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National Situation Update: Thursday, June 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Texas Severe Storms and Flooding Update

Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches affected portions of central and northern Texas Tuesday and Tuesday night. Within this broad area of rainfall, isolated amounts of 6 to 10 inches fell in areas north and south of Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita County).

A second area of heavy rainfall occurred late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning over the Hill Country of central Texas. Widespread rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches occurred over Burnet, Llano and Blanco Counties, and two Lower Colorado River Authority gages near Marble Falls, Texas (Burnett County) measured 24-hour amounts of up to18 inches. Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for the area.

In Garland, Texas (Dallas County), news media reported that a 13-year old boy was killed Tuesday evening after being washed down a flooded creek. The boy reportedly was swept away while rescue workers were struggling to bring him ashore via ropes. 

In Hood County, Texas, approximately 50 homes were flooded north of Granbury late Tuesday, June 26, near a creek which feeds into Lake Granbury on the Brazos River. The flooding forced some residents onto the roofs of their homes, where they were later rescued by boat. 

In the city of Fort Worth (Tarrant County), fire officials reported 71 high water calls from motorists stranded during the evening rush hour. Numerous additional high water calls were also received in Dallas.  No injuries were reported. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport temporarily grounded planes Tuesday evening due to lightning, delaying a number of flights. 

Severe thunderstorms moving south across west Texas late Tuesday produced wind gusts of 98 mph in Seminole and 93 mph in Midland (Midland County). These severe wind gusts produced a swath of damage reports near the Texas/New Mexico state line and south to West Texas.  The most significant damage reports were received from Dawson, Gaines and Midland Counties where trees were uprooted, roofs were damaged and power poles were snapped.

FEMA Region VI RRCC remains activated at Level 3, and is monitoring the situation.  A state liaison will report to the State EOC this morning.

The Texas State Operations Center is activated at Level 1 (Emergency Conditions). The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) has activated elements of Texas Task Force 1 (TTF1) to complete immediate critical planning for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations focusing on areas near and north of Dallas/Ft. Worth. TTF1 has activated two Swift Water Rescue Teams, a Water Strike Team logistics support trailer, and a Command Element with communications support satellite with ground/air interoperability.

The Governor has activated 161 members of the Texas National Guard for flood support, with a mission focus on search and rescue. All primary state agencies/departments have either deployed response assets or placed specialized personnel on standby.  (Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA Region VI, National Weather Service)

Oklahoma Severe Storms and Flooding Update

A weak low pressure system situated over southwest and central Oklahoma continues to combine with tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread thunderstorms and flash flooding.  A Flash Flood Watch continues in effect through Thursday, June 28 for much of central Oklahoma. 

The current round of severe storms began Monday, June 25th. The hardest hit areas on Tuesday, June 26th were Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, Love, and Oklahoma counties that received from 4-6" of rainfall within a few hours. The forecast indicates additional rainfall may hit the same areas through Saturday, June 30th.
 
The Governor of Oklahoma has declared a State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties.

Currently, there are no power outages. 

No shelters are open at this time.  No evacuations are underway in Jefferson County but several residents left on their own seeking safer ground.

Chickasha (Grady County) city officials are working to locate and repair a water main break that left the south part of the city without water over night. City officials believe the water main break may be located in one of the swollen creeks in the area. 

Numerous roads are closed in Jefferson, Lincoln, Love, Cooke, Pontotoc, and Pottawatomie counties due to high water and road failure.  Approaches to several bridges have been washed out and many bridges remain under water. 

East Cache Creek in Comanche County is almost 28 feet which is 7 feet above flood stage.  Several county roads in Jefferson County remain closed due to high water conditions.  Residents along the Red River area have been warned of possible flooding. Prompted by the National Weather Service flood warning for Love and Cooke counties, last night Love County Sheriff's deputies, along with members of the Thackerville Fire Department, went door to door along the river area warning residents that flooding was forecasted for the river. This activity was done across the western part of the county to the Loves Valley area.  The Red River flood stage is 25.0 feet. The river is anticipated to crest at 31.0 feet by 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Shawnee/Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports damage to homes and businesses in Shawnee and Tecumseh. Initial damage assessments show 46 homes sustained major damage and 60 homes sustained minor damage due to Tuesday's flooding. Additionally, seven businesses sustained major damage. 

The FEMA Region VI RRCC remains activated at Level 3 and continues to monitor the situation. Oklahoma Emergency Management is working to deliver potable water to the City of Chickasha after the city lost a substantial amount of treated water overnight due to a water main break.  Local Emergency Management and first responders are assisting their communities.  (Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, FEMA Region VI, National Weather Service)

More Rain in Forecast for Texas and Oklahoma

South
Heavy downpours are expected Wednesday evening in central and eastern Texas, Oklahoma and possibly Arkansas, that may result in additional flooding Thursday.

