National Situation Update: Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West: The vast majority of the West will be hot and dry with only isolated showers in northern Montana and the eastern portions of Colorado and New Mexico.

Midwest: A low pressure system will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms from the northern Plains southeastward into the lower Ohio Valley and Kentucky.

South: The slow-moving upper-air disturbance that produced downpours on the upper Texas coast and in southwest Louisiana yesterday morning could produce additional precipitation today. With additional rainfall and already soaked ground the Texas Gulf Coast will remain at risk for flooding. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Carolina and Georgia coasts, the Florida Peninsula and parts of Tennessee but for the remainder of the South mostly sunny skies and summer heat will prevail.

Northeast: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast from the central portions of New York state and Pennsylvania eastward.(National Weather Service, Media sources)

Southeast Texas Flooding

Heavy rain beginning June 18 has caused street flooding in Harris County, TX.  Southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana have had up to 11 inches of rain in the last 24 hours.  Currently water is receding in Houston.  Currently all flooding is localized and there have been no reports of evacuation.  As of 11:30 p.m. EDT Monday night, Harris County reported three shelters open (total population 47) with one shelter on standby.  The NWS is forecasting 2 to 3 inches of rain with isolated amounts of 5 to 10 inches throughout SE Texas. (This includes Houston in Harris County.)  The period of heaviest rainfall is forecast to be between 3:00 am and 10:00 a.m. EDT today.  Rain is forecast to shift to the west by tomorrow.  A Flood Watch remains in effect for Southeast TX and Southwest LA.

No fatalities or injuries have been reported as a result of the flooding. 

The TX SOC remains at Level 1, its highest activation level.

Close contact is being maintained with all hospitals in Harris County by local emergency management.  If evacuation of trauma patients is necessary they do not anticipate a need for assistance.

The State is continuing to move resources to the Houston area.  Resources to support search and rescue operations are being mobilized for immediate deployment. The Texas Military Forces (TMF) is activating 2 UH-60 helicopters, 2 CH-47 helicopters, 25 high profile vehicles, 1 Incident Management Team (TMF Texas Task Force Lone Star), 1 TMF Interim Satellite Site Communications System, and the 6th Civil Support Team (6th CST). The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is activating Texas Task Force 1, the Texas Joint Air/Ground Coordination Team, and 7 Swift Water Rescue Teams. The Texas Forest Service (TFS) is activating a 13 person Incident Command Team. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is providing a 15 person Hazardous Material Emergency Response Team and has a full strike team on standby. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is activating 30 shallow draft and airboats. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) is deploying traffic control devices and road barriers. The General Land Office (GLO) is deploying 1 large capacity airboat.

In addition, the State was moving a Joint Air/Ground Coordination Team from College Station to the Houston area overnight.

There is no request for federal assistance; however FEMA Region VI has begun initial planning in the event that PDAs are requested.  FEMA Region VI is maintaining contact with the TX SOC. (FEMA Region VI, Texas SOC)

Wisconsin Tornado

On June 18 a small thunderstorm produced a brief F1 tornado that moved from Rubicon, Dodge County to southern Hartford, Washington County (population 8,200), about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee.  According to news media reports, the tornado damaged a school and about 150 homes and businesses and caused three injuries, but no fatalities.

Wisconsin Emergency Management partially activated the State Emergency Operation Center at approximately 15:30 CDT June 19 to monitor the situation.  One shelter was opened overnight by the American Red Cross and a mobile feeding station was deployed to provide meals for emergency workers and disaster victims.  The Wisconsin State Patrol assisted with perimeter security.  Local EM officials are assessing the damage.

No Federal assistance has been requested, however, it is likely that SBA Disaster Assistance will be requested once the damage assessment has been completed.  FEMA Region V will continue to monitor the situation.(FEMA Region V, NWS, News Media)

Alaska Flooding

Higher-than-normal spring flooding last month damaged homes and infrastructure in several remote villages of Alaska and necessitated the temporary evacuation of about 80 people as well as the rescue of a family that had been stranded by flood waters. 

FEMA Region X dispatched a liaison to the State ECC in Anchorage at the State's request to monitor the situation, and she is now back in the Regional Office.  The Region continues to have daily coordination with the State, and the State is reporting that they are expecting to request a Federal Disaster Declaration.  Region X is prepared for a PDA if requested. (FEMA Region X)

Western Wildfires

National Preparedness Level 3 (on a scale from 1 to 5). As reported June 19, 2006, wildland fire activity was light nationally with 98 new fires reported. Seven new large fires were reported: three in Texas, and one each in Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, and Washington. Four large fires were contained, one each in Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Arizona

