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National Situation Update: Monday, June 9, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Locally heavy rain and scattered severe thunderstorms will focus along a slow-moving front from lower Michigan to Missouri Monday, with the already-saturated Missouri taking the brunt of the heavy rain.
A few showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast for North Dakota and northern Minnesota.
Highs are forecast to range from the upper 50s in parts of northeast North Dakota to the 90s in the Ohio Valley and Kentucky.
As the front moves eastward, thunderstorms are expected through the Ohio Valley later today and Tuesday.
Northeast
Intense heat is expected for much of the northeastern U.S. on June 9, with only a few showers or thunderstorms bringing some relief to parts of New York state and New England.
Heat advisories are posted from southern Connecticut southward through northern and eastern Virginia.  Excessive heat warnings are in effect for Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
Highs are expected to range from the 70s in northern and western Maine to near 100 degrees in northern and eastern Virginia.
A cold front and strong thunderstorms are forecast to move into the Northeast on June 10, providing some relief from the intense heat.
South
On June 9, Oklahoma, north-central and northeast Texas and Arkansas are forecast for severe thunderstorms.
Scattered afternoon thunderstorms will move over the Florida Peninsula.  Isolated storms will occur elsewhere, but will probably do very little to alleviate the heat.
A heat wave will continue over the Carolinas and Georgia.  Highs throughout the South will range from the 70s in Oklahoma to near 100 degrees in most of the Carolinas and parts of far western Texas.  A heat advisory is in effect for eastern North Carolina.
West
A few showers and isolated thunderstorms will extend from eastern Washington and northeast Oregon eastward into Montana and northwest Wyoming.
High temperatures are predicted to range from the 90s in California's Central Valley, 40s in the northern Rockies and Cascades to around 110 in parts of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. 
The next eastbound storm front will cause seasonally cold conditions across the northern Rockies with temperatures 15 to 26 degrees below average and highs only in the 40s and lower 50s on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Showers and locally heavy mountain snow will accompany the storm.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Upper Midwest Severe Storm Reports – June 7-June 8

Indiana
The storms that began Friday, June 6 and continuing brought heavy rainfall, flash flooding and river flooding that left up to eleven inches of rain in already-saturated areas of central Indiana, resulting in numerous road closures, evacuations, water rescues, power outages and structural damage.  Two fatalities, three injuries and one person missing in Bartholomew County were attributed to the storms. 

The Indiana State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated and conducting operations.  220 Indiana National Guard personnel, including 7 Civil Support Team personnel, are conducting multiple missions including helicopter support, search and rescue, sandbagging, generator support, security, water delivery, and debris removal.  A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Flood-fight Team is scheduled to arrive this morning to provide technical assistance, especially with levee issues.

State and local officials are concerned about the Gibson Electrical Power Production/Generating Plant located in Gibson Co. Indiana at the convergence of the Wabash and White River at East Mt Carmel, IN.  The primary concern is that the levee that protects the facility will be flooded. Plant operator Duke Energy advised officials that a similar flood in March 2008 occurred with no impact. 110, 000 sandbags in place to mitigate flooding. 

The Island Levee in Sullivan County could fail and result in the loss of the only river crossing at this point of the Wabash River for 25 miles south and 30 miles north, adding approximately 2.5 hour detours for cross border travel at this section of the two states.

The Columbus Regional Hospital in Bartholomew County was evacuated and is currently flooded.  Three urgent care centers continue to operate out of the Columbus area; however, some facilities are reported to be without electrical power, and medical resources in the area are severely challenged.

The Johnson County Hospital Emergency Room is flooding but there is no evacuation. Johnson County Courthouse has also flooded and the Owen County Jail is losing sewer service.

Approximately 6,000 customers remain without power.  More than 4,000 customers cannot receive electric service due to flooded conditions at homes and businesses.  Water facilities in five counties are inoperable.  The state of Indiana has reached agreement with Wal-Mart to support all water requirements.

The Governor of Indiana has declared emergencies in ten counties on June 7: Brown, Clay, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Shelby, Vermillion, and Vigo.  Twenty-four counties have been affected by the new storms with a toal of 18 declared local States of Emergency.

The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Indiana on Sunday, June 8, 2008 providing for Public Assistance for 29 counties.

