National Situation Update: Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Forecast
West: The storm system that is moving into the western part of the country today will move into the Intermountain West during the day Wednesday. This keeps showers in the forecast for lower elevations with snow in the mountains. Over a foot of snow is possible in the higher mountains - above 7,000 feet - with up to a foot expected between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. Rainfall at the lower elevations should not be heavy, although there are Flash Flood Watches out for sections of Southern California, western Arizona and southern Utah. This storm should move east of the Rocky Mountains Wednesday, while a new disturbance moves into the Pacific Northwest with more showers.
Midwest: Wednesday will be the last of the nice days across the Midwest with mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures in the 50s north and low to mid 60s south. High pressure moves east of the area Wednesday night and a storm system approaches from the Rocky Mountains Thursday. Clouds will be on the increase Wednesday night with showers and thunderstorms anticipated with the storm on Thursday. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe from eastern Nebraska and central Iowa southward to Arkansas. The mercury should climb into the 60s and lower 70s Thursday before the thunderstorms develop.
South: An injection of tropical moisture should expand the heavy rainfall over eastern Texas and Louisiana Tuesday night and Wednesday. Some areas of eastern Texas picked up over 8 inches of rain Monday night, so additional rainfall would lead to a larger flooding threat. The heaviest rain is expected to fall between San Antonio, Victoria, Houston and Dallas. Other showers and thunderstorms are possible from the mouth of the Mississippi River north to the eastern Plains, although amounts there should be lighter. Severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday from the eastern Plains south to eastern Texas as the next storm system pushes through the region. By contrast Florida is in need of rainfall with many areas having had less than one inch of rain this month. The Sunshine State will live up to its nickname for the next few days with very little in the way of rainfall. Temperatures will continue their warming trend with highs mostly in the 70s Wednesday. A few 80s are likely across central Florida and southern Texas.
Northeast: High pressure should keep the Northeast sunny to partly cloudy with mild temperatures through Thursday. Temperatures are forecast to be mainly in the 50s, with a few 40s in the mountains Wednesday and in the 50s to middle 60s Thursday. The next storm system should not reach the area until later Friday and Saturday with showers and a few embedded thunderstorms. (NWS, Media Sources)
Officials Test Alaska Tsunami Warning System for the First Time: Live Warning Part of Tsunami Awareness Week
The NOAA National Weather Service and Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in cooperation with local emergency management offices and the Alaska Broadcasters Association, will conduct the first-ever statewide test of the tsunami warning communications system on March 30 at 9:45 a.m. Alaska Standard Time. Live tsunami warning codes, rather than a test code, will be broadcast on television stations statewide
The communications test will involve NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, the Emergency Alert System, and other state and local communication links. Radio listeners should hear the familiar alerting tone followed by an audio message describing the test, similar to the routine monthly tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
This is a critical first step in testing the entire tsunami warning communications system to ensure the safety of all Alaskans," said the undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "We're confident the results will not only help protect Alaskans from future tsunamis but will serve as a testing model for other states and territories that could be impacted by these destructive waves. We think tests like this will become a standard part of NOAA's commitment to better engage and inform the public as we build a nationwide tsunami detection and warning system."
The test is part of Tsunami Awareness Week, proclaimed by Governor Frank Murkowski. The week coincides with the anniversary of the Great Alaskan Earthquake-a devastating 9.2 magnitude earthquake that triggered deadly tsunamis in Alaska 41 years ago on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. (Source: NOAA)
FEMA meets with Louisiana local officials on Hurricane Evacuation Planning
With two months until hurricane season, state and local officials from coastal parishes are still tinkering with their evacuation plans and determining how much federal help they'll need to get people to safety.
R. David Paulison, acting director of FEMA, met Tuesday with state and parish officials to begin to determine how the agency will assist in transporting and sheltering evacuees. Paulison said evacuation operations improved dramatically after Hurricane Katrina, as residents fled the Gulf Coast in far higher percentages in Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. We want to make sure we have an orderly and very sound evacuation process in place for the hurricane season that begins June 1, Paulison told reporters after the meeting.
Terry Ebbert, New Orleans' head of emergency preparedness, said the city would no longer provide a ``shelter of last resort'' such as the Louisiana Superdome, and will rely on FEMA or the state to come up with shelters where evacuees can stay outside of New Orleans. Ebbert said FEMA will also have to provide transportation, such as rail service to Baton Rouge, to evacuate a portion of the roughly 200,000 people now living in New Orleans. (Associated Press Writer)
Tropical Activity
There are no tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans that affect the U.S. or U.S. interests. (National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a light earthquake Tuesday afternoon in Northern California. The 4.1-magnitude event occurred at 2036 EST, centered five miles east of Ridgecrest, CA, and 114 miles NNE Los Angles, California. The depth was 6.4 miles.
A magnitude-4.1 earthquake struck the Mojave Desert Tuesday about 115 miles north of Los Angeles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The temblor, centered 5 miles east of Ridgecrest in Kern County, occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. at a depth of 6 miles, the USGS said. (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)
Wildfire Update
Current Situation: Initial attack activity was light nationally with 34 new fires reported. Three large fires were reported, two in the Southern Area and one in the Southwest Area. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Arkansas and Florida.
Weather Discussion: Dry weather and low humidity is again on tap for the Southeast as high pressure blankets the region. High pressure will also prevail over the Southwest. (National Interagency Coordination Center, National Interagency Fire Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
FEMA-1633-DR for Illinois was declared Tuesday, March 28, 2006, for Tornadoes and Severe Storms that occurred during the incident period March 11-13, 2006. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Ron Sherman.
Individual Assistance has been designated for Sangamon County. Public Assistance has been designated for Greene, Logan, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott Counties, assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. All counties in the State of Illinois are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Mar-2006 11:46:15 EST