• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South:
Thunderstorms with the possibility of downpours, frequent lightning strikes and locally gusty winds are expected from southeastern Texas all the way to Georgia and South Carolina. 

Temperatures in the 80s and 90s will be widespread over much of the South.

West:
Scattered thunderstorms are forecasted Tuesday across the Four Corners region and eastward to the Front Range of the Rockies.

High temperatures should range from the 60s in the higher elevations of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, to over 110 in southwest Arizona. 

Midwest:
More rain and thunderstorms are possible over parts of the Midwest Tuesday. Some of these thunderstorms may become severe with large hail and strong winds.

High temperatures should range from the 60s and 70s in the northern Plains and much of the Upper Midwest to the 90s from Kansas through the Ohio Valley.

Northeast:
Calm weather is forcasted for much of the Northeast through Wednesday.
Highs will range from the 70s across northern New England and near 90 in south-central Virginia and western West Virginia.

Ohio Flooding

The President has signed an expedited Major Disaster Declaration on August 27, 2007.

The Governor's request was submitted to the regional office on Sunday, August 26 as a result of severe storms with high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash flooding and tornadoes beginning on August 20.

FEMA Region II are continuing PDAs in Allen County today.  As of August 27, FEMA Region V initial IA PDA results remained at: 265 structures destroyed, 448 with major damage, 1,071 with minor damage; 243 affected.  (FEMA Regions)

North Dakota Tornado

National Weather Service estimated that the tornado's wind hit 170 mph and was nearly a mile wide when it hit the town of Northwood. 

At approximately 8:50 PM CDT on August 26, 2007, a tornado struck the Town of Northwood in Grand Forks County, ND.  Two trailer parks and the laboratory facility are reported destroyed.  The Grand Forks Emergency Manager reports that the number of damaged homes is not known, but officials estimate that approximately 90 percent of the homes have sustained some type of damage.

The power in Northwood has been turned off as a safety precaution, and it is estimated that it will be two to three days before it is restored.  Leaks in water lines have been repaired and the water system is restored, but residents are being asked to conserve water. 

There has been one confirmed fatality and 17 injuries.

Gov. John Hoeven issued an emergency declaration Monday and sent the National Guard to help with cleanup. 

Generators have been provided by the town of Petersburg and Grand Forks AFB. 

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army have set up temporary shelters with 100 to 150 residents seeking shelter at these facilities.  The Red Cross and a local business are providing bottled water. (FEMA Regions, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
      There are no significant weather systems identified at this time and 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 new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Public Assistance PDAs for Wisconsin are scheduled to begin today.
Individual Assistance PDAs are continuing for 3 counties in Oklahoma.  Public Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin today. 
Individual Assistance PDAs for 13 counties in Iowa are scheduled to begin today.
Individual Assistance PDAs for Allen County, Ohio are continuing today.
(FEMA Regions, FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  4
States Most Affected:  Montana, Idaho
National Fire Activity as of Monday, August 27, 2007

New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 35
2007 acres burned to date: 6,863,472

The Castle Rock Fire is located 3 miles west of Ketchum, Blaine County, Idaho.  The fire has burned over 41,000 acres and is currently 31% contained.  Currently there are 7,358 residential structures, 340 commercial properties, 148 outbuildings or other types of structures that are threatened.  A declaration of Blaine County as a disaster emergency has been made by the Governor.  Local response efforts are being coordinated by the State, however no request for Federal resources have been received at this time.  FEMA Region X Duty Officer will continue to monitor the situation. (FEMA Regions, Media Sources)

Weather Discussion:  Moisture increasing from the south may produce mostly wet thunderstorms over the southern Great Basin and southern California. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected along the Gulf Coast states.  (National Interagency Fire Center, Media Sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1720-DR was declared on August 27, 2007, for the State of Ohio, for severe storms and flooding that occurred August 18, 2007 and continuing. The major declaration provides for Individual Assistance for six counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

The Governor of Kansas has requested an adjustment to the Federal cost share for FEMA-1711-DR. 
The Governor is specifically requesting an adjustment of the Federal share to 100% for Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures) for a five day period flowing the date of declaration.  (FEMA HQ)