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

National Situation Update: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Cold Air and Scattered Showers Moving South from Canada

Midwest: 
The cold front that moved into the northern Plains on Monday will move eastward over the next couple of days.  There will be scattered showers from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley with temperatures falling behind the front.

Strong wind gusts (40-50 mph) are likely for parts of the upper Mississippi Valley and the northern Great Lakes. 

South:  
A cold front in parts of the South but moisture is limited so precipitation will be generally light and scattered.  Most of the activity will stretch from western Tennessee to coastal Louisiana.  There may be a few isolated severe thunderstorms, with hail over parts of southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. 

Northeast:  
Scattered showers over western sections of New York and Pennsylvania later today, are progressing across the region tonight and Wednesday as a cold front moves eastward.

West:  
Parts of the West, especially across the northern Rockies and Front Range, will experience well below average temperatures as cold air continues to move southward from Canada. Most of the northern Rockies will only reach the 20s and 30s for highs.

For Southern California the winds have turned onshore which is good news for containing the fires. 
Morning fog and drizzle along the coast will be a problem.   (National Weather Service, media sources)

Second Round of Flooding Hits Louisiana

Storms drop 5 to 20 inches of rain, flooding homes, schools, washing out roads and bridges and leaving some people stranded in and out of their homes.

More than 400 homes were flooded or damaged by high winds or tornadoes in southwestern, central and eastern Louisiana.

Governor Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency on Friday for the parishes of Beauregard, Evangeline, St. Landry, Vernon, Allen, St. Helena, Sabine, Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis.

The previous week, the governor had declared a state of emergency for 18 parishes because of flooding. (Media Resources)

Northeast Weekend Storm System Update

Maine (as of Monday evening  October 30, 2006), Utility crews from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia arrived Sunday night to help Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. crews restore power.

As of Monday evening, more than 18,000 customers remained without power including about 11,600 Bangor Hydro customers, down from a high of 28,000; and 6,875 Central Maine Power customers, down from a peak of 38,000. Some of the damage was in Hancock County, where Mount Desert Island was cut off from the mainland on Sunday afternoon when utility poles snapped on the Trenton Causeway.  There were gusts of 79 mph in Sedgwick and 70 mph in Cape Elizabeth.

New York had about 9,000 and New Hampshire had 3,000 customers without power.

The Androscoggin River peaked at 13.53 feet (.53 above flood stage), and continuing to recede. Flood warning rescinded. 

Two (2) unconfirmed deaths have been reported.

New Hampshire (as of 7:30am EDT October 30, 2006), PSNH reported 3,000 without power.

Vermont (as of 7:30am EDT October 30, 2006), reported approximately 4,500 without power.

Connecticut (as of 7:30am EDT October 30, 2006), reported 311 without power.  
(FEMA Region 1, NICC,CT DEMHS, ME EMA,  NHBEM, VEM, media sources)

Esperanza Fire (California) Update

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of Monday evening the Esperanza Fire is 100 percent contained.  A total of 40,200 acres have been burned since its start on 26 October. A multi-agency task force, including Federal agents, is investigating the cause of the fire which has been categorized as a case of arson.  A spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported there are still some hot spots on the north facing slopes. All evacuations have been lifted, and Highway 243, which had been closed for most of the week, has also been re-opened.
 (FEMA Region IX, California Office of Emergency Services, NICC, Media Resources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Wednesday.

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

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

Earthquake Activity

As of 11:30pm EDT a 3.6 magnitude (minor) earthquake was reported 6 miles from Waimea, Hawaii. No damage has been reported at this time.   (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, FEMA Region IX)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)