FEMA Region V RRCC remains activated at Level II and is staffed with multiple coordinating agencies including the US Coast Guard, Enviromental Protection Agency, USACE, and ESFs 3, 6, 8, and 10.  The Region has deployed a state Liaison Officer and a member of the Regional IMAT at the State EOC. (Region V, NGB)

Illinois
Severe weather, including thunderstorms, moved across north central Illinois into northeastern Illinois on June 8.  The National Weather Service (NWS) reports six tornadoes touched down in Cook County ranging from EF-0 to EF-2.

Damage assessments are continuing with preliminary reports of 26 structures affected.  There are some reports of minor injuries; however, no fatalities occurred.  The ARC has two shelters open with fifteen occupants.  The state EOC is not activated and there are no unmet needs and no requests for Federal assistance. 

Michigan
Several counties through central Michigan were affected by severe storms and high winds on Saturday causing flooding, and power outages.  Both the City of Lansing and the State EOCs are activated.  There are no reports of fatalities or injuries.

Wisconsin
The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for 29 counties due to severe storms and flooding. 
Flooding is continuing across southern Wisconsin.  The NWS has forecast heavy rainfall for the next 24 hours. 

The State EOC has been activated at Level II, 24/7 operations with a FEMA State Liaison Officer.  The National Guard Bureau has three engineer assessment teams on standby and the WI Dept of Natural Resources will continue monitoring dams and levees. 

Approximately 6,600 people are without power and numerous roads are closed.  There are a total of seven shelters opened in five counties with 68 displaced residents.  Evacuations are ongoing in two of those counties. Two Red Cross Shelters have been opened  in Vernon and Ontario Counties.  Damage assessments will begin today.

Iowa
Major Flooding is occurring in Mason City due to a breached levee along the Winnebago River and continued rain that occurred on June 8.  The Mason City water treatment plant has been shut down and the town drinking water is not potable.  FEMA will deliver 5 truckloads of water per day to Mason City.

Open JFOs and active disaster operations are assisting with flood relief within the local area and a two man team has been activated by the IA National Guard to assist with a Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT).  The RRCC is coordinating with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water pumps to help ease the situation.   ARC has one shelter open with 50 occupants.  There no unmet needs and no request for Federal assistance at this time

Minnesota
In southeastern Minnestoa, the Houston County EOC activated while the Minnestoa EOC reactivated yesterday evening due to the flooding, heavy rains, mud slides, and road washouts that occurred earlier that afternoon.  A FEMA State Liaison is en-route to the state EOC and will arrive early this morning.  A total of 1,200 people were evacuated.  The American Red Cross has one shelter open in Caledonia, MN with a population of 55 (as of 12:10 a.m. CDT Monday June 9, 2008).  There have been no requests for Federal assistance and there are no unmet needs.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.  (FEMA HQ) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
A large area of disturbed weather associated with a broad area of low pressure is centered a couple hundred miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. This system has not become any better organized
during the past several hours and development, if any, will be slow to occur due to interaction with land. Locally heavy rainfall is possible along the coast of Mexico from the Gulf of Tehuantepec
westward to near Zihuatanejo during the next day.
Western Pacific:
Tropical storm activity is not expected during the next 48 hours. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, June 8, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Light (82 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 6
Fire Weather:
Hot, dry weather and a few thunderstorms are expected over the Carolinas and Florida.  Winds will be generally light.  The Southwest, including west Texas, will be dry with increasing winds over the northern portions of Arizona and New Mexico.  Northern New Mexico is considered a critical fire area.
Evans Road Fire:
As of late Sunday afternoon, the Evans Road Fire had grown to 32,556 acres, primarily to the north and east.  The fire spread further into the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.  The fire is still 40% contained and 23 miles of containment lines need to be constructed or improved.  The fire is projected to spread farther east into the Wildlife Refuge over the next 24 hours and its presence will continue to impact Refuge operations.  A State of Emergency remains in effect for three counties and a state-implemented burn ban applies in four counties.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB, TX SOC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1766-DR for the State of Indiana on Saturday, June 8, 2008 as a result of severe storms and flooding that occurred June 6, 2008 and continuing.  The Declaration provides for Public Assistance for 29 counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.  Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.  The FCO is Michael H. Smith of the National FCO Program. (FEMA HQ)