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National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West:
High pressure will dominate the west with only scattered snow showers in the Colorado Rockies and rain and mountain snow showers for New Mexico and southeast Arizona.  A frontal system moving in off the Pacific will produce rain and mountain showers in Washington, northern Oregon and Idaho later today. Santa Ana winds will produce gusts as high as 60 or 70 mph in some Southern California mountain pass locations. High temperatures will range from 20s in the higher Colorado Rockies to the 90s in southern Arizona and California.

 Midwest:
A cold front extending from the low north of the Great Lakes to Texas will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms from the Great Lakes to the central Plains. Behind the front rain showers will change to wet snow flurries over parts of the Upper Midwest and central Plains. High temperatures will range from the 30s behind the front in the Upper Midwest and Plains to the 70s across the lower Midwest south of the front.

South:
Most of the South will be dry except for scattered showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast and northern Florida. Late afternoon and evening showers and even severe thunderstorms will develop along the cold front over northeastern Texas and Arkansas.  Highs will range from the 50s in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to the 90s in southeast Texas and the Deep South.

Northeast:
As yesterday's storm system moves off to the northeast showers should end by the afternoon except in Maine. Temperatures will be near to above seasonal norms with highs ranging from the upper 40s in far northern Maine to near 80 in parts of south-central Virginia. (National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Hawaii Earthquake Update

HI, on October 17, 2006, for the earthquake that occurred on October 15, 2006.
As of 11:00 pm EDT October 17, 2006, the FEMA Region 9 Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) stood down from the Hawaiian Earthquake response operations and returned to normal duties.  FEMA 1664-DR-HI operations will be under the direction of the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Michael L. Karl, in Hawaii.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for the Hawaii County.  A cold front over the Big Island continues to push eastward moving the front offshore Tuesday.  A weaker secondary front in the vicinity of Oahu will bring moderate to heavy showers and possibly thunderstorms to Oahu and Maui today.  For the next several days a lingering trough near the islands will keep winds light with clouds and showers continuing the remainder of the week and possibly into the weekend.

Response and recovery activities continue in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.7 earthquake off Puuanahulu in the County of Hawaii.  Over 100 aftershocks have been recorded ranging from 1.7 to 4.4 magnitudes. The majority of damages are in the counties of Hawaii and Maui.  Damaged inventory include structures (private and public) and public roads and highways.  Power has been restored in Hawaii and Honolulu counties.  Joint damage assessment teams comprised of personnel from State Civil Defense, the Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Small Business Administration are conducting preliminary damage surveys. The Hawaii National Guard has 20 soldiers on State Active Duty; the majority of personnel are assisting with damage assessment in Hawaii County.

Chevron and Tesoro Refineries are undergoing pre-startup procedures at their production plants.  Currently, there is no impact on the fuel supply to the public.  On Maui there is limited vehicular traffic on Hana Highway. On Hawaii structural assessments at Kona Hospital and Honokaa Long Term Care Center are in progress.  Kawaihae Harbor is closed and further damage assessments are planned.  The harbor is the entry point for fuel for the Hawaii County (Big Island) and provides deep water access for commercial and military shipping. 10 public schools, two private schools and two charter schools remain closed.

State Emergency Operations Center is activated and operating 24 hours/day.  Hawaii County Emergency Operations Center is activated and operating 24 hours/day. American Red Cross assessing damage in the North Kohala area.  Emergency assistance is being provided to individuals requiring immediate needs.  An American Red Cross Hot Line is available to request assistance statewide.  
The Joint Field Office is operational at Fort Shafter, HI. 

As of 6:05 pm EDT October 17, 2006 NDMS Teams CA-9 and NM-1 have been taken off of Alert Status for the Earthquake in Hawaii.  The respective Team Commanders have been notified (FEMA HQ, Region IX, Hawaii State EOC, NDMS-EOC)

Buffalo New York Snowstorm Update

New York Joint Operations Center (JOC) reports 228 National Guard personnel using 24 vehicles, working on debris removal and delivery of supplies.  A local community center is being used as a shelter for the Seneca Tribal Nation. The power companies report 150,974 customers remain without power.  Representatives from the National Grid anticipate total restoration by October 22, 2006.   There are 7 warming centers and 14 shelters housing a total of 456 people.  Federal Emergency Declaration FEMA-3268-EM was declared on October 15, 2006. 

Texas and Louisiana Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

On Monday, October 16 Southeast Texas and Southern Louisiana received significant precipitation and severe weather. 

Texas - Rainfall has diminished and the concern is with the Houston bayou system and creeks which have not yet crested.  Some minor flooding was expected as streams and rivers crest.  Damage assessments are being conducted with local jurisdiction.  No shelters are open.

Louisiana - The storms in Louisiana resulted in downed trees, downed power lines, and flooding. Roadways and streets are reported underwater.  37 families were evacuated from two trailer parks. Twenty-seven families found temporary lodging.  Ten families were relocated to another FEMA travel trailer park. There are no reported fatalities. No major power outages reported in Louisiana.

FEMA Region VI continues to monitor National Weather Service (NWS) reports.   FEMA Region VI is monitoring the situation and is in touch with the Texas and Louisiana State Emergency Management Offices. (FEMA Region VI)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
Tropical storm formation is not expected through Thursday.

Central and Eastern Pacific:
Tropical storm formation is not expected through Thursday.

Western Pacific:
No significant activity to report. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at 3:37 am EDT a light (magnitude 4.9) earthquake occurred 50 miles north north-west of Chase, Alaska. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at 9:53 am EDT a light (magnitude 4.9) earthquake occurred 80 mile west of Petrolia, California. There were no reports of damage or injuries.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs for IA and PA in 10 Louisiana parishes are scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 19, 2006 for severe flooding that occurred on October 16-17.   (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 1
National Fire Activity

Initial attack activity: Light (74 new fires)
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 2
Area Command Teams: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 0
Type 2 IMTs committed: 0

Disaster Declaration Activity

Hawaii Major Disaster Declared: President Bush signed a major disaster declaration, FEMA-1664-DR-HI, on October 17, 2006, for the earthquake that occurred on October 15, 2006.  Public Assistance (assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities) is designated for Debris Removal and Emergency Protective Measures (Categories A and B), including direct Federal assistance, for the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui, and the City of Honolulu.  All counties in the State of Hawaii are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.
Michael L. Karl has been designated as the Federal Coordinating Officer. (FEMA HQ)