  • BRINS FIRE (FMAG 2645)
  • The 3,000-acre Brins Fire jumped canyon cliffs Monday into Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona, Arizona, heightening concern among regional and national fire officials of a protracted threat to several hundred homes and runaway potential in dense, dry timber of the Coconino National Forest.  The Brins Fire started Sunday morning of unknown cause two miles northeast of Sedona. No containment is reported as a Type-1 Incident Management Team prepares to assume control on Tuesday morning and resources mobilize.
  • All of Oak Creek Canyon, more than 400 homes, has been evacuated and 100 homes have been evacuated in the Sedona subdivisions of Rim Shadows, Painted Cliff, Shadow Rock Circle, Casa Contenta and Cibola Hills.  Approximately 300 homes and 60 businesses are reported threatened, nearly all in Oak Creek Canyon.  No structures are reported damaged as of Monday morning.  Two shelters have been established, one each in Sedona and Flagstaff.  Nearby hotels are offering rooms for residents at reduced rates.  Approximately 3,000 tourists have been evacuated.
  • State Route 89A, Sedona-to-Flagstaff, remains closed in both directions as is Road 152.  To the east, Interstate Highway 17, Phoenix-to-Flagstaff, remains open in both directions and is not currently threatened.
  • Daytime high temperatures reaching 97 degrees, erratic winds, five percent humidity, extreme terrain and limited access are hampering containment efforts.  Continued hot, dry weather is forecast long-term with light winds.
  • The Arizona State EOC in Phoenix is activated at watch level 24/7 with support agencies alerted.  The Coconino County EOC is activated 24/7.  Over 200 fire personnel are assigned including four helicopters and 21 engines.
  • A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG 2645) was approved by FEMA Region IX on Sunday evening June 18.  No other requests for Federal assistance at this time beyond Federal agency firefighting resources.  FEMA Region IX will continue to monitor wildfire activity and response.

Colorado

  • MALO VEGA CREEK (FEMA-2646-FM-CO):  This 700 acre fire is burning in timber and grass, 12 miles east of Ft. Garland, CO.  Two hundred primary structures and five to seven historic buildings are potentially threatened.  No structures have been reported destroyed.  The fire is zero percent contained.  According to the Costilla County Sheriff’s office, two subdivisions, Forbes Park and Wagon Creek (approximately 200 homes) are under voluntary evacuation. There is no estimated containment date.  A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by HQ FEMA on June 19, 2006 at 2:40 a.m. EDT.
  • THOMAS:  This 3,347 acre lightning-caused fire is burning in pinyon pine and juniper, 36 miles west of Maybell, CO.  No structures are threatened.  One outbuilding has been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This will be the last report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • TYNDALL GULCH:  This 541 acre fire of unknown cause is burning in timber and grass, eight miles east of Westcliffe, CO.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • Other than FEMA-2646-EM-CO, there is no request for federal assistance at this time.

Wyoming

  • TRACER: This 14,384 acre fire of unknown cause is burning in timber and grass, 12 miles north of Guernsey, WY.  No structures are threatened.  Five outbuildings have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This will be the last report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • BULL RIDGE:  This 1,000 acre lightning-caused fire is burning in timber and grass, northwest of Lander, WY.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • CHEYENNE RIVER:  This 2,000 acre lightning-caused fire is burning in timber and grass, three miles northeast of Bill, WY.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • There is no request for federal assistance at this time.

Utah

  • NAVAJO MOUNTAIN 1:  This 3,350 acre lightning-caused fire is burning in timber on the Utah side of the Navajo Reservation, approximately 35 miles west/northwest of Page, AZ.  A Type 1 IMT is assigned.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  Single tree torching and active fire in the interior were reported.  The fire is fifty percent contained.  There is no estimated containment date.
  • DUTCH:  This 1,760 acre human-caused fire is burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper, 30 miles southeast of Wendover, UT.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  Moderate fire behavior was reported.  The fire is fifty percent contained.  There is no estimated containment date.
  • BUCKSKIN:  This 1,437 acre fire of unknown cause is burning in chaparral, 24 miles east of Kanab, UT.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • WESTWATER 2:  This 2,800 lightning-caused fire is burning in pinyon pine, juniper and grass, seven miles northeast of Cisco, UT.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 18.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • CAVE:  This 3,590 acre fire of unknown cause is burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper, ten miles west of Santa Clara, UT.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 17.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • TUNNEL ROAD:  This 3,200 acre human-caused fire is burning in grass, brush and hardwood slash, one mile west of Elberta UT.  No structures are threatened.  No structures have been destroyed.  The fire was 100 percent contained June 17.  This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
  • There is no request for federal assistance at this time. (FEMA Region IX, Colorado Office of Emergency Management,  Arizona Division of Emergency Management, Utah Office of Emergency Services , USFS Southwest Coordination Center and media reports)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic: No tropical storm activity.

Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea: No tropical storm activity.

Eastern Pacific: No tropical storm activity

Western Pacific: No tropical storm activity. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, 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, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 20-Jun-2006 08:11:20 EDT