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National Situation Update: Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South:  A strong storm system over the Rockies will be the main weather feature for the country this week. Strong tornadoes, large hail and damaging straight-line winds are possible with the system.  Tuesday, April 24, 2007 the threat shifts eastward extending from Kansas south through central Texas.

Tuesday night and Wednesday, April 25, 2007 the storms move into the western Ohio Valley and the middle and lower Mississippi Valley.  Thunderstorms are possible across the Tennessee Valley and northern Georgia Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

West:  The strong storm over the Rockies moves into the Plains April 24, 2007 causing a wind-driven rain and snow through Colorado, Wyoming and northern New Mexico.

Over the Plains, the rain along the front range of the Rockies will be changing to snow including Denver and Colorado Springs. Some of the foothills could have a significant accumulation of snow before the system winds down Tuesday night, April 24, 2007 through Wednesday morning, April 25, 2007.

A cold front moves into the Northwest with a few showers along it Tuesday, April 24, 2007 then progresses into the northern Rockies Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Midwest:  Tuesday, April 24, 2007 should begin quietly across the Midwest as high pressure moves through the northern Great Lakes. By the end of the day severe thunderstorms could be moving into Missouri and southern Illinois as the storm system from the Rockies begins impacting the region.

Northeast: A cold front moves through the Northeast Tuesday morning, April 24, 2007 bringing an end to the warming trend.  The cold front is expected to stall across southern Virginia producing showers or thundershowers Tuesday afternoon, April 24, 2007.    (NWS, Media Sources)

Texas Severe Weather Spot Report

Texas Severe Weather Spot Report
As of 11:27 pm EDT, 23 April 07, the State of Texas State Operations Center received an initial report of tornado damages in Del Rio, Webb County. 

The Del Rio Emergency Management Coordinator has reported three possible tornados. 
Damages are being reported from within the Cienegas subdivision along the Rio Grande, and damages to homes within the city. 

One home, in the northeast subdivision of Val Verde Estates, experienced severe roof damage.  Flooding has been reported on US Highway 90 and State Highway 277.   (FEMA Region VI)

Residents Located After Texas Storm

Fifty people left unaccounted for after a tornado destroyed homes in this Texas Panhandle town have been located and appear to be safe, an official said Monday.
The official said the 50 residents likely evacuated after hearing tornado sirens go off through the poor, mostly rural community of 2,500.

Buildings were flattened, power was knocked out to thousands and debris was scattered for miles after the tornado touched down late Saturday. Fourteen people were injured, one critically.

The tornado was three-quarters of a mile wide and tore across 25 miles of ground, including Cactus, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
An Xcel Energy spokesman said the utility restored power to its plant Monday, April 23, 2007, however, most Cactus residents were expected to be without electricity through the day.

About 110 miles south, at least a dozen businesses and as many houses were destroyed in Tulia, another town hard-hit by Saturday's (April 21, 2007) powerful storms, police have said.  (Media Sources)

Gas Release Sends Flame Over Texas Plant

A pillar of fire more than 100 feet high erupted early Monday, April 23, 2007 at an electric power plant after a safety valve opened on a natural gas line and a spark ignited it, authorities said. No one was injured.

Texas Department of Transportation cameras on nearby Interstate 820 showed the flare at the Exelon Corp. Handley plant, which disrupted traffic after it started at about 9:10 am EDT.  The flare happened when a relief valve tripped on a 24-inch natural gas transmission line that feeds the gas-fired plant, said a Fort Worth fire spokesman.

The safety valve worked as intended, but a spark ignited the gas plume, and state and local officials will now investigate where the spark came from.  There were no injuries and a worker was able to shut off the valve after about 20 minutes, killing the flare.   (Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

There were three minor earthquakes April 23, 2007 in California. 
At 12:08 am EDT, a 3.1 quake struck offshore, 19 miles southwest from downtown Santa Barbara, CA at a depth of about 4 miles.  There was no tsunami and there were no reports of damage ir injries.

At 4:11 pm EDT, a 3.0 quake struck 190 miles north-northeast from Sacramento, CA at alost surface level.  There were no reports of damage or injuries.

At 5:30 pm EDT, a 3.1 quake struck the Granada Hills area of Greater Los Angeles (about 21 miles north-northwest of the Los Angeles Civic Center) at a depth of 8 miles.  No reports of damage or injuries.  (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Connecticut - IA and PA PDA's are ongoing. 

Massachusetts - PA and IA PDA's start April 23, 2007.

Rhode Island - Anticipated start day for IA and PA PDA's Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Vermont - Two counties were scheduled to complete PA PDA's on April 23, 2007.  (FEMA HQ, FEMA Region I)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: Light with 333 new fires.
New Large Fires: 12
Large Fires Contained: 9
Uncontained Large Fires:  8
Sweat Farm Road Fire- Ware County, GA:

Rangers and local firefighters improved firebreaks along northern and western portions of fire nearest to Waycross.
Fire lines have been maintained and progress is being made.
Much headway was made in strengthening earlier breaks, and mop up has begun in some areas to cool hot spots.
Containment is at 45%, with approximately 56,000 acres burned along with 18 homes.
Forestry estimates they will need an additional 20 or more miles of fire-breaks built to
assure containment.
All other fires have been contained, but not extinguished. Spot fires must be monitored as they arise.  (Georgia Forestry Commission Wildfire Situation Report #10)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA 1684-DR-PA will close today, April 24, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)