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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 26, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:  A couple of disturbances will affect the West today and into the weekend with snow showers in the Cascades, Rocky Mountains and Wasatch, and scattered rain showers in the lower elevations of the Northwest, northern and central California and the Great Basin.

Northeast:  Expect strong gusty winds to continue to affect areas in the Northeast with some gusts in the 30-40 mph range. Most of the strongest winds will be confined to the New England region. Expect lingering lake-effect snow showers across Pennsylvania and Western New York state with any accumulations confined to early morning. Otherwise, dry weather will dominate the picture into the first half of the weekend.

Midwest:  Dry weather will rule the Plains and Midwest today thanks in part to an area of high pressure that will be centered east of the Mississippi valley. Southwesterly winds will be gusty across the Plains but relatively light across the Great Lakes region.

South:  The only chance of showers in this region will be across portions of western Texas. High temperatures are forecast to range from the upper 40s in northeast Tennessee and far western North Carolina to the 70s in the southern tips of Texas and Florida. A greater chance of rain will increase as we head into the weekend.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Security Boosted at Pine Bluff, Arkansas Chemical Weapons Depot

The nation's second-largest chemical weapons depot beefed up security Wednesday after three people entered a restricted zone.  It wasn't known if the breach involved outsiders or arsenal workers straying beyond their security clearance. The arsenal is located a half-hour south of Little Rock..

Arsenal operations continued as usual Wednesday except for enhanced security. Guards checked every vehicle leaving the area.  A spokesperson for the state Department of Emergency Management, said the office had been notified of the intrusion but was given no indication how serious the incident might be.

The investigation was handled by the Defense Department's security staff at the arsenal.  (Media Sources)

Arkansas Scientist Says Fault Activity Unclear

A researcher at the University of Arkansas says recent research showing a build up of strain in the New Madrid Seismic Zone is inconclusive because the tension can't be seen well enough to determine any earthquake hazard.

Re-examined data collected by a research group at the Center of Earthquake Research and Information at University of Memphis showed the strain present in the New Madrid area as a type that generally causes earthquakes.

Both groups of researchers agree that enhancing the current research tools may help develop a clearer picture of what is occurring, and why earthquakes happen in the area.

One researcher said the earthquakes in the New Madrid Zone occur differently than those along other fault lines.  No theory has fully explained why large earthquakes may have occurred there. Additionally, the Mississippi River basin complicates earthquake study because shifting sand and mud make it difficult to isolate movements.

One researcher has proposed creating a larger network of stations to produce computer generated data that will help better determine what is happening in the area.  This may give the U.S. Geological Service a way to assess earthquake hazard in continental interiors where earthquakes and their cycles are not very well understood," he said.  (Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

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 - II

Current situation:  Initial attack activity was light nationally with 13 new fires reported. One new large fire was reported in the Southern Area. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota.

California: 
Plunge (San Bernardino National Forest): A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned. This fire is eight miles northeast of San Bernadino, CA in grass and timber. Minimal fire activity was observed, and all voluntary evacuations have been lifted.

Oklahoma: 
BOLEY (Okmulgee Field Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs): This fire is two miles southwest of Boley City, OK in grass and timber. Extreme fire behavior and limited access are hampering containment efforts.           

Texas: 
North Central Texas (Texas Forest Service): A Unified Command between a Florida State Type 2 Incident Management Team and a Texas State Type 2 Incident Commander is in place in Granbury, TX. The Unified Command is assisting local jurisdictions with managing existing fires and initial attack within the 220,000 square mile West Zone fire management response area. One new fire of 51 acres was contained within the management area.  (NIFC, NICC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)