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National Situation Update: Sunday, August 5, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Update - Continuation of Recovery Operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Recovery operations continue at the I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. President George W. Bush visited Minneapolis for two hours on Saturday to inspect bridge collapse damage and confer with local, state, and federal officials along with first responders and victims' families.

The State EOC continues to report a total of five fatalities. The Minnesota State Hospital Association, which includes all local area hospitals, reports 98 injured. This is an increase from the previous 79 reported injuries by the City of Minneapolis.

City dive operations are ongoing. No bodies were recovered from the south side of the bridge on Saturday. Dive operations will resume on the north side of the bridge Sunday morning.

The state of Minnesota has extended their Emergency Declaration by 30 days. The State EOC remains fully activated and will be operational from 0800 - 1800 hrs CDT on Sunday.

A Joint Information Center has been established at the State EOC and is located at the University of Minnesota.

Beginning Sunday, the State EOC will initiate a single daily reporting cycle for situational reports (a decrease from the previous twice-a-day reporting cycle).  

The Region V RRCC remains activated at Level III. The Region V Liaison returned to Chicago. Public Assistance and External Affairs Officers remain in the Minnesota State EOC.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee authorized emergency funds for recovery efforts on Thursday, August 2. The bill authorizes $250 million in relief funds for the state of Minnesota to use in the repairs of the I-35W Bridge. (FEMA Region V, Denver MOC, NGB JOC, DHS NOC, NORTHCOM, USCG, NRCC, Media Sources)

National Forecast Summary

South
Little to no rain is expected throughout the region. Isolated thunderstorms will be confined mainly to the Gulf Coast and Florida. High temperatures will average in the 90s across the region. Select areas from Oklahoma to Tennessee may see highs in the 100s or slightly above.

West
Thunderstorms are expected from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico. This continues the risk for additional, but highly localized flash flooding in the region. Across the Southwest, high temperatures are expected to be as much as ten degrees below average.

Midwest
A low pressure system will extend from the lower Midwest to the Central Plains. Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Great Lakes and eastern Ohio Valley. Temperatures in the 90s will continue from South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas to the western half of the Ohio Valley.

Northeast
A cold front is expected to stall over the southern Mid-Atlantic. New York and New England are likely to remain dry, while thunderstorms are expected over the Mid-Atlantic. High temperatures will be near average, ranging from the 70s in southern New England to the 80s from Boston to Washington, D.C.(NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG FEMA-2718-FM-MT was approved on August 4, 2007 for the Jocko Lakes Fire in Seeley Lake, Montana. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
The strong tropical wave located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and Central America continues to move westward. Further development is not anticipated. The wave is expected to bring locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds over portions of Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with the low pressure area located about 900 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California became a little better organized Saturday afternoon. Additional development is not expected due to movement over cooler waters.
The area of disturbed weather centered about 750 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico changed little in organization. This system still has the potential for development during the next day or so as it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours. 

Western Pacific:
No significant tropical activity to report. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Moderate earthquakes continue in the Adreanof Islands west-southwest of Adak, Alaska.  There are no reports of injuries or damage.  No tsunami warnings have been issued.  (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  5
National Fire Activity as of Saturday, August 4, 2007:

• Initial attack activity: light (169)
• New large fires: 10
• Large fires contained: 1
• Uncontained large fires: 40
• 2007 acres burned to date: 5,250,351

Continued Significant Fire Activity: Structures remain threatened and evacuations remain in effect for fires in the Northern Rockies and Southern California.

California - The Zaca Fire is located in Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County. 44,400 acres have burned to date and the fire is 60% contained. The estimated containment date is August 7.

Relief for this fire situation did not materialize as anticipated. Winds are expected to continue to move toward populated areas, threatening numerous residences and structures. The fire plume is expected to increase to over 400 feet, and a significant amount of smoke and ash will affect the surrounding areas.

• All evacuations were completed in the areas with "Evacuation Orders." No individuals were sheltered at Dos Pueblos High School overnight; but the shelter remains open.
  
• Preplanning for further Evacuation Warnings or Evacuation Orders is underway for areas referred to as the "front country." While city areas are not yet threatened, Santa Barbara County staff is working with the cities of Goleta, Santa Barbara City, and Montecito for possible evacuation plans.
  
• Currently, no utility-related power or communications problems have been reported.

Montana -

• The Ahorn, Skyland, Novak, Mile Marker 124, and Sawmill Complex Fires continue to threaten structures and infrastructures. Evacuations are in effect.
  
• The Jocko Lakes Fire, located in Missoula County, MT, started by lighting August 3, 2007 and has consumed 7,000 acres of timber and grass. The fires are located 26 miles northeast of the town of Missoula, and threatens the community of Seeley Lake, located about three miles from the main center of the fire. 400 homes are threatened and on the west side another 1,100 homes and business are threatened. An evacuation order affecting the Seeley Community has been issued. Power lines, commercial timber, and the lake area itself are also threatened. Weather conditions are extreme and the fire is currently 0% contained. Temperatures range from 90-100 degrees, winds are 15-20 mph, and humidity is 12%. Highway 83 is closed. There is no manmade or natural barrier between the fire and threatened structures. A Type II fire team is committed. The Montana governor has activated the National Guard. FMAG FEMA-2718-FM-MT was approved on August 4, 2007.

Idaho - The Rattlesnake and Echo Springs Fires currently threaten several communities, and evacuations are in effect.

Weather Discussion: Windy conditions are expected from the Sierras to the Northern Rockies this weekend. Isolated thunderstorms, some of them dry, are expected over Idaho and Montana, with drier air pushing into Nevada. Cooler weather and a little higher humidity is expected over the Pacific Northwest. Southern California will experience cooler weather in the coastal valleys as the marine layer deepens. Warm and dry weather are expected to continue over northern portions of the Great Lakes area. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)