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National Situation Update: Sunday, March 5, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Relative Weekend Calm Before A Stormy Week Ahead

West:  The next Pacific storm is poised to slide ashore along the northern California and Oregon coasts today. Winter storm watches and warnings have already been posted in the Sierra, Siskiyous, and coastal ranges of northern California. Rain and heavy mountain snow should slowly work southward into central California by this evening. High wind watches have been posted in the Bay Area, where gusts over 50 mph are possible. Gusts over the Sierra ridgetops could approach 100 mph later today, producing whiteout conditions at times.

While the heaviest precipitation will be over California, rather persistent light rain and mountain snow will be the rule in Washington and Oregon, mainly from the Cascades to the coast.

Midwest:  While the region isn't dealing with any major storms this first weekend of March, much of the precipitation this morning will be rain, from Iowa & western Illinois to Misouri. To the north, wet snow and a little sleet or freezing rain is possible from Minnesota to Wisconsin and northern Illinois. A wet, slushy 1-3" of snow can be expected from Minnesota to northern Indiana, including Chicagoland. The snow should weaken tonight, but may deposit a dusting in Michigan and Ohio.

Northeast:  Periods of snow are expected to continue through today in the Green and White Mountains, as well as the Adirondacks, thanks to moist northwest winds lifted by the high terrain. Despite this scenario, winds should be a tad lighter and temperatures a touch less cold in the region..

South:  A weak upper-air disturbance may trigger some scattered thundershowers over parts of the Southern Plains early today. A few stray storms are possible again in Arkansas and Tennessee and a significant episode of strong thunderstorms could rumble across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valleys by mid-late next week.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Three Rescued From W.Va. Power Plant Fire

Emergency crews made a daring rescue last night when they airlifted three workers trapped atop an 800-foot smokestack after a fire broke out at the American Electric Power plant near Moundsville.

A Maryland State Police helicopter crew experienced with air rescue missions was called in to assist with the rescue effort. The three workers, who were wearing safety harnesses and were not seriously injured, were hoisted around 10 p.m., after being trapped for two hours.
 
The fire occurred at AEP's Kammer-Mitchell plant about six miles south of Moundsville.
Marshall County Sheriff John Gruzinskas said that the three men who were rescued had been working on scaffolding at the top of the concrete smokestack when the fire started inside.  It was unclear last night what caused the blaze, which was contained inside the structure.

The smokestack was under construction as part of an upgrade to bring the coal-fired power station into compliance with federal air pollution regulations. The trapped men were working as private contractors who had been hired to install fiberglass lining inside the smokestack.

Because the West Virginia Air National Guard and State Police are not trained in making aerial rescues, the Maryland State Police had to be called in for help.  Maryland's crew had a rescue basket and other equipment that they just bought a week or so ago.  The fire was still burning as of midnight and officials at the scene were debating early this morning whether to let it blaze burn itself out.  (Media Sources)

California Levee Status Update

• To date, contingency planning efforts have identified the following specific concerns for the City of Sacramento's pocket area:
   
  Geography: Deep flood potential from a break in various levees protecting the city; flood waters approximately 15 feet deep.
• Levees: Pocket levees create a sink and can accumulate flood waters if levees in other areas break; four (4) critical sites adjacent to the pocket and one directly north near downtown.
• Population: Over 36,000 residents potentially affected in the pocket; from anecdotal evidence, a large portion of this population is elderly.
• Damage Cost: Median property value in 2000 was $186,000, which has risen since that time.
• Resources: Only one (1) fire and police station in the pocket area.
• Transportation: Minimal access routes; I-5 potentially inundated in flooding situation
• Rescue & Evacuation: Levee break will require search and rescue; other breaks will create a need for evacuation.

Response from the City of Sacramento to 15 point questionnaire identifies potential gaps and resource shortfalls as follows:

• Need for greater integrated State and local regional evacuation and mass care and shelter planning, including CA OES assistance with policy decision on a concept of operations from CHP and Caltrans on regional evacuation plan, i.e. contra flow. 
• Need for a comprehensive listing of State resources that would be available to assist local government with evacuation and mass care and shelter operations. 
• Need for pre-designated staging areas, including Federal installations and facilities (e.g. McClellan & Mather airfields, Travis AFB) and warehouse space located in or near Sacramento for food and water commodities.
• Need for additional US&R Swift water assets in the region, i.e. more boats (10 minimum). 
• More detailed transportation studies to better determine evacuation times for the areas under flood threat.
• More bus drivers and additional buses. 
• Additional training and/or access to command and control resources, such Incident Management Teams trained and experienced in all hazards response. 

Meanwhile, outreach and planning continues with remaining tier 1 communities in Sacramento and Yolo counties, along with tier 2 communities in Solana, Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties.  (FEMA Region IX)

Volcano Activity

Unrest continues at Augustine (Alaska) Volcano. Seismicity remains above background. The number of small avalanches and rock falls have increased in the last day and small ash emissions extending several thousand feet above the volcano's summit were observed.  The current Color Code for Augustine is ORANGE.

Korovin (Alaska) Volcano activity remains slightly above background. There are no indications that an eruption is imminent. The current Color Code for Korovin is YELLOW.

The color code for Mount Veniaminof (Alaska) has been upgraded to YELLOW. Low-level ash emissions were observed coming from the cone of Mount Veniaminof. There are no indications from seismic data that a significantly larger eruption is imminent.

Steam and ash emissions may continue intermittently for days to weeks and could pose a hazard to people and low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the active cone.  (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

Tropical Storm 01W is moving northwest at about 9 mph, and is expected to turn to a more westerly track at about the same speed over the next 24 hours.  This forecast track would take Tropical Storm 01W between Koror and Kayangel early Monday morning (local time). It is located about 190 miles south of Yap.  Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 40 mph and maximum wave heights are 12 feet. Tropical Storm 01W is expected to maintain this intensity over the next 12 hours. There are no other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A minor earthquake (magnitude 3.2) struck approximately 75 miles southwest from Portland, Oregon at 12:38 pm EST. No reports of damages or injuries.

Two minor earthquaks (magnitude 3.8 and 3.1) struck approximately 6 miles west to west-southwest from Volcano, Hawaii at 8:41, and 8:45 pm EST. No reports of damages or injuries.

There was no other significant earthquake activity during the previous 24 hours that affected the U.S. or U.S. interests.  (USGS Earthquake Hazards Program ,NOAA West Coast and Pacific Tsunami Warning System )

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)