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National Situation Update: Thursday, November 9, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West: The Pacific Northwest is getting a break from heavy rains earlier this week but flooding continues along several rivers in western Washington. Showers are expected today but will be brief and will not cause any additional river flooding. Most rivers have crested or are nearing their crest. The exceptions are those below dams which may rise and fall as operations to relieve full reservoirs continue. While the rivers are subsiding, further rains expected Friday and even early next week may bring the rivers back up. In the remainder of the West, slightly cooler temperatures are expected after record heat in Southern California and the Intermountain West.

Midwest: A dry cold front will move south into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest dropping temperatures from the Dakotas to Upper Michigan but producing little significant precipitation.
Record highs were broken in many states across the Midwest yesterday. Today areas south of the front in the Central Plains and Ohio Valley will reach into the 70s.

South: Clear to partly cloud skies for most of the region under a building ridge of high pressure.
A return to more southerly winds will bring above-average temperatures through the remainder of the week.

Northeast: As the low pressure system moves out into the Atlantic the Northeast will be dry in all areas except for the ridge of the Appalachians, coastal Virginia and Downeast Maine.
Highs today will reach into the middle and upper 60s from Washington DC to Southern New England. (National Weather Service, various Media Reports)

Pacific Northwest Flooding

There were 15 river warnings still in effect in Western Washington as of 8:00 pm EST November 8. Of these rivers with warnings still in effect, nine rivers have crested, three are flowing steady at or near flood stage, and three rivers are still rising, although impacts on rising waters are minimal.

The flooding remains serious in both Washington and Oregon, but the State and local jurisdictions have full control of the response requirements. Flood waters are receding and the upcoming weather forecast is for improving conditions. The National Weather Service has stated that additional rainfall in the coming days will be normal for this time of year and will not impact the current situation.

The majority of communities have completed rescue and flood fight activities and are now controlling receding flood waters and are starting their cleanup activities.

As of 10 pm EST November 8, Region X downsized its Pacific NW RRCC staffing to a “Watch” operation and deactivated ESFs 1 and 3. The Region X RRCC will be staffed over the holidays and weekend by a Watch Officer and a Planning Specialist.

The ERT- A stood down as of 10 pm EST November 8, but will remain on alert through the weekend.

The focus of the operation has shifted from response to recovery and incident monitoring.

Impact on Infrastructure:

• Water/Sewage - City of Vader (Lewis County, WA) water treatment plant contaminated. No other reports of significant impacts.
• Electric power - Scattered power outages in WA and OR, but no significant or sustained power losses reported.
• Communications - No significant impacts reported.
• Road/Transportation Status:
• Railways – Empire Builder passenger train is not running from Seattle to Portland. No Amtrak Cascade operating north of Seattle; all Amtrak Cascade Seattle to Portland trains are operating normally.
• A significant number of State and county highways remain closed or damaged in Washington and Oregon due to flooding, and/or mud/rock slides.
  Other Critical Facilities:
• Levees – Damage assessments being conducted for levees in the affected areas.
• Official Casualties/Relief Effort: 2 fatalities, 1 person reported missing.
• Shelters: 17 shelters (364 population) reported in WA, none reported in OR. (Region X, NICC)
  

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Friday.

Central and Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Depression (TD) 19E located about 325 miles south of Manzanillo Mexico has become better organized. The system could strengthen to a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

Western Pacific:
Tropical Depression (TD) 23W is located approximately 777 miles east of Manila, Philippines, tracking westward.  Based on the current warning 23W poses no threat to US territories. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 3:38 am EST a light (magnitude 4.0) earthquake occurred 5 miles southeast of Willits, California.  There were no reports of damage or injuries.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 12:35 pm EST a moderate (magnitude 5.0) earthquake occurred 78 miles west southwest of Adak, Alaska. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 10:13 pm EST a light (magnitude 4.6) earthquake occurred 99 miles northeast of Adak, Alaska. There were no reports of damage or injuries. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center,)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)