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National Situation Update: Saturday, July 1, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:  Thunderstorms are forecast, especially from southeast Minnesota to Michigan. A few of these storms may become severe with large hail and damaging winds. By early next week, another front will push even farther south into the central Plains, mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley with numerous thunderstorms.

Northeast:  Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible from the lower Great Lakes to New England. Some thunderstorms will be strong with hail, gusty winds and locally heavy rain. Another round of showers and thunderstorms are forecast on Monday and Tuesday. Although this rain will be lighter, some small stream and urban flooding may occur over parts of southern New York and Pennsylvania.

South:  Rain and thunderstorms are forecasted across parts of southern Texas. Scattered flooding is possible this weekend from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Hill Country. Meanwhile, tropical moisture from the Atlantic could affect coastal areas of Florida and Georgia later in the weekend.

West:  Thunderstorms are possible this weekend across the Cascades and Sierra, Great Basin, Rockies and high Plains. Some of the thunderstorms may produce strong wind gusts and lightning will remain a constant new fire threat. This overall pattern should last well into next week. (NWS,  Media Sources)

FEMA Region III Flooding Update

General RRCC
The RRCC is at a Level 2 Activation. Hours of operation and FEMA staffing levels will remain the same. ESFs 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11 are on standby.

Delaware:
Regional staff is coordinating with the state on a draft declaration request for major disaster.

Maryland:
The current condition of the Needwood Dam indicates that the situation has stabilized. While the situation is not completely resolved it has been determined that the residents who utilize reasonable safety measures may return to their homes.

Pennsylvania:
Severe flooding continues in various locations in the Commonwealth.

The number of evacuees from Yardley is approximately 700 and New Hope is 500. 

Red Cross reports 9 shelters open.

Willow Grove staging area is receiving commodities for 50,000 people for three days.

All of the major rivers have crested and water levels are receding, though flooding persists in certain areas of Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth reported nine deaths.  The State Medical Examiner has not released final determination if these deaths are flood related.

Virginia: 
The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) remains on a Response Operations Status. (FEMA Region III, PEMAEOC, media reports)

Region II Flooding Update

New York
4,600 people have been evacuated from Binghamton.

Multiple road and bridge closures exist in affected areas, conditions are improving.

The Joint National Guard Bureau reports 280 National Guardsmen are in flood support roles in the State.

New Jersey
The Red Cross reports 4 open shelters housing 31 people.

State offices remained closed to all but essential staff on June 30, 2006.

The water works filtration plant on Route 29 in Trenton remains off-line due to turbidity level of the water. DEP estimates are that there is enough potable water in reserve to last 24 hours.

Electric and gas service is being cut by utility companies to flooded areas for safety. The number of customers affected continues to change.

Inspections of the closed bridges were initiated on June 30th. (FEMA Region II, NYEOC, media reports)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic: No tropical storm activity.
Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:  No tropical storm activity.
Eastern Pacific: No tropical storm activity.

Western Pacific: Tropical depression (td) 04w was located approximately 180 nm south of Yap, and had tracked west-northwestward at 8 knots over the previous six hours. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 30 knots gusting to 40 knots. The storm is moving away from any U.S. interests. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDA teams are anticipated to start IA in Pennsylvania on Sunday, July 2, 2006 through the end of next week.  PA PDA teams are anticipated to start on July 10th, but may begin sooner.

PDAs are anticipated to begin in the Commonwealth of Virginia on July 5, 2006

PDAs ongoing in the State of Maryland for IA and PA

PDAs in the State of Delaware for IA and PA are complete.

Expedited joint PDAs began on June 30th in New York and New Jersey. (FEMA )

Wildfire Update

BULL COMPLEX:  This 12,000 acre complex of lightning-caused fires (including the Bull, Gold and Lost Peak Fires) is burning 25 miles northwest of St. George, Utah.  A Type 1 Incident Management Team (IMT) will assume command on June 30, 2006.  Fifty primary structures and 20 outbuildings are potentially threatened in the community of Motoqua and the fires could pose a threat to the community of Enterprise, the Goldstrike Mine and surrounding campground areas.  No structures have been destroyed.  Very active fire behavior, with running, long-range spotting and crowning was observed.  The fire is zero percent contained.  The estimated date for full containment is unknown.

Initial attack activity was moderate nationally with 230 new fires reported. Five new large fires were reported, two each in the Eastern Great Basin and Southwest Areas and one in the Southern Area. Nine large fires were contained, two each in the Western Great Basin, Southern and Northwest Areas, and one each in the Southern California, Northern California and Eastern Great Basin Areas.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota.   (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1649-DR-PA was declared June 30, 2006, for severe storms, flooding, and mudslides. The incident period is June 23, 2006, and continuing. The FCO is Tom Davies.

On June 30, 2006, the Governor of Virginia submitted a request for a major disaster declaration, as a result of severe storms, heavy rains, hail, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on June 23, 2006, and continuing.  The Governor is requesting Individual Assistance for six counties and two independent cities, Public Assistance for eight counties and two independent cities, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

On June 30, 2006, the Governor of Ohio submitted a request for a major disaster declaration as a result of severe storms and flooding during the period of   June 21-23, 2006.  The Governor is requesting Individual Assistance for six counties and Hazard Mitigation for all counties within the State.

On June 30, 2006, the Governor of Maryland submitted a request for a major disaster declaration as a result of severe storms, flooding, sinkholes, and tornadoes beginning on June 22, 2006, and continuing.  The Governor is requesting Public Assistance for Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, and Montgomery Counties, as well as, Hazard Mitigation for the entire State.

On June 30, 2006, the Governor of New York submitted an expedited major disaster declaration as a result of severe storms and flooding beginning on June 26, 2006, and continuing.  The Governor is requesting Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for 13 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

On June 27, 2006, the Governor of Alaska submitted a request for a major disaster declaration as a result of excessive snow melt and ice jam flooding. The Governor is requesting Public Assistance for seven Regional Education Attendance Areas (REAAs) and the North Slope Borough, and Hazard Mitigation Statewide. (FEMA HQ)