National Situation Update: Saturday, August 25, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Midwest Flooding Update
Nebraska
The State EOC is continuing coordination with counties affected to assess damage. No Federal assistance has been requested at this time.
FEMA State Liaison is in constant contact with the State.
The National Weather Service has been issuing short term Flash Flood Warnings and Watches in these areas due to three nights of thunderstorms composed of periods of heavy rain, wind and hail.
Minnesota
The National Weather Service (NWS) continues to forecast the continuing spread of severe thunderstorms across central Minnesota capable of causing flash flooding for the next several days.
The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1717-DR-MN on August 23, 2007. Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) began August 22, 2007, and are ongoing.
Storms that occurred late Thursday evening resulted in additional power outages across the county.
High winds and additional rainfall caused heavy ground saturation in the area resulting in many trees being up-rooted.
Iowa
The state continues to collect information from the affected counties.
There continues to be severe storms producing strong winds, hail and heavy rainfall causing flooding and flash flooding across central and northern Iowa.
The State EOC will shut-down operations for the evening on Saturday at 2000 CDT and will reopen at 0600 CDT, Sunday, August 26, 2007.
Governor Chet Culver issued a state disaster proclamation for seven Iowa counties.
FEMA Region VII a received a formal request for joint Federal and state PDAs to begin on Tuesday, 08/28/07, for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for the affected counties. There will be four IA and four PA teams participating in these assessments.
Ohio
The Governor has declared a State of Emergency in Richland, Hardin, Crawford, Allen, Wyandot, Van Wert, Hancock, Putnam, and Seneca Counties.
US Coast Guard crews are deployed to Findlay and Ottawa to provide additional water rescue support to the Ohio DNR as needed.
A FEMA Region V Liaison has been deployed to the State EOC.
FEMA Region Vhas been requested to conduct joint PDAs for five counties beginning (tentative) today. Additional counties may be added to the PDA request as soon as areas are accessible.
The confirmed death toll in Ohio as a result of the flooding is one.
Daily temperatures will potentially be above average for the next 48 hrs giving rise to the potential for heat related injuries affecting residents and those professionals and volunteers providing response efforts.
Illinois
The Governor declared a State of Emergency for Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties on August 24, 2007. A local disaster declaration was made in the city of Des Plaines on August 24, 2007.
A FEMA Region V Liaison has been deployed to the State EOC. FEMA Region V is monitoring the situation. No additional Federal assistance has been requested.
One fatality has been confirmed in Knox County. No other injuries have been reported to the State.
The city of Dekalb (Dekalb County) has evacuated 50 homes in affected areas.
Ogle County is evacuating between 30 and 40 homes due to flooding.
Missouri
Missouri Department of Transportation dispatched bridge and road inspection teams to Laclede County where almost all roads have suffered damage.
National Weather Service reports indicate that the state of Missouri may have rain throughout the state overnight and some of these storms have the potential to be severe.
Wisconsin
Late Thursday evening Governor Doyle requested an expedited presidential disaster declaration for the original five major counties (Dane, Rickland, Crawford, Vernon and LaCrosse Counties).
The Region V Administrator and IA Branch Chief will accompany Director Paulison and State officials on a tour of selected areas beginning today.
There have been three deaths reported, according to the Wisconsin EOC.
Oklahoma Flooding Update
Relentless thunderstorms dropped several inches of rain across the state, bursting riverbanks and forcing many residents to evacuate their homes. Heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin left at least six people dead, according to official state reports. Dozens of dangerous high-water rescues were made, including a highly publicized rescue in Kingfisher, OK by an Oklahoma State Police helicopter crew. Flash flood warnings were posted for five Oklahoma counties.
The National Weather Service said abundant moisture interacted with a cold front, resulting in numerous rain showers and thunderstorms across northern areas of the state on Friday. Parts of Oklahoma could see additional rainfall today as a storm system moves through the state.
On Friday, August 24, 2007, the President signed Disaster Declaration FEMA-1718-DR for the State of Oklahoma, for severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred August 18, 2007 and continuing. The declaration provides for Individual Assistance for the counties of Blaine, Caddo, and Kingfisher. All counties in the State of Oklahoma are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
National Weather Summary
South:
A cold front could stall and weaken from northern Oklahoma to northern North Carolina over the next few days before completely dissipating.
Record heat across the South may continue through Saturday as the dome of high pressure remains stabilized over the Gulf Coast states.
Highs are expected to be in the 90's through the weekend.
Northeast:
A cold front from out of the Midwest may arrive Saturday, triggering some severe thunderstorms and downpours. The strongest storms could produce heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds.
The hot, humid air pushing out of the south could possibly combine with cooler air to the north of the frontal boundary and spark strong storms from Ohio to New England.
High temperatures will be in the 80s and 90s region-wide.
West:
Moisture from what is left of Dean may enter into the Southwest this weekend, lowering temperatures to the upper 90s and low 100s by Sunday and triggering a few thunderstorms.
Showers are expected across the Olympic Peninsula and the northern Cascades of Washington over the weekend.
Midwest:
Severe storms should continue to affect the region overnight, with heavy rain and damaging winds forecast.
Showers and thunderstorms should subside across most of Iowa and Wisconsin.
The dry air mass should remain over the Plains and Midwest through Saturday night and should be in place into next week.
High temperatures in the region are expected to range from the high 70's to the low 90's. (NWS, Media Sources)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report.(FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
There are no significant weather systems identified at this time and tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours. ( NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, FEMA Regions II, IV, VI, FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
Individual Assistance PDAs for five counties in Ohio are scheduled to begin on August 25, 2007.
Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for 13 counties in Iowa are scheduled to begin on August 28, 2007. (FEMA Regions, FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 5
States Most Affected: Montana, Idaho
National Fire Activity as of Friday, August 24, 2007
New large fires: 4
Large fires contained: 10
Uncontained large fires: 45
2007 acres burned to date: 6,854,854
Weather Discussion: Warmer and drier in the West. Much of the West will see warmer and drier weather today with an area of gusty winds stretching from southern Nevada to Wyoming. Most of the Southeast will be hot and dry except for thundershowers over Florida. (National Interagency Fire Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
FEMA-1718-DR has been declared on August 24, 2007, for the State of Oklahoma, for severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred August 18, 2007 and continuing. The major declaration provides for Individual Assistance for three counties statewide. The FCO is Philip E. Parr.
FEMA-1717-DR-Minnesota, Amendment #1. This major disaster declaration is amended to include Olmsted, Steele, and Wabasha Counties for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct Federal assistance.
FEMA-1715-DR-Vermont, Amendment #2. This major disaster declaration is amended to include Caledonia and Orleans Counties for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Aug-2007 08:16:33 EDT