National Situation Update: Sunday, May 6, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Region VII Response to Kansas Tornadoes
The RRCC is in contact with Kansas Department of Emergency Management (KDEM) for incident updates and briefings. FEMA State Liaison Officer has been deployed to the Kansas State EOC.
RRCC is activated at Level II operations, 24/7. ESF's 1,3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15 and DCE are at the RRCC.
Two Mobile Disaster Recovery Center vehicles located at the Fort Worth LC are deploying to Greensburg. A third MDRC has been ordered to act as a Command Center.
One (1) Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle (MEOV) requested from FEMA Logistics for support to Federal Operations to is scheduled to arrive in Greensburg, KS on Sunday at 4:00 am CDT.
The EOV (Red October), 1 MEOV and associated support vehicles will deploy from Denton, TX on May 6, 2007 at 6:00 am CDT.
The FEOV (FIRST) Communications vehicle will travel from Austin, TX to Greensburg, KS on May 6.
Three trucks of water (15,000 gallons); one has departed for a staging area identified by the Region; the other two trucks will depart late this evening.
One truck of MREs (approximately 21,000 meals) was scheduled to depart LC Fort Worth Saturday evening.
One truck of tarps (approximately 2,500) was also scheduled to depart Saturday evening.
Emergency Housing Unit (EHU) staff has been notified to plan the movement of units into the area; closest units in the pipeline are in the Amarillo/Eagle Pass area (within 200 miles of Greensburg, KS).
As of 1:30 pm CDT Saturday, 3 ARC shelters were open in Haviland, KS with 400 residents, Pratt, KS with 500 residents, and one non-ARC shelter open in Mullenville, KS with 115 residents.
On May 5, the Governor of Kansas issued a Governor's Proclamation of State of Disaster for Kiowa County.
The President has signed an expedited major disaster declaration for the State of Kansas on May 6 designating Kiowa County for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. Direct Federal assistance is authorized. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluations.
FCO Michael Karl and an ERT-A team is deploying to Greensburg, Kansas. (Region VII)
National Weather Forecast
Midwest
Due to a slow moving jet stream in the Rockies, severe thunderstorms will make yet another appearance in the Plains for a third consecutive day Sunday. severe weather appears to be in Nebraska and hard-hit Kansas. However, scattered severe storms with hail and high winds may pelt parts of the Dakotas, southwest Iowa, and Missouri.
Flood watches continue from north-central Kansas to southeast North Dakota. Numerous locations picked up between one and three inches of rain Friday and Friday night. One location in eastern South Dakota measured over 5 inches of rain. Similar rainfall totals can be expected again overnight and again Sunday. These rains will provide significant relief from a long-term drought in the western Dakotas and Nebraska Panhandle.
South
Following Saturday night's severe thunderstorms from western Oklahoma to the Texas Panhandle, more severe thunderstorms are expected to redevelop Sunday afternoon in roughly the same area, from western Oklahoma to northwest Texas. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are possible.
Scattered thunderstorms are also expected Sunday afternoon possibly as far east as Arkansas and western Louisiana, and as far south as the Texas Gulf Coast. A few of these storms may turn severe, with large hail the main threat. Locally heavy rainfall from these thunderstorms will drench areas that are quite saturated, namely, in parts Texas. The potential exists for local 1-3" rainfall totals Sunday.
More heavy rain-producing thunderstorms are forecasted well into next week, particularly over the western half of Texas into western Oklahoma. Flooding looks to become a major problem.
Northeast
Rain is forecast for parts of Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and perhaps even southern New Jersey Sunday morning, before moving offshore.
West
Winter storm warnings continue in parts of the Rockies from southern Montana to Colorado and Utah. As of Saturday afternoon, one location west of Lander, Wyoming measured 27" of new snow.
Through late Sunday, another 6"+ of snow is expected primarily over higher elevations of Wyoming, northern Utah, and the mountains of Colorado. To the east, soaking rainfall from 1-3" is possible in far eastern Montana and northeast Wyoming. (NWS, Media Sources)
Other Tornado Activity - Midwest
Nebraska: A tornado touchdown was reported in the City of Springview, Nebraska, Keya Paha County, on Saturday. Preliminary damages reported by local officials include 100% power outages, sporadic communications and reports of homes damaged and destroyed.
Another tornado touchdown with 3" hail was reported at the state owned Wegand Recreational Area. Preliminary reports indicate cabins and trailers at the Campground were totally destroyed. All residents were sheltered from the storm. No requests for Federal assistance are anticipated at this time.
FEMA Region VII is in contact with NEMA for incident updates and briefings. R7 RRCC is activated at Level II Operations.
Kansas: The Osborne County Emergency Manager reported the City of Osborne was hit directly by a tornado Saturday evening destroying a restaurant. There were 11 people reported in the restaurant at the time. Two people suffered serious injuries and were transported to Hays KS for treatment. The remaining 9 people were treated on site and released. The tornado damaged other property in town, and caused a gas leak which is under control.
Oklahoma: Beckham County emergency management officials identified Sweetwater as the hardest hit area. Sweetwater is a rural community of about 50 people and is located about 5 miles east of the Oklahoma/Texas state line and about 15 miles north of I-40. There, a tornado caused heavy damage to the high school, a church and some homes. Damage to some vehicles also reported. State highways 30 and 152 are closed in the Sweetwater area due to downed power lines and trees. Damage assessments continue.
South Dakota: The East River Power Cooperative reports several sections of high-voltage transmission lines and power poles are down near Utica, Tabor and Tyndall, leaving several thousand customers without electricity. The cooperative also says a possible tornado struck the electric system that serves rural areas of eastern South Dakota. Structural damage was reported near Lesterville and Utica, and power was out in some parts of northwest Yankton.(FEMA Regions VI, VII, VIII)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
The State of Kansas has requested a Joint Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDA for Kiowa County commencing May 6, 2007.
The State of Louisiana requested a Joint Individual Assistance (IA) PDA for Monday, May 7, 2007, for Moreland Parish due to tornado activity. FEMA Region VI Human Services Branch is coordinating with the Small Business Administration to staff one IA team.
A Public Assistance PDA will be conducted on Monday, May 7, 2007, for Denton County, Texas for damage consideration under DR-1697, severe storms and tornadoes. (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
Initial attack activity: 149 (light); three new large fires; one large fire contained; 13 uncontained large fires. Area Command Teams committed: one Type 1 IMT and 4 Type 2 IMTs.(NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity
The President signed FEMA-1699-DR for the State of Kansas on May 6, 2007. The declaration is for Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding that occurred on May 4, 2007. The FCO will be Michael L. Karl, National FCO Program. The declaration includes Kiowa County designated for Individual and Public Assistance. Direct Federal assistance is authorized. All counties in the state of Kansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 07-May-2007 08:25:53 EDT