up to an inch across northeastern Kansas into northern Missouri and Iowa before the precipitation tapers off Tuesday evening.  As the storm moves east, light snow is expected across the Great Lakes region and portions of New England late Tuesday into Wednesday.

The President signed FEMA-3280-EM for Oklahoma on December 10, 2007.  The Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois State EOCs are partially or fully activated.  Over 600,000 total power outages have been reported by affected states.  The American Red Cross and the States report 73 shelters housing 1500 - 3000 citizens overnight.  To date there have been 13 confirmed fatalities related to the ice storm.

The following assets are being deployed, a 50 Pak Generator Kit and three truck loads (TL)of water deployed to the Federal Operational Staging Area (FOSA) at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City Monday, with a second 50 Pak generator kit expected to arrive in Tulsa, OK Tuesday, December 11, 2007.  Additional assets ready to deploy, if requested, include two TLs of cots, one TL of blankets, two TLs of MREs, and three TLs of water.  National Guardsmen in MO, KS, and OK have been mobilized to provide generator support and sheltering.  Oklahoma is also requesting generator support from the state of Arkansas through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).  (NWS, Oklahoma DEM, Region VI, NICC)

Significant National Weather

West
Rain showers are likely across the lower elevations of Arizona and New Mexico with heavy snow across the mountains of southwest Colorado.  Frost advisories are in effect across California's San Joaquin Valley.  High temperatures will range from the teens in the northern Rockies to the 60s along the Southern California coast.

Midwest
Tuesday morning freezing rain will continue across much of the affected area and spread northeastward across Iowa, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and lower Michigan.  Some areas will likely receive up to an inch or more of ice capable of widespread and destructive damage as well as hazardous travel.

As this batch of precipitation ends on Wednesday a new area of freezing rain and sleet may again redevelop over the southern plains as the newest storm system begins to form along the trailing edge of a cold front over the Gulf Coast and Tennessee Valley.  This system may then spread more freezing rain sleet and snow to the Ohio Valley and then to the northeast on Thursday with significant snows possible for portions of New York and southern New England.

South
More record heat is likely across parts of the Southeast on Tuesday.  There will be showers and thunderstorms over parts of Texas, Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.  High temperatures will range from the 30s in the Texas Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma to the 70s and 80s from southern Texas eastward.

Northeast
Rain is expected from southern New York down to Maryland and northern Virginia.  Sleet and snow are expected across central New York and into New England.  High temperatures will range from near 20 in northern Maine to the 60s in southern Virginia.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Pacific Northwest Winter Storms and Flooding Update

Washington:
EOC continues at a full Phase III activation.  Significant progress is being made toward full power restoration.  ARC has four service centers and three shelters open with an overnight population of 53.  Five water systems are out of service, twenty-two are on boil water advisories, and four systems have been restored.  There are still four State roads closed or restricted to local traffic only.  Six fatalities are attributed to the storm.

Oregon
EOC continues at full activation.  ARC has five service centers and three shelters open with an overnight population of 52.  Significant progress is being made toward full power restoration.  Five fatalities are attributed to the storm. (NWS, Region X, Disaster Assistance Directorate Declarations Unit)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
At 5:00 a.m. AST (4:00 a.m. EST) Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Subtropical Storm Olga's maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is expected before the center approaches the Dominican Republic.  The center of Subtropical Storm Olga was located about 60 miles west of San Juan, Puerto Rico and about 190 miles east of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  Olga is moving toward the west near 17 mph, this general motion should continue for the next day or so, bringing the center near or over the Dominican Republic later today, December 11, 2007. 

There is a Tropical Storm Warning for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic and a Tropical Storm Watch for the southern coast.  Olga is expected to produce two to four inches of rain over Puerto Rico with isolated maximum amounts of six inches.  Rainfall amounts of four to six inches are possible over Hispaniola with possible isolated maximum totals of 10 inches.  These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. (NWS TPC/National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

The State of Hawaii requested, through the FEMA Pacific Area Office, conduct of joint (FEMA-State) Public Assistance PDAs focusing on debris removal, roads, and water supply systems on Maui.  The requested joint PDAs will be conducted on Maui beginning December 12, 2007.

PDAs in Oregon and Washington continue.  (HI Civil Defense, Region IX, Region X, Washington, Oregon)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On December 10, 2007, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA-3280-EM for Oklahoma in response to Severe Winter Storms that occurred December 8, 2007, and continuing.  The emergency declaration provides for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program for all 77 counties in the State of Oklahoma.  The FCO is Philip E. Parr of the National FCO Program.  (FEMA HQ)