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National Situation Update: Friday, June 1, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

Midwest
A stormy upper-level low will slowly move from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes over the next 4 days.

Thunderstorms with 1-to-4-inch downpours lessen this weekend from the Dakotas to Kansas, but increase across the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast across Iowa, western Illinois, Missouri and eastern Kansas Friday, June 1, 2007. Some of the thunderstorms will turn severe over the weekend as the main system moves east of the Mississippi.

South
Moisture over the northwest Caribbean and western Cuba will combine with an upper-level disturbance moving eastward across the Gulf to produce a heavy rain for Florida. Rain amounts could be 4 to 6 inches.

Strong thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast in the southern Plains, especially western and northern Texas, through the weekend.

Northeast
South of a front stretching from the Adirondacks to Long Island, across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, some strong thunderstorms are possible.

With the front to the north and the upper-level low approaching from the Midwest, thunderstorms will be on the increase Sunday, June 3, 2007 through Tuesday, June 5, 2007.

West
An upper-level low will move eastward away from Montana and Wyoming this weekend.  Some thunderstorms in the Plains of southeastern Colorado and eastern New Mexico are forecast.

The West will be mainly dry Saturday, June 2, 2007 and Sunday, June 3, 2007 except for an isolated thunderstorm or two in the Cascades, Sierra and Rockies.

A showery Pacific cold front will move into Washington and Oregon Monday June 4, 2007.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Regional Incident Reports

Nebraska Severe Storms And Flooding Update
Beginning on May 27, 2007, heavy rains occurred across the State of Nebraska producing flooding. 
Major road and bridge damage is reported due to the heavy flooding.

Five (5) counties reported the following:

• Boone County: Officials report 3-5 inches of rain, and damage to county roads. 
• Frontier County: Officials report flood damage to roads and bridges.
• Hayes County: Officials report flood damage to road and bridges.  Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is conducting state damage assessments to roads and bridges in Red Willow.   The American Red Cross is providing bottled water to residents due to reports of brown water.  The State Public Health Service is on scene working with the local Health Department to sanitize the water system and determine any health issues.   A private earthen dam was breached in the county.  Nebraska Department of Natural Resources reports this is a low hazard dam.  No people or property is affected by breach of the dam. 
• Madison County: Battle Creek reports flooding on the west side of town.  Damage is reported to the sewer system and the water system is compromised. Officials report debris on several county bridges.  Local officials estimate 400 affected homes and 15 homes destroyed from flooding.  Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is on site providing assistance.  DEQ has pumped water out of the waste and well systems. 
• Platte County: Lindsey officials report bridge damage due to flooding.  Platte Center is conducting local damage assessment on road damages from flooding.

The Nebraska State EOC activated on May 30, 2007 to coordinate response activities.  The state is proving sandbags (10,000) to Battle Creek for flood fighting.  On May 31, 2007 the State Public Health Service dispatched to Hayes County to assistance local health officials with water safety.  The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is providing technical assistance on flooding near dams.  The Nebraska State EOC was operational until 5:00 pm CDT May 31, 2007.

FEMA Region VII is in contact with NEMA for incident updates and briefings.   No request for federal assistance is anticipated at this time.  The FEMA Region RRCC was activated until 5:00 pm CDT May 31, 2007 to coordinate with NEMA on flooding issues.  (FEMA Region VII)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

The following FMAG was approved: #2697 Harveytown Fire in Georgia. Towns threatened: Pembroke, Bryan County. 

• There have been 200 plus persons mandatorily evacuated.
• There are 245 private residences, 100 businesses, Bryan County Library, Chamber of Commerce, two schools and railroad tracks threatened.
• There are three residences located in the immediate vicinity of the fire and fire is three fourths of a mile from the city of Pembroke, GA.
• Fire is zero percent contained
• FMAG Approved on 5/31/2007 at 9:00 pm EDT. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean: No significant activity to report.  The Atlantic Hurricane season officially starts today, June 1, 2007.

Eastern Pacific:

• Tropical Depression Barbara was located near 13.0N 94.7W  (about 1957 miles SSE from San Diego, CA.) at 5:00 pm EDT, June 1,  2007.
• TD Barbara is currently moving toward the east (80 degrees) at about 4 mph.
• Estimated minimum central pressure 1005 mb.
• Max sustained winds 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Western Pacific: No significant activity to report. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

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 163 (Light)
• New large fires:   6
• Large fires contained:  4
• Uncontained large fires:  14
• Year to date fires:  36, 416
• Year to date acres burned 1,311,709

Fire Weather Discussion:  Mostly warm and dry conditions will prevail across the West. The Southeast will continue to experience dry conditions through Friday, June 1, 2007. Interior Alaska will be warming and drying with isolated thunderstorm activity. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1702-DR-SD is amended effective May 31, 2007.  Amendment 2 adds Marshall County for Individual Assistance.  (FEMA HQ)