• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Friday, February 24, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Two Storm Tracks Forecast for the U.S.

Northeast:  One cold front will come through the Northeast early, and northern New England could pick up 2 to 5 inches of snow. Parts of Upstate New York and northwest Pennsylvania could also see a quick shot of lake effect snow. Northerly winds behind the front from the Delaware and Hudson Valleys to central and southern New England could gust to between 35 and 45 mph. Tonight and tomorrow, a second area of low pressure and reinforcing cold front will zip through the Northeast, producing a 2-to-6-inch stripe of snow across Upstate New York and both central and southern New England. Much colder air will race in behind the second cold front setting the stage for a windy Sunday with stinging wind chills.
 
Midwest:  Low pressure will zip from the Dakotas to Lake Huron as a cold front heads for Kansas, Missouri and the Ohio Valley. A stripe of 3-to-6-inch snow will accumulate from North Dakota to northern Michigan. Temperatures ahead of the front will be 10 to 20 degrees above average across the central Plains and lower Missouri Valley but falling fast behind the front.

South:  The active subtropical jet stream is causing light rain over drought-ridden Texas and will expand into southern New Mexico, southern Oklahoma and the Ark-La-Tex today. Another soaking rain will develop and shift eastward across the Deep South tonight and tomorrow from eastern Texas and southern Arkansas to southern South Carolina, coastal Georgia and northern Florida. The heaviest rain may be south of the Birmingham to the Atlanta line. Rainfall by late tomorrow may approach 2.5 inches in some locales.

West:  The West will be fairly quiet today and tomorrow with some snow showers lingering from the Washington Cascades to parts of Montana and Wyoming. The weather pattern will change around with one storm hitting the Pacific Northwest late Sunday into Monday and a second storm striking much of the West Coast Tuesday. (NOAA/NWS and Various Commercial and Media Sources)

Avian Influenza - Nigeria Update

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry, confirmed at a commercial farm in Kaduna State, Nigeria on 8 February, has now spread to commercial farms in several other contiguous states. No human cases have been detected to date.

Nigerian officials have confirmed outbreaks at commercial farms in the states of Kano, Plateau, Katsina, and Bauchi, and in the Abuja area. Outbreaks have also been detected at more farms in Kaduna. Outbreaks in additional states are currently under investigation.

The scale of the outbreak in birds is not yet fully understood. Most investigations have followed poultry deaths on large commercial farms, where outbreaks are highly visible. Little is known about the presence of the virus in small backyard flocks, where the greatest risk of human exposures and infections resides.

Nigeria has an estimated poultry population of around 140 million birds, largely concentrated in the southwestern part of the country. As is the case in several affected parts of Southeast Asia, around 60% of Nigeria's poultry production takes place in small backyard flocks. Large-scale commercial farming of poultry occurs mainly in the northern states, where outbreaks have been confirmed.

Rapid spread of the virus within Nigeria has raised concern over possible spread to neighbouring countries. Borders are porous and restrictions on the movement of people and poultry are difficult to enforce. WHO staff at offices in these countries are monitoring the situation closely in collaboration with government officials. Rumours of possible human cases in neighbouring countries are also being closely monitored.  (World Health Organization)

Early fire alert at Arizona national forests

The earliest fire restrictions ever for Arizona's national forests are now in effect along the Mogollon Rim.  Concerns about wildfire, highlighted by one of Arizona's earliest major fires ever, prompted the restrictions in three national forests.  The "February" fire, which started at an abandoned campfire atop the Rim on Feb. 6, burned more than 4,000 acres before it was brought under control 10 days later. The Rim, a prominent line of cliffs that cuts across north-central Arizona, has been the site of some of the state's biggest wildfires, including the "Rodeo-Chedeski" fire, which burned 468,000 acres in June 2002.

Officials have been concerned for months that drought conditions, lack of rain and snow and an abundance of dry fuels could result in the worst fire season in memory.  While Arizona wildfires have either struck in the high or low country in past years, experts expect them to occur in both climates this year.  On Wednesday, Gov. Janet Napolitano declared a state of emergency, freeing up $200,000 for planning efforts for battling the blazes.

The fire restrictions that took effect Thursday, including limited closures, cover the 42-mile length of Forest Road 300, atop the Rim, south to Forest Road 64, which runs along the base of the Rim.

Three national forests are involved: Coconino and Tonto on the west side, and Apache-Sitgreaves on the east.  The restrictions ban campfires, charcoal fires and smoking except in specific developed campgrounds.

The Tonto National Forest also restricts chainsaw use, welding, operating machinery without spark arresters and discharge of firearms, except by licensed hunters.  Stoves, lanterns and heaters using propane or other fuels are allowed.  The restrictions affect the parts of Arizona's forested high country that receive the earliest and heaviest recreational use.  Officials say as spring draws near, further restrictions are likely.  (Media Sources)

Volcano Activity

A minor earthquake occurred at 10:10 am EST on Thursday, February 23, 2006. The magnitude 3.2 event has been located 74 miles west-northwest from Sacramento, CA. The depth was estimated to be 3 miles. No damage or injuries were reported.

A minor earthquake occurred at 04:45 am EST on Thursday, February 23, 2006. The magnitude 3.0 event has been located 25 miles southwest from Hilo,on the Island of Hawaii. The depth was estimated to be  4 miles. No damage or injuries were reported. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program).

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A minor earthquake occurred at 10:10 am EST on Thursday, February 23, 2006. The magnitude 3.2 event has been located 74 miles west-northwest from Sacramento, CA. The depth was estimated to be 3 miles. No damage or injuries were reported.

A minor earthquake occurred at 04:45 am EST on Thursday, February 23, 2006. The magnitude 3.0 event has been located 25 miles southwest from Hilo,on the Island of Hawaii. The depth was estimated to be  4 miles. No damage or injuries were reported. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program).

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1628-DR  Amendment No. 1 was posted February 23, 2006.  The amendment  added El Dorado, Nevada , and Shasta Counties for Individual Assistance and Alameda County for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)