Most of the region will have high temperatures in the 80s and 90s except parts of Texas and Oklahoma where rain will keep temperatures in the 70s.

Northeast
A cold front through the Northeast will bring showers and thunderstorms.

A few severe storms with strong, damaging winds and large hail are expected in southern New England, from southern Pennsylvania and southeastern New York, and south into Virginia and West Virginia.

Highs in the region will range from the 70s in northern New England, New York state, and Pennsylvania to the 90s in eastern Virginia and parts of eastern Maryland.

Midwest
Heavy cloudbursts through eastern Kansas and Missouri Wednesday will spread into Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky on Thursday.

Highs will range from the 60s around the northern and central Great Lakes to the 80s in Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and the central Plains.

West
Showers expected in western Washington, western Oregon, and extreme northwest California. A few severe thunderstorms are possible with large hail and gusty winds in northwest and north-central Montana.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

Strong winds in the Sierras with gusts up to 50 mph will make fighting the Angora fire (Lake Tahoe area) difficult and dangerous.

Highs in the region will range from the 60s in western Washington and Oregon to over 110 in the low deserts of southeast California and southwest Arizona. The Great Basin will have highs in the 80s and 90s.(NWS, Media Sources)

Angora Fire (Lake Tahoe, California) Update

The Angora Fire in the Lake Tahoe Basin continues to threaten several communities. Wednesday afternoon (June 27) the fire was reported at 3,100 acres and 44 percent contained, with an estimated containment date of July 7, 2007. 

There are currently 2,174 fire personnel assigned to this incident. 

To date, approximately 251 structures have been destroyed (176 are residences). At least 800 residences remain threatened along with 275 commercial structures and 180 outbuildings.

Total evacuation orders are estimated to affect 2,500 people. 

Joint State/Federal Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment will commence when cleared by the fire Incident Command.

Strong winds (gusts up to 40 mph) are forecast during the next few days which will hamper firefighting efforts. (Region IX, National Interagency Fire Center)

White Fire (Kern County, California) Update

The White Fire, located near Twin Oaks, 20 miles north of Rosamond in Kern County, CA is currently at 10,700 acres and 50 percent contained. There are currently 1,440 fire personnel assigned to this incident. There are 150 structures at risk in the communities of Oak Creek and Blackburn Canyon.

There are no reports of injuries or damage to structures at this time. The Community of Oak Creek was evacuated, with fifty residences impacted, to the evacuation center in Mojave. Kern County Sheriff's Office, County OES and Red Cross are assisting. At this time there is no threat to the California Independent System Operators (CA ISO) lines in the area.(Region IX, National Interagency Fire Center)

Alaska Wildfire Update

The Caribou Hills Fire, Kenai-Kodiak Area Forestry, is located fifteen miles southeast of Ninilchik, AK. Approximately 55,265 acres have burned, and the fire is 61% contained. Numerous structures remain threatened.

The Su River Fire, Mat-Su Area Forestry. Approximately 8,489 acres burned and is 25% contained. Minimal fire activity. Residences and cabins remain threatened.

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Eastern Pacific:
Shower and thunderstorm activity remains limited in association with the area of disturbed weather located about 575 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California.  Development, if any, should be slow to occur until the system moves over cooler waters in a couple of days.

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

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake, at a depth of 6.2 miles, occurred Wednesday, June 27 at 2259 hours EDT 135 miles SSW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake, at a depth of 22.4 miles, occurred Wednesday, June 27 at 2204 hours EDT 220 miles WNW of Anchorage, Alaska.

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake, at a depth of 20.3 miles, occurred Wednesday, June 27 at 0834 hours EDT 90 miles SW of Attu, Alaska.

There have been no reports of injuries, deaths, damages or tsunami. The quakes did not affect the U.S. or any U.S. territories. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Individual and Public Assistance PDAs for 12 counties in Texas are continuing. PDAs are now expected to be completed June 29, 2007.

Individual and Public Assistance PDAs for 12 counties in North Dakota began June 26.

Individual and Public Assistance PDAs are continuing for Delaware County, New York (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  2
States Most Affected: California, Alaska
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. EDT:

• Initial attack activity: Light (184 new fires)
• New large fires: 4
• Large fires contained: 2
• Uncontained large fires: 16
  Fire Weather Watch posted for portions of northern California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah for low relative humidity, strong winds, and long-term drought. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, FEMA Region X, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Nebraska has requested a major disaster declaration as a result of damages caused by severe thunderstorms during the period May 28 through June 16, 2007. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for 20 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

FEMA-1708-DR-MO, a major disaster declaration for Missouri dated June 11, 2007, is amended to include the following counties for Public Assistance:  Caldwell, Clinton, Linn, Sullivan, and Lafayette County (Lafayette County already designated for Individual Assistance).   (FEMA HQ)