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National Situation Update: Saturday, May 26, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Rain and Potential Flooding Continues in Central U.S.

Midwest
Severe thunderstorms will continue this weekend in an area stretching from the northern Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes to the Central Plains.

Highs will range from the 50s-60s in the Dakotas to the 80s in the Ohio River Valley.

South
Flash flooding will continue to threaten southern and central Texas during the weekend, where rainfall could reach one inch per hour. Flood Warnings have been issued for several parts of Texas for Friday evening and Saturday morning. 

Firefighters in the southeast, especially Georgia and Florida, will not receive much help from the weather as most areas will continue to experience hot dry weather this weekend. Drought-stricken areas will continue to worsen.

Rip currents will remain a problem along the Georgia and eastern Florida coasts during the holiday weekend.

Northeast
A cold front moving through the Northeast will drop temperatures in northern New England to the 60s-70s Saturday, however further south temperatures will remain in the 80s-90s.

West
Isolated thunderstorms are forecast during the weekend in parts of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Most parts of the West will be very hot and dry for the next few days. Phoenix will experience 100+ highs. (NWS, Media Sources)

Central Texas Flooding and Tornado Touchdown

Media reports indicate five people have been killed by flooding in central Texas.  Dozens of other people, including motorists, have been rescued from flood waters.  Emergency responders performed an estimated 20 vehicle rescues in Killeen, Texas.  The Governor of Texas has activated the National Guard to assist with search and rescue missions during the holiday weekend, when additional rainfall and possible flooding is expected.

The State of Texas State Operations Center reported a tornado touchdown in Killeen, (Bell County) Texas at 8:02 pm CDT May 25, 2007.  Approximately 100 structures were damaged.  Three buildings of a large apartment complex along with four businesses were damaged, with one building possibly destroyed.  Six displaced families have been moved to other units within the apartment complex.  The community center is on standby as a shelter.

Six people were injured and treated on the scene.  State damage assessments will begin Saturday.  The American Red Cross will distribute clean-up kits.  The City of Killeen has requested Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol to patrol the downtown area as most of Killeen Police Department units are on the scene of the tornado touchdown.  The Governor's Division of Emergency Management is on the scene. (Texas Department of Public Safety, Media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:2

National Fire Activity:

• Initial attack activity: 317 (Heavy)
• New large fires: 2
• Large fires contained: 0
• Uncontained large fires: 20
• States reporting large fires:  California (1), Florida (7), Georgia (7), North Carolina (2), Nevada (2), Tennessee (1).

Fire Weather Discussion: The Southeast will be dry with low humidity. Gusty winds will continue over central and southern Florida. In the West, California, Arizona, and the Great Basin area will experience warmer and drier weather. The interior of Alaska will remain dry.   (National Interagency Fire Center)  

Disaster Declaration Activity

Kentucky:  FEMA-1703-DR-KY declared on May 25, 2007 for Public Assistance in the following counties:  Carter, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Martin, Perry, and Pike. All counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Rhode Island:  FEMA-1704-DR-RI declared on May 25, 2007 for Public Assistance in Newport County. All counties in the State of Rhode Island are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Iowa:  FEMA-1705-DR-IA declared on May 25, 2007 for Public Assistance in the following counties:  Audubon, Cass, Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Fremont, Harrison, Ida, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Taylor, and Union. Direct Federal Assistance is authorized, if warranted.

Kansas:  On May 25, 2007, Amendment Number 5 to FEMA-1699-DR-NE amended the major disaster declaration to include the following counties for Individual Assistance:   Clay, Cloud, Leavenworth, Lyon, Reno, Rice, Saline, and Shawnee. Comanche County was added for eligibility for Public Assistance. 

Nebraska:  On May 25, 2007, the Governor of Nebraska requested a major disaster declaration as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 4, 2007 and continueing.  The Governor specifically requested Public Assistance for 18 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. 
(FEMA HQ)