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National Situation Update: Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Tropical Depression Erin - OK

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office confirmed two disaster-related fatalities. 

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported approximately 19,096 homes and businesses to be without power (13,422 of which are in the Oklahoma City metro area). 

Approximately 4,945 AEP/PSO customers are without electric service and approximately 500 Cimarron Electric Cooperative customers are without power too.

Kingfisher officials have rescued all known stranded residents.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated.
 
OEM dispatched Oklahoma National Guard to Geary (Blaine County) with water trailers. 

There is no request for federal assistance.   (FEMA Region VI)

WI Flooding

Thunderstorms produced 10-12 inches of rain across the southwestern corner of Wisconsin producing widespread flooding on the evening of August 19, 2007.

Seven dams in Vernon County: Duck Egg, Runge Hollow, Raaum, Clockmaker, Seas Branch, Primmer and Hidden Valley are overflowing into emergency spillways.  Vernon County Emergency Management is evacuating areas downstream of the dams.

State and Local Response
The Governor declared a State of Emergency for Crawford, Richland, and Vernon counties on August 19, 2007.

The EOC is activated 24 hours a day until further notice.

Local Preliminary Damage Assessments and dam inspections are taking place.

The National Guard is deploying its mobile Joint Operations Center (JOC), satellite communications trailer, to the Viroqua Armory as of August 20, 2007.

The Red Cross has shelters set up five shelters.

A curfew is in effect in the Village of Gays Mills after dark and a mandatory evacuation remains in effect for all structures that are not accessible by dry land.

The Wisconsin State Patrol has dispatched 22 troopers to assist the Crawford County Sheriff's Office with law enforcement, traffic direction, and perimeter security.

Federal Response
A FEMA Region V Liaison has arrived at the State EOC. 

There have been no further requests for Federal Assistance. 

FEMA Region V continues to monitor the situation and is maintaining close contact with the State EOC. FEMA Region V RRCC is staffed for a 24-hour operation at Level 3 until further notice. (FEMA Region V)

MN Flooding

Severe flooding impacted areas of southeastern Minnesota on August 19, 2007. 

Eight to eleven inches of rain was reported and additional rainfall is expected throughout the week. 

The State reports six fatalities; four in Winona County and two in Houston County. 

The town of Rushford is surrounded by water, all roads into and out of town are closed and there is no gas, electric or phone service. 

The National Guard reports that the levee in Rushford did not fail but was overtopped.

Communications are expected to be down for two to three days. 

There are numerous road closures due to flooding and mud slides, as well as power outages, though still no specific numbers are known at this time.

State and local response
A State of Emergency has been declared for Steele, Wabasha, Fillmore, Winona, Olmsted and Houston Counties. 

All counties affected are beginning local damage assessments. 

The Minnesota Health Department is working with the counties regarding senior and assisted living facilities. 

National Guard troops are assisting the counties with security and search and rescue. 

The ARC has shelters in Wabasha, Olmsted, and Dodge counties on standby. 

A shelter in Rushford remains open with 117 people registered. 

Two Salvation Army canteens are providing feeding; one in Winona County and one in the city of Hokah. 

Federal Response
A FEMA Region V Liaison is in the State EOC.  There have been no requests for Federal assistance.  (FEMA Region V)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing new to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Category five hurricane Dean makes landfall on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

At 5:00 am EDT, August 21, 2007 the center of Hurricane Dean was located about 35 miles east-northeast of Chetumal, Mexico and about 195 miles east-southeast of Campeche, Mexico.  Dean is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph and a west-northwestward to westward motion is expected today and tonight when the center will cross the Yucatan Peninsula and likely reach the southern Bay of Campeche.

Maximum sustained winds are near 165 mph, with higher gusts.  Dean is a category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  Although some weakening is forecast as Dean crosses the Yucatan peninsula, Dean is expected to maintain hurricane strength throughout the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

The hurricane hunter plane reported a minimum central pressure of 906 mb (26.75 inches) just before landfall.

Storm surge flooding of 12 to 18 feet above normal tide levels along with large and dangerous battering waves is possible near and to the north of where Dean made landfall along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Dean is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and northern Honduras with maximum amounts up to 20 inches. 

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.  ( NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, FEMA Regions II, IV, VI, FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Nothing new to report.  (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new information to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  5
States Most Affected:  Montana, Idaho
National Fire Activity as of Monday, August 20, 2007

• New large fires: 4
• Large fires contained: 5
• Uncontained large fires: 53
• 2007 acres burned to date: 6,395,751

The Zaca Fire in Los Padres National Forest grew an additional 11,500 acres to 199,588 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northeast of Bulleton, California, and one of the largest wildfires in modern California history.  The Governor has declared a state of emergency for Ventura County.  Full containment is projected for September 7. Structures and power transmission lines are threatened. Evacuation warnings are in effect. (NICC, NIFC)

Weather Discussion: 
Cooler weather and less wind today for Idaho and Montana. The Northwest, Idaho and Montana will see cool weather today along with some showers for portions of Idaho and western Montana. Dry, gusty winds are expected over Nevada and Wyoming. California will see warmer weather along with low humidity. (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Minnesota is requesting a major disaster declaration as a result of the Bridge Collapse on August 1, 2007, and continuing.  (FEMA HQ)