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

National Situation Update: Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Heavy Rainfall Predicted for Drought-Stricken Southeast

South:
Widespread showers and thunderstorms, moving eastward across the Lower Mississippi Valley, are expected to bring 1-3 inches of rainfall to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina during the next few days. 

Highs will range in the 80s-90s for much of the Southeast on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Northeast:
The Northeast will experience highs in the 80s-90s on Tuesday. A cold front will move into the region by Wednesday, bringing rainfall, thunderstorms, and cooler temperatures.

Midwest:
Some scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the eastern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Tuesday.

Thunderstorms passing through Michigan, Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania may be accompanied by damaging winds, large hail, flooding downpours, and isolated tornadoes.

Scattered thunderstorms are also expected in the western Plains.  

West:
A gradual warming trend is anticipated for most of the Pacific Northwest during the upcoming week. High for Boise on Tuesday will be in the 90s. 

The Southwest will remain very hot during the next few days, with highs of 107-110 degrees forecast for Phoenix.   (NWS, Media Sources)

Flash Flooding in North Texas and Oklahoma

Beginning June 18 and continuing, severe thunderstorms caused flooding in north Texas with Flash Flood Warnings issued for Tarrant and Denton Counties.

In Haltom City a mobile home park was evacuated with reports of mobile homes being overturned. An estimated 120 homes were destroyed with an estimated 300 people in the mobile home park needing assistance. An entire nursing home in Sherman (125 residents) was evacuated.

The Red Cross has set up shelters in impacted areas in response to flooding in Haltom City. Water rescues and evacuations were reported in impacted areas with injuries and one fatality confirmed (media is currently reporting four fatalities).

Water is receding and water search and rescue efforts have been terminated. However, excessive runoff from the earlier heavy rain will continue to cause flooding.

A tornado was reported in Copperas Cove and Lampasas County, Texas, damaging 13 homes and destroying 5 homes in a mobile home park.

The State of Texas and FEMA Region VI continue to monitor the situation and will assist if needed.

The heaviest rainfall was from Gainesville to Sherman (Cooke and Grayson Counties, Texas) near the Oklahoma border where an estimated 8-12 inches fell. There were reports of rainfall of 3-6 inches in less than a 3-hour period. The heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in these areas.

Heavy rainfall shifted north into Oklahoma causing additional areas of flooding in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to receive damage reports and FEMA Region VI continues to monitor the situation. (FEMA Region VI, NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

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

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity during the previous 24 hours.  (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Montana:  Individual assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for two Tribal entities and one county began on June 18, 2007.

Nebraska:  Individual Assistance PDAs for two counties and Public Assistance for 19 counties are scheduled to begin the week of June 18, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  2
States Most Affected: Utah
National Fire Activity as of Monday, June 18, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. EDT:

• Initial attack activity: Light (92 new fires)
• New large fires: 3
• Large fires contained: 2
• Uncontained large fires: 8
• Nationally, there is one Type 1 IMT and one Type 2 IMT committed.

Weather Discussion:  Wildland fire activity is beginning to pick up in the western states. Idaho and Utah both experienced wildland fires over the weekend. Warmer temperatures and decreased winds are expected for the western states during the middle of the week. Showers and thunderstorms will move into the southeastern states today. Interior Alaska will continue to have scattered thunderstorms in the afternoons and evenings.    (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, media)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-DR-1699-KS - Amendment number 8, effective June 15, 2007, includes Osage County, KS for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).   (FEMA HQ)