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National Situation Update: Friday, April 21, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Outlook

West:  A cold front will produce rain and mountain snow from Washington to central California. Snow levels will range from between 3000 feet in the Washington Cascades to 7500 feet in the central Sierra by tonight. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average from the Four Corner states to Montana.

Midwest:  In the Upper Midwest, a low-pressure area both at the surface and aloft will produce showers from the eastern Dakotas to parts of northern Michigan. West of this system, the Plains will be quite warm. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average.

South:  A frontal system extending from the Cumberland Plateau to the western Gulf Coast will produce wet and stormy weather in a broad swath from the Mid-Atlantic to Texas. Ark-La-Tex region to the Tennessee Valley will see 1 to 4 inches of precipitation and the potential for localized flooding. Severe weather in the form of thunderstorms with hail and damaging winds is possible from eastern Texas to western Tennessee. The greatest threat for tornadoes will be in the lower Mississippi Valley.

Northeast: Showery rain will move into western New York and the Mid-Atlantic this evening. Thunderstorms in West Virginia and southwestern Virginia could turn severe. The remainder of the northeast will be dry today but rain and thunderstorms will slide northeastward from out of the South by the weekend. (National Weather Service, media sources)

Spring Snow Storm in South Dakota

A spring snow storm with deep, wet snow and high winds moved across South Dakota on April 19.  Snow depths of up to 46 inches with drifts of five to six feet were reported in the northern Black Hills.  Roads were closed in western SD and power was lost to more than 8,200 customers during the height of the storm.

Flooding potential:  There is an estimated three inches of water stored in the new snow pack across the northern Black Hills.  Prior to the snowfall, creeks and streams in the northern Black Hills were running low.  It is expected that it will take a few days for the snow to melt, keeping the threat of flooding low.  However, given that the SD Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is still gathering information on the total snowfall over the northern Black Hills, this forecast is very preliminary. 

State/Local Response

• Roads:  Road conditions are generally improving throughout the affected area.  I-90 west and eastbound lanes are open for travel. Nearly 40 extra plows and crews will be staging out of Rapid City to help utilities and counties where needed.
• Electric Utilities:  The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) has started moving resources to affected areas.  The SD National Guard is assisting in providing large transport vehicles to help get the WAPA crews to the sites.
• Telecommunications:  A number of cell towers lost regular power but remained fully operational with generators. Power was expected to be restored by the evening of April 20.
• Livestock:  There was reportedly no power and no access to feed livestock due to drifting snow. However, there has been no request for any resources, and livestock owners seem to feel that they will be okay in the short term as long as power is restored soon.
• Health Care Facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, end stage renal dialysis, and residential living centers:  Most facilities that reported they were operating on emergency generators are in the Belle Fourche area (Butte County).  None are reporting any concerns at this time.  No assistance has been requested.

State:  The SD Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated on April 19 at 1:00 pm MDT.  SD OEM is monitoring the situation and providing support to the local and county jurisdictions as requested. 

Volunteer Activities:  Shelters opened in Whitewood (population - 844) and in Belle Fourche (population - 4,565). Newell is setting up a shelter at the Butte Electric facility.

Potential Federal Involvement:  FEMA Region VIII is monitoring the situation and coordinating with SD OEM as necessary.  There has been no request for federal assistance at this time. (Region VIII)

California Flooding & Levees

Forecast weather is not expected to exacerbate conditions for California's inland waterways. High flows continue to elevate concerns in the Chowchilla Bypass and upstream as well as around the town of Firebaugh.  The entire lower San Joaquin River and southern Delta channels continue to warrant close scrutiny. 

State/Local Response:  Sixteen counties are included in the California Governor's State Proclamation of Emergency.  The State Flood Operations Center will maintain 24-hour operations through Friday. Initial damage estimates reported by affected counties total $55 million to date.
 
Potential Federal Involvement: FEMA Region IX RRCC remains at Level III (watch level) during daytime hours. USACE San Francisco Division duty officer continues to monitor.  The USACE Sacramento District Office remains activated and providing technical assistance to the State.(FEMA Region IX)

Utah Spring Flooding and Landslides

Forecast snow melt conditions continue to raise flood concerns throughout Utah, and a moderate to high landslide potential continues to exist in various areas of the State.

The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS), Division of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Emergency Services (OES) Operations staff and Liaison Officers continue to monitor the situation.  DHS/OES continues to work with local emergency managers in preparation for an increase in landslide movement.  County and city public works work directly with the USGS in monitoring moderate to high landslides in their County.

On April 19, the DPS helicopter flew Governor Huntsman and two officials from the Salt Lake City Office of the National Weather Service over watershed and rivers in northern Utah that have the potential to contribute to flooding.

On April 21, the Director of the Division of Homeland Security and local officials from Weber and Box Elder Counties will conduct a helicopter tour of areas of concern along the Weber and Bear Rivers, especially areas impacted by the release flows from Cutler Reservoir.

Potential Federal Involvement:  FEMA Region VIII is monitoring the situation and coordinating with UT OES as necessary.  There has been no request for federal assistance at this time. (Region VIII)

Nevada Winter Storms

In rural northern Nevada, high flows along the Humboldt River and its tributaries has produced scattered flooding, closed roads and isolated homes over the past 72 hours.  Clear skies and warm temperatures have increased snowmelt from a dense snow pack resulting in high runoff to the Humboldt.  No fatalities or injuries are reported.

Rivers are receding gradually while forecast to remain above flood stage through Monday.  Continued lowland flooding is forecast over the next two weeks and a NWS Flood Watch remains posted until further notice.

State/Local Response:  The Nevada Division of Emergency Management is monitoring events and providing sandbags to local authorities.  Crews of the Nevada Division of Forestry and Dept of Transportation are conducting flood fighting in Pershing and Elko Counties.

Potential Federal Involvement:  All immediate response requirements are being met at the state and local level.  The FEMA Region IX RRCC remains activated at level III in response to recent California storms and levee concerns, and the FEMA Region IX Duty Officer is monitoring. (FEMA Region IX)

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity during the last 24 hours in the Unites States or its territories.

A Major earthquake occurred on Thursday, April 20, at 7:25 pm EDT. The magnitude 7.7 event was located in the Kamtchatka Peninsula of Russia 3930 miles north-northeast of Moscow at a depth of 26.7 miles. There have been numerous aftershocks ranging from 4.5 to 6.1. This is a sparsely populated area, and initial reports indicate only minor injuries and damages. No Tsunami was generated. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, Media Sources)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment #1 effective April 20, 2006 to FEMA-1632-DR- Oregon adds Yamhill County for Public Assistance (FEMA HQ)