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National Situation Update: Friday, April 14, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Iowa Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Severe storms and tornadoes caused damages in several Iowa counties on Thursday evening, April 13, 2006. At this time Johnson County, specifically Iowa City and the Iowa State University, is reporting damage to the downtown area of the City and on the University campus. There have been reports of looting on the University campus.

One death has been confirmed in Muscatine County, with 21 injuries reported by the hospital in Iowa City (Johnson County.) One person was treated and released from the hospital in Jones County.

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HLSEM) has activated the Emergency Operations Center and is coordinating and responding to local requests for assistance. The Governor has declared an emergency declaration for affected areas of the State.

The State has deployed the Iowa National Guard and Iowa State Highway Patrol to support the local incident commander in Johnson County to contain the looting on campus, and the American Red Cross is presently on-scene. The State has also deployed the Department of Safety and Department of Transportation to respond.

FEMA Region VII is in contact with HLSEM for incident updates and briefings and has a State Liaison Officer prepared to deploy Friday morning.  Region VII is preparing to receive and respond to a possible request for joint Preliminary Damage Assessments from the State.  (FEMA Region VII)

California Flooding and Levee Control Update

A Flood Warning remains in effect below Friant Dam (20 miles northeast of Fresno).  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation continues to release water along the San Joaquin River and expects localized flooding along the river channel will continue.  The California Dept of Water Resources (DWR) reports it is shifting water storage to alleviate pressure on the lower (northern) San Joaquin River. 

DWR cautions that the Sacramento and San Joaquin levee systems will be stressed for an additional 2 to 3 months from continued rain and snowmelt.  A flood fight incident command team (ICT) reports a reduced threat to the town of Firebaugh due to stabilized levees.   Nearly 400 homes have been affected and more threatened by flooding and mudslides. The American Red Cross (ARC) is assisting.

The California Governor's office has issued a State Proclamation of Emergency that now includes 16 affected counties. The nine counties added Thursday are Alameda, El Dorado, Kings, Marin, Placer, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Tulare, and Tuolumme. Counties previously included in the Proclamation are Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Merced, San Joaquin, San Mateo, and Stanislaus.

In addition to actions identified above, the State Operations Center (SOC) remains fully activated and continues planning for the Delta and 24 critical levee sites.  The California OES Inland Regional Operations Center (REOC) remains activated daily 0700 to 1900 PDT.  The CA Department of Water Resources (DWR) Flood Ops Center remains activated 24 hours a day.   The San Joaquin County EOC remains activated 0700 to 1900 hrs.  Along with two flood fight Incident Command teams (ICT), The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Conservation Corps are assisting with hand crews.

No Federal Stafford Act assistance is requested at this time.  FEMA Region IX RRCC at Level III (watch level) and during daytime hours until further notice.  The State SOC is anticipated to reduce its activation level as conditions improve.  RIX will assess reducing its monitoring level to Duty Officer Status only over the weekend.  US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco Division duty officer is monitoring.  The USACE Sacramento Division Office is activated and providing technical assistance to DWR. (FEMA Region IX)

Idaho Flooding

Magic Reservoir (50 miles east of Boise) has overtopped and water is flowing over the spillway. Above average snow pack (140% of normal), significant above average precipitation (135% of normal) and warming temperatures continue to increase potential for statewide flooding. There is concern that the reservoir held back by an earthen dam could collapse if the area has any additional heavy rainfall.

The outflow could increase enough to combine with the Little Wood River and cause extensive damage if the area were to be inundated by another large storm. The present forecast is rain diminishing over the next few days with a possibility of more precipitation by mid-week next week. The rivers with the greatest risk include the Big Wood River, Little Wood River, Portneuf River, Weiser River, Bruneau River, Payette River and Owyhee River.

State Officials are preparing a declaration to be signed by the Governor declaring a State of Emergency for the Counties of Ada, Boise, Bannock, Camas, Gooding and Lincoln County.  A unified command has been formed with Camas, Lane, Lincoln and Gooding counties and USACE to develop an action plan for the flood. State authorities are monitoring the situation.

There is no request for Federal Stafford Act assistance is requested at this time.  The State has not requested the Region X FEMA/State Liaison.  FEMA Region X Response Operation Staff is monitoring.  The USACE Walla Walla Division duty officer is monitoring.  The USACE Walla Walla District office is activated and providing advance measures and technical assistance to State of Idaho. (FEMA Region X)

North Dakota Flooding

The rapid snowmelt of heavy winter snow accumulations compounded by spring rains and sudden warm temperatures is causing spring flooding in the Red River Valley.  The Grand Forks National Weather Service (NWS) Flood Statement indicates river levels remain high as tributary runoff continues to flow into the Pembina River.  River flows between Walhalla and Neche are breaking out of river banks and moving overland.  Farther south, the levels of the Wild Rice and Sheyenne Rivers are falling as continued dry weather helps reduce the impacts of flooding.  According to the NWS, there is approximately two to ten inches of snow pack in the Pembina River gorge that may have an impact on the levels of the Pembina River.

The Governor's office, State Water Commission (SWC), North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP), North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH), North Dakota Department of Human Services (NDDHS), North Dakota National Guard (NDNG), North Dakota Air National Guard (NDANG), and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) are monitoring the situation.  State damage assessments began on April 11, 2006.

On April 13, 2006, Governor John Hoeven, the State Engineer, and the ND Division of Homeland Security Director met with local and tribal officials in the Devils Lake and Pembina areas to review flood conditions and the communities' preparation and response efforts.

