National Situation Update: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Summary
Midwest: More heavy rains for Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois on Wednesday, August 22, 2007. The biggest threat may move into Nebraska and then back to Iowa Wednesday night.
Showers and storms will stay over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley as a front remains in the region from near the Iowa-Missouri border into Ohio.
South: Extreme heat will grip most of the Deep South today, August 22, 2007 with highs soaring to over 100 in many locations.
Isolated thunderstorms over the Carolinas; a few storms in south Florida; and storms are expected to move into the Texas coastal plain.
Northeast: Downpours and storms, the remnants of former Tropical Storm Erin, will move through West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. Isolated storms will prevail in the northeastern U. S., mainly from New York state southward to Virginia.
West: Outside of scattered showers and storms over the Interior West tomorrow, the western U S will be dry and hot today, August 22, 2007.
Highs in most locations will have readings to over 110 in the lower Colorado River Valley and Death Valley. (NWS, Media Sources)
FEMA Regional Storm and Flooding Activity
KS Severe Storms and Flooding
A supercell thunderstorm with wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and large hail, moved out of Scott County into Finney County around 6:30 pm EDT, Monday, August 20, 2007. By 7:00 pm EDT, the supercell moved into the Finney County and merged with another developing thunderstorm. This intensified the already severe thunderstorm over Finney County and this super cell continued to track south across Finney County. State of Kansas reported the storm caused power outages and downed trees in Finney County.
Several structure fires and gas line breaks were reported.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a small tornado touch down in Haskell County. The tornado was reported to have taken the roofs off of two trailers.
Wind gusts of 70 mph interrupted power and caused damage in Geary County.
The situation does not appear to be beyond State and local capabilities at this time.
The potential for Federal involvement is not likely at this time. (FEMA Region VII)
MO Severe Storms And Flooding
The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin moved into Missouri along the I-44 corridors on Sunday evening August 19, 2007 into early Tuesday morning, August 21, 2007. The storm dumped 8-11 inches of rain in southwest Missouri.
MoDOT and - Missouri State Highway Patrol: Assisting local jurisdictions in road closure and openings and detours as necessary.
Missouri State Water Patrol - Has responded to 9 calls for water rescue. (FEMA Region VII
OH Flooding
Severe storms and heavy rainfall caused flooding in part of Ohio Monday, August 20, 2007. The forecast calls for continued rain throughout the week.
In Hancock County, the villages of Genero and Arlington are surrounded by water and are inaccessible.
In Wyandot County, a nursing home was evacuated and residents taken to a local hospital.
In Shelby County, the Police and Fire departments had to relocate and are operating by radio communication only. Two swift water rescue boats were requested and filled by local surrounding agencies.
There are currently 16 State and US Highways blocked due to floodwaters.
The American Red Cross has shelters set up in several counties, however official numbers are not available.
The Ohio EMA Assessment center is open and operating at a Crisis Action Level (CAS 1). Local declarations have been made by four counties. The State ESF-9 representative assisted Richland County with the coordination of US Coast Guard Search and Rescue operations.
There have been no additional requests for Federal Assistance. FEMA Region V continues to monitor the situation. (FEMA Region V)
WI Flooding
Thunderstorms produced 10-12 inches of rain across the southwestern corner of Wisconsin producing widespread flooding on the evening of Sunday, August 19, 2007.
Numerous roads and bridges are washed out and/or closed. Power lines and trees are down.
Seven dams in Vernon County are overflowing into emergency spillways. Evacuations downstream of the Primmer, Runge Hollow, and Seas Branch dams are expected to continue through Wednesday, August 22, 2007 because of concern about erosion.
The Governor declared a State of Emergency for five counties.
The Wisconsin DNR dam personnel continue to assess dams with county officials. Local Preliminary Damage Assessments are taking place.
The American Red Cross (ARC) operated 3 shelters overnight. The ARC and the Salvation Army are coordinating feeding operations.
The Governor requested a Preliminary Damage Assessment for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance for five counties. Those assessments are set to begin on Monday August 27, 2007.
A FEMA Region V Liaison is in the State EOC. FEMA Region V continues to monitor the situation and is maintaining close contact with the State EOC. (FEMA Region V)
MN Flooding
Severe flooding impacted areas of Minnesota on Sunday, August 19, 2007. Between 8 and 11 inches of rain was reported and additional rainfall is expected. The State reports six fatalities.
Some bulk fuel plants have been flooded, but have not failed.
Municipal water supplies are not safe to drink in Houston, Rushford, and Holka.
There are numerous road closures due to flooding, mud slides and washouts.
