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National Situation Update: Friday, February 23, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West:  Look for unsettled weather across the Southwest with showers and mountain snow.

There will be locally heavy snow across the higher elevations of Southern California and rain in the valleys overnight.

Midwest:  A storm system will move across the Plains by early tomorrow. Strong gusty south-to-southeast winds will precede the storm across the Plains and Mississippi Valley.

Light snow and wintry mix will develop across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa while showers and thunderstorms increase from the lower Missouri Valley southward.

By late this evening, strong to severe thunderstorms will stretch southward from southern Nebraska to northern Texas.

This activity will move eastward overnight. Wind damage and a few tornadoes are possible.

South:  Ahead of a cold front, severe thunderstorms and torrential rain will erupt this evening in western Oklahoma and west-central Texas.

Once the squall line starts, severe thunderstorms will continue, advancing eastward from the southern Plains early tomorrow to western Kentucky, western Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle by tomorrow night.

Damaging wind, hail and tornadoes are all possible from late tonight through tomorrow.

Northeast: A fast-moving area of low pressure will intensify offshore overnight. The result will be gusty winds along the East Coast and some snow for parts of Long Island and southeastern New England.   (NWS, Media Sources)

Maine Propane Gas Shortage Update:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) cannot grant a waiver for over 80,000 pounds of any substance on the Interstate Highway System. 

This action requires an Act of Congress; legislation must be passed, and historically this has happened only on rare occasions.

The President and/or Secretary of DOT cannot do it themselves. 

To pursue this option the Maine Governor's Office needs to address it with the Maine Delegation, but with a small time window it may not be viable.

There is some reluctance from the Connecticut Governor's office to allow trucks to travel over state roads. One concern is the route plan that would have to be implemented to respect some bridge weight capacities.

There exists conflicting answers as to whether or not the trucks are rated to haul that weight safely.  That question is still being pursued.

The option is being considered to move the 600k gallons by moving them in 80k gallon loads.  Of course, this would greatly increase the number of trips from 50 to 75. (FEMA Region I)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Eastern Pacific: No significant activity to report.
Western Pacific: No activity threatening U.S. Territories.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

There was no significant earthquake activity during the past 24 hours.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

No significant activity.
National preparedness level is 1 (lowest on a 1-5 scale). (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1683-DR-OR was declared on February 22, 2007, for Severe Winter Storm and Flooding.

Eight counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians were approved for Public Assistance.
All counties and Tribal nations are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)