Governor Hoeven has activated N.D. National Guard troops and equipment to assist with Red River flooding north of Grand Forks to the Canadian border. The National Guard mobilized three tractor-trailers, two dozers, one loader and four 20-ton dump trucks to assist with flood flight efforts in the Pembina-Cavalier areas.  Fourteen soldiers are currently on State Active Duty and are assisting with transporting and pre-positioning sandbags, constructing a dike in south Pembina and monitoring area dikes.  Additionally, a UH-1 helicopter has been stationed at Grand Forks International Airport.  The crew has been taking local officials on twice daily reconnaissance flights.

Region VIII continues to coordinate closely with state officials.  A Region VIII representative has been on site throughout the flooding event.  On April 12, 2006, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) delivered a sump pump for the Salvation Army to a rural residence along the Red River, six miles north of Oslo, MN. In Fargo and Cass County, the Red Cross and Salvation Army continue coordination efforts, providing food and other assistance in the impacted areas. (FEMA Region VIII)

National Weather

West: Two storms will affect the West Friday. Number one will move from central and Southern California to the central Rockies with showery rain and thunderstorms. Number two will swing into the Pacific Northwest with rain and mountain snow. Northern California will be in between these two systems, with only light showers. Unfortunately, increasing snow melt from the Sierra will also begin to contribute to northern and central California's flooding woes. By Saturday, the rain and mountain snow will continue in the Pacific Northwest and expand southward into waterlogged northern California. Runoff from rains over the last several days combined with releases from area dams and new storms coming in this weekend may keep some points along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers at flood stage through the week. On Easter, more heavy rain over northern California will cause renewed mudslides and river flooding. By mid-April, northern California should be done with such prolonged bouts of rain. In the Southwest winds and the associated fire threat will greatly increase.

Midwest: The Plains and Midwest may see some additional daily record highs through the weekend with daytime temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average. With the heat in place, several upper-level disturbances will sweep through the region from out of the West as a front undulates northward and southward from the Dakotas and southern Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. A few severe thunderstorms could redevelop in the mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley later Friday. Saturday, a windy Southwest storm will move into the central states with rain from northeast Colorado to the Dakotas and increasing severe thunderstorms from eastern portions of Nebraska and Kansas into the mid-Mississippi Valley.

Northeast: Thunderstorms are expected for the Mid-Atlantic and some of these will be severe. Then Sunday and Monday, a new system will come out of the Midwest with yet more scattered strong-to-severe thunderstorms for the Mid-Atlantic.

South: Other then a few thunderstorms roaming into Tennessee and North Carolina from the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, the South will be dry through Tuesday. (National Weather Service, media sources)

Wildfire outlook

The potential for summer wildfires is normal or above-normal across much of the West, with dry conditions fueling concerns about high-intensity blazes in the Southwest, forecasters say.
The seasonal wildfire outlook through August, released by the NIFC, also predicts higher-than-normal fire potential in the southern Plains, East and Southeast, including along the Gulf Coast.

Any fires in the Southwest in May and June could be more intense than usual for that time of year, she said. Conditions in New Mexico and Arizona include a band of extreme drought. But the length of the fire season in the Southwest could be shortened by monsoons that are expected to be heavier and arrive earlier than usual.

Already this year, wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres, according to agency statistics. Much of that acreage has been in Texas. (NIFC)

Tropical Activity

There are no tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant earthquake activity during the past 24 hours in the United States or its Territories. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

The National Preparedness Level remains at Level 2. Wildland fire activity was heavy throughout the nation with 331 new fires reported. Three new large fires were reported: one each in Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Nine large fires were contained: one in Arkansas, one in Florida, one in North Carolina, two in Oklahoma, three in Texas, and one in Virginia. Winds will increase in the Southwest, Southern Plains, and eastern slopes of the Rockies due to a low pressure off the coast of California. The southeastern and mid-Atlantic states will be warm and dry while the Great Lakes and northeastern states are expected to have scattered showers.

The Ojo Feliz Fire in New Mexico continued to grow Thursday has burned an estimated 12,500 acres of grassland and ponderosa pine in Mora County 3,000 acres at an unknown percent contained. The fire is 26 miles southeast of Taos. Emergency shelters were set up in Mora and Wagon Mound for evacuees from Ojo Feliz, Los Hueros and several surrounding ranches. Authorities on Thursday also asked residents of Le Febres to evacuate and they called for voluntary evacuations in Ocate and in the area of Coyote to the west of the Fire. A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved for this Fire on April 12.

Arizona and New Mexico will be Critical Fire Areas today.  Sustained winds of 20-35 mph will develop on ahead of a very strong upper level storm system. Minimum relative humidity values will fall below 15 percent especially across the lower elevations and deserts where temperatures will be in the 80s/90s. The combination of strong winds aloft and tight pressure gradient will result in higher surface wind gusts between 40-50 mph. (National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1637-DR-OK for Oklahoma was declared Thursday, April 14, 2006, for Severe Storms and Tornadoes that occurred during the incident period of March 12, 2006. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Phillip Parr.
 
Individual Assistance has been designated for Delaware County. Public Assistance: None Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been designated for Delaware County. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

FEMA-1638-DR-KS for Kansas was declared Thursday, April 14, 2006, for Severe Storms Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds that occurred during the incident period of March 12-13, 2006. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Thomas J. Costello.
 
Public Assistance has been designated for Douglas and Wyandotte Counties. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been designated for all counties in the State of Kansas. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

Effective April 13, 2006 the major Disaster Declaration for the state of Illinois (FEMA-1633-DR-TN) is amended (#2) to add Rudolph County for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)