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National Situation Update: Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Moderate Seasonal Showers and Thunderstorms around the Nation

Midwest: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, a few severe, will extend from the Upper Midwest southward through Illinois and Missouri Tuesday. The Plains and most of lower Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky should stay dry.

West: The West, except for the immediate coast, will be hot and dry Tuesday with more record highs likely. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms may occur over the mountains, but rising temperatures will be much more widespread than rising thunderclouds. High temperatures are forecast to be over 110 in the normally hotter spots of southeast California and southwest Arizona.

South: A slow-moving storm just offshore of the Carolinas Tuesday will produce showers and thunderstorms over the eastern Carolinas. Most of the remainder of the South should remain dry, although a few showers and storms, including isolated severe storms, may erupt over Arkansas (northern Arkansas in particular) southward through  Louisiana and Texas.

Northeast: Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Mid-Atlantic from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey southward through Virginia, eastern Virginia especially. (National Weather Service, 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

Current Situation: Initial attack activity was minimal nationally with 77 new fires reported. Five new large fires were reported, three in the Florida and one each in the New Mexico and California. Three large fires were contained, two in the New Mexico and one in the Florida. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

The New Heat Fire, 20 miles west of Coral Springs, FL, has burned 9,500 acres in a remote part of the Everglades and is 50 percent contained. Highway 27 has been closed periodically due to smoke.

A homeowner burning brush near Panama City started a 150-acre blaze in the dry Florida Panhandle around noon on Sunday that led to evacuations and destroyed four homes, forestry officials said Monday. The fire was 90 percent contained Monday afternoon. Bay County commissioners will consider enacting a burn ban for the region Tuesday, Rhea said. Since January 1, more than 3,000 Florida wildfires have charred more than 136,600 acres.

National Preparedness Level is 2 (On a scale of 1 to 5)

Red Flag Warning: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through Tuesday for the Florida Big Bend and eastern Florida panhandle for low relative humidity. (National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, Storm Prediction Center, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1645-DR, North Dakota, was declared June 5, 2006 as a result of severe storms, flooding, and ground saturation. The Incident Period is March 30 to April 30, 2006. The FCO is Tony Russell.

Cass, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Pembina, Ransom, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Towner, Traill, and Walsh Counties and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation have been designated for Public Assistance. All counties and tribal nations in the State of North Dakota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA-1646-DR, California, was declared June 5, 2006 due to severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. The Incident Period is March 29 to April 16, 2006. The  FCO is Michael H. Smith.

Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Madera, Marin, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties have been designated for Public Assistance. All counties in the State of California are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA-1647-DR, South Dakota, was declared June 5, 2006 due to a severe winter storm. The Incident Period is April 18-20, 2006. The FCO is Tony Russell.
      
Bennett, Butte, Harding, Jackson, Meade, and Perkins Counties have been designated for Public Assistance. All counties in the State of South Dakota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA-1648-DR, Minnesota, was declared June 5, 2006 due to flooding. The Incident Period is March 30 to May 3, 2006. The FCO is Ron Sherman.

Becker, Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin Counties have been designated for Public Assistance. All counties in the State of Minnesota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA Headquarters)