Canadian Pacific and Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern rail lines were affected, in turn affecting AMTRAK services in the area.
A State of Emergency has been declared for six counties. All affected counties began local damage assessments.
National Guard troops are assisting the counties with security and search and rescue by ground and helicopter.
Shelters were open in four counties and has shelters in three counties on standby.
Two (2) Salvation Army canteens are feeding residents.
The Governor has requested Preliminary Damage Assessments for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance. They are scheduled to begin on Wednesday August 22, 2007.
A FEMA Region V Liaison is in the State EOC. The Regional office continues to monitor the situation and is maintaining close contact with the State. (FEMA Region V)
Oklahoma - Tropical Depression Erin
On Saturday, August 18, 2007 the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin impacted Oklahoma. Widespread rainfall occurred across parts of Oklahoma. Some areas have received more than 10 inches of rain and wind gusts in excess of 90 miles per hour.
The Governor issued a Disaster Declaration on Monday August 21, 2007, for 24 Counties.
There have been a total of six confirmed fatalities.
Monday, August 20, 2007, initial PDAs were completed via an Oklahoma National Guard Blackhawk helicopter for four counties. Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) indicate a total of 498 homes affected in four Counties. Of these homes, 47 were destroyed and 192 sustained major damage.
The Oklahoma Southern Baptist Men are operating a feeding center.
IA PDAs are in process.
Waco JFO has placed five 5 Public Assistance (PA) PDA teams on stand-by.
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas. OEM dispatched Oklahoma National Guard to Geary (Blaine County) with water trailers. (FEMA Region VI)
Midwest Flooding Plagues Midwest
Water-weary residents across the Midwest began counting their losses Tuesday, August 21, 2007 as damage estimates from this weekend's flash floods climbed into the tens of millions. The rain moved into Ohio, where roads flooded, schools canceled classes and residents were rescued from flooded homes by boats.
Most of Gays Mills, a village of 640 people in southwestern Wisconsin, had been under water Sunday night, August 20, 2007. About half of the village was accessible Tuesday, and the growl of sump pumps filled the air as residents made their way back in.
In the Ohio village of Carey, waist-deep water swirled through the tiny downtown, submerging cars to their rooftops. Dozens of flooded streets made it impossible to cross the town. The Carey Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was evacuated, with 28 residents transferred to a local hospital.
Firefighters used boats to rescue families from flooded homes in Bucyrus after nearly 9 inches of rain fell, and the Upper Sandusky school district in north-central Ohio canceled the first day of school.
In Wisconsin and Minnesota, thousands of homes were damaged: A preliminary survey by the American Red Cross in Minnesota identified about 4,200 affected homes, including 256 complete losses, 338 with major damage and 475 that are still inaccessible, said the state's director of homeland security and emergency management.
President Bush said the government would move quickly to process requests for help from Minnesota so that residents could count on a "flood of help" to come down. He spoke before heading to a Republican fundraiser in the state.
Preliminary damage reports in Wisconsin topped $38 million Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and were expected to keep rising. Gov. Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency in five counties and began the process for requesting federal disaster assistance.
In Oklahoma, which recorded a gust of 82 mph and rainfall of 11 inches, about 300 homes and businesses were damaged in the Kingfisher area and in Caddo County in southwestern Oklahoma, officials said.
Numerous flood warnings remained in effect through Wednesday and Thursday, and Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency in 24 counties. (Media Sources)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Elsewhere tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central 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
No significant activity to report. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin for five counties in Wisconsin today, August 22, 2007 as a result of severe storms and flooding beginning August 18, 2007 and continuing. (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 5
States Most Affected: Montana, Idaho
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, August 21, 2007
- New large fires: 3
- Large fires contained: 3
- Uncontained large fires: 50
- 2007 acres burned to date: 6,469,774
Weather Discussion: Hot and dry weather in California for the next few days. The Northwest, Idaho and Montana should see mild weather today with some showers in Montana. Dry, gusty winds are expected in eastern Wyoming. (National Interagency Fire Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
The President signed a Emergency Declaration, FEMA-3278-EM, for the Bridge Collapse in Minnesota August 1 to August 15, 2007. Hennepin County is eligible for Public Assistance, emergency protective measures (Category B).
The Governor of New York requested a major disaster declaration as a result of a tornado and flooding on August 8, 2007.
The Governor of Ilinois requested a major disaster declaration as a result of flooding during the period of August 7-8, 2007.
FEMA-1709-DR-TX was amended on August 21, 2007 adding six counties for Individual assistance and 13 counties for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Aug-2007 09:46:41 EDT