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

National Situation Update: Monday, January 9, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Another round of heavy precipitation will move into the Pacific Northwest Monday. As much as one-to-two inches will soak western Washington and northwest Oregon while heavy snow buries the Cascades and Olympics. Rain and snow will spread east of the Cascades, too, reaching into much of eastern Washington, Idaho, and western Montana by late evening.

A snow advisory has been issued for the Olympics and north-central Washington while a winter storm warning is in effect for the Washington Cascades and the mountains of northeast Washington and northern Idaho. A winter storm watch has been posted for the Oregon Cascades and the mountains of western Montana. Farther south, sunshine will bathe Southern California and the Southwest.

Northeast
Light rain and snow will fall over the West Virginia and Pennsylvania mountains, New York and New England. A few inches of accumulating snow are possible from the Adirondacks in northern New York to interior Maine where winter weather advisories are in place. Dry conditions from Boston to Washington, D. C. with above seasonal temperatures. 

South
In Texas Monday, temperatures across north Texas will be lower and the humidity, higher, but shifting, gusty winds will make fighting any on-going wildfires extremely difficult. Showers and thunderstorms from the Ark-La-Tex to the Carolinas during the day Monday is expected to become more widespread and a bit heavier Monday night and Tuesday.

Midwest
In the Midwest, a scattering of very light snow or mixed rain and snow showers will fall across Michigan and northern Ohio. Breezy conditions will prevail in most locations. On Tuesday, a mix of light snow and rain in the Ozarks while some rain falls over parts of the Ohio Valley.(National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)

Dry, Gusty Conditions Spread Wildfires To Colorado and Arkansas

Wildfire outbreaks that have been menacing the dry southern plains across Texas and Oklahoma spread to Arkansas and Colorado.

Wild fires in the vicinity of Aguilar, Colorado, whipped by winds gusting to 50 mph, destroyed at least five houses Sunday. The 1,000 residents of Aguilar were also warned to be prepared to evacuate in case the flames moved closer.

Another southern Colorado wildfire was burning on about 6,000 acres in the Spanish Peaks area, in Huerfano and Las Animas counties, not far from the New Mexico line.  Both fires were only 5 percent contained and the wind prevented authorities from attacking the flames from the air.

In Arkansas, a 3,000-acre wildfire, one of at least 43 fires ignited since Sunday, destroyed four homes Sunday east of Hamburg. Four volunteer fire departments were battling the blaze, and it likely would be Monday before they could gain control. 

High winds, and unseasonably warm temperatures in Oklahoma, created prime conditions again Sunday for grass fires. Firefighters in southern Oklahoma were trying to tame one wildfire that had already charred about 900 acres near Coalgate, according to a spokesman for a state command center.  The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Oklahoma remains activated and continues to work in conjunction with the Incident Command Post to support local fire departments and other first responders battling wildfires across Oklahoma.

In Texas, more than 60 wildfires were reported across the state, but most were only a few dozen acres in size. According to a Forest Service spokesman at the command center, burn bans and more firefighting resources, such as aircraft and equipment, have helped firefighters get the blazes under control.

In the last 24 hours additional personnel and equipment have arrived in Texas from other states.  The State of Texas, hourly, continues to build immediate response capability to meet the immediate and future wildfire threat.  Governor Perry directed that the state pre-position all available resources to support local jurisdictions request for assistance. (Texas EOC, Oklahoma Emergency Management, and Various Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

There is no tropical activity affecting U.S. interests in the Eastern, Central, or Western Pacific Ocean. (Source: USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Minor earthquake activity was reported in the last 24 hours in the Alaska regions (8) and Hawaii (2), not exceeding 3.2 in magnitude (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

• The Maurico Canyon Fire in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, received an FMAG at 5:15am EST on January 8. The Fire has burned three homes and threatens 200 homes in Aguilar.
• The Hawkins Fire in Wood County, TX received an FMAG at 4:21pm EST on January 8. The Fire threatens 50-70 homes and 150 people have evacuated in Hawkins (pop. 1330).
• The McNalley Flat Fire in McNalley and McIntosh Counties, OK was approved for a FMAG at 8:40 pm on January 8. There are 160 homes threatened with a population of 512. Evacuations are in progress. Declaration number is 2615. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)