National Situation Update: Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:
Strong to severe thunderstorms are forecast for western Kentucky to northeast Texas; some storms may produce large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for southern Florida, but the rest of the South should be dry. Temperatures will be mild to warm with highs ranging from the 50s in extreme northeast North Carolina to the 90s over interior sections of southern Texas, and the Gulf region will be mainly in the lower 80s.

West:
Rain and snow showers are forecast from the Pacific Northwest through the central Rockies. It will be windy across parts of Southern California, Arizona and southwest New Mexico. An area of low pressure will cause cool temperatures for much of the West. High temperatures are expected to range from the 20s in Yellowstone National Park to the 90s in extreme southwest Arizona, with chilly 40s and low 50s in the lower elevations of Washington and Oregon.

Midwest:
Rain and possible severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Midwest from Illinois to Arkansas as a low pressure system moves northeastward from the southern Plains. Large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes may accompany some storms. Some areas could see an inch or two of rain, which could impact flooding in the Mississippi Valley River Basin. Rain and snow showers may occur on the Great Plains. High temperatures are forecast to range from the 30s in northeast Iowa to the 70s in far southeast Missouri, the Ohio Valley, and Kentucky. A stronger storm will arrive in the Midwest on Thursday; rainfall from this system is anticipated to increase river flooding in the region.

Northeast:
The region should stay dry with variable temperatures; parts of western New York and Pennsylvania will be rather mild and coastal areas will be cooler. Tuesday highs will be in the 50s in New England, eastern New York State and along the Mid-Atlantic beaches, mild 60s from western New York southward through most of Virginia. West Virginia may reach into the 70s. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Severe Weather

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from this evening through tomorrow morning, Wednesday April 9, 2008 for a storm moving across the Great Lakes region. Four to eight  inches of snowfall is expected in northeast Wisconsin. A Flash Flood Watch continues through this afternoon for portions of east central Kansas and Missouri due to an expectation of thunderstorms and rainshowers of two inches generally and locally heavier amounts possible. Combined with already saturated ground flash flooding is possible. (NWS)

Mississippi Valley Flooding Update

CURRENT SITUATION
Severe weather moving from the Central Plains across the Lower and Middle Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and upper great Lakes region will produce heavy rain and snow April 10 and 11, 2008. Localized river flooding will continue for parts of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys. Flood Warnings, Flood Watches and Flood Statements are in effect along the Mississippi River Valley from Louisiana northward to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, including parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.

STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSE
Arkansas
The Arkansas State EOC is minimally staffed. Two fatalities have been attributed to flooding. Major Disaster declaration FEMA-1751-DR was declared March 26, 2008; 35 counties are approved for Public Assistance and 11 counties are approved for Individual Assistance. Six PDA teams in the field have completed PA PDAs for 34 of 39 counties requesting assessments. Two shelters are open with a population of eight. Levee and Major/Moderate River Flooding update:

  • Levees:
    • Green County had an agricultural levee breach; one home was impacted.
    • The levee in Prairie County is being reinforced by the Corps of Engineers using barrels and sandbags to mitigate the problem.  They will continue to monitor the levee (Region VI).
    • One section of levee on the Black River at Pocahontas remains underwater; locals may attempt to conduct temporary repairs when drainage permits. (USACE)
  • White River:
    • The USCG reports the White River at mile marker 98.9, previously closed, is now open.
    • Clarendon will hold steady at Major Flood Stage through April 12, 2008
    • Des Arc is forecast to hold steady at Major Flood Stage through Saturday, April 12, 2008.
    • Newport crested at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to fall below Moderate Flood Stage by Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
    • Georgetown is at Moderate Flood Stage and gradually rising. The river is forecast to crest April 8, 2008.
  • Black River:
    • Pocahontas is at Moderate Flood Stage.The river is forecast to drop below Moderate Flood Stage April 10, 2008.

Indiana
The Indiana State EOC is operating 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT Monday - Friday (normal operations). One fatality and 8 injuries have been attributed to flooding. Six counties were affected with 4 declared States of Emergency. Local and State PDAs are completed. There has been no request for Joint PDAs and no request for Federal Assistance. The Patoka River at Princeton is at Moderate Flood Stage and will gradually recede below Moderate Flood Stage by April 11, 2008.

Illinois
The Illinois State EOC is operating 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT (normal operations). Two fatalities have been attributed to flooding. Nineteen counties are declared States of Emergency. US Army Corps of Engineers furnished 3 pumps to Brookport, IL and 4 pumps to Karnack, IL. Three pumps were also provided to Smithfield, KY. USACE also provided technical assistance for the community (USACE)
Major/Moderate River Flooding update:

  • Ohio River:
    • At Cairo is holding steady at Moderate Flood Stage, but is expected to crest today, April 8, 2008.  The first gate was closed at Cairo.
    • Grand Chain Dam is at Moderate Flood Stage and will crest at Major Flood Stage April 10, 2008 and slowly recede.
    • Shawneetown is at Moderate Flood Stage and is expected to crest on April 10, 2008 then fall below Moderate Flood Stage on April 12, 2008. 
  • Big Muddy River:
    • Plumfield crested at Moderate Flood Stage. The river is expected to fall below Moderate Flood Stage by April 10, 2008.
    • Murphysboro is at Moderate Flood Stage, but is forecast to fall below Moderate flood stage on April 11, 2008.
  • Little Wabash River
    • Carmi is at Moderate Flood Stage and gradually receding. The river is expected to fall below Minor Flood Stage by April 14, 2008.

Louisiana
The Louisiana State EOC is partially activated. On March 27, 2008, the Governor of Louisiana issued a State of Emergency from March 24, 2008 to April 22, 2008. Nine parishes have declared a State of Emergency. Levee and Major/Moderate River Flooding update:

  • Levees and Spillways:
    • The New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness is monitoring the flood stages of the Mississippi River and New Orleans levee system; based upon NWS and USACE assessment no levees will be overtopped and river will crest well below the maximum protection height of the New Orleans levees.
    • USACE is considering the use of Bonnet Carre Spillway to divert flood waters away from New Orleans.
    • Bonnet Carre Spillway, located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana.   Bonnet Carre Spillway, located in St. Charles Parish, LA protects New Orleans and other downstream communities by diverting a portion of the flood waters into Lake Pontchartrain bypassing New Orleans.
    • Water continues to seep though the needles of the borrow pit. The protection dike  around the Circle borrow pit developed a 30 ft long breach and it is no longer in operation.
    • There is a small "Potato Ridge" levee across the Fore Bay to the Morganza Flood Control structure. USACE has fortified over two miles of levee and is continuing to provide engineering support. LA State Police is patrolling the “Potato Ridge†levee to prevent vandalism and providing air surveillance to monitor water levels and levee conditions.
    • LA DOT is providing 40 dump trucks to haul sand to sandbagging operations in Vidalia, used to control “sand boils†below the levees.
    • The ring levee surrounding Angola was intentionally breached to eliminate extensive damage to the levee if overtopped. 5,300 acres of farm and pastureland flooded.
  • Mississippi River:
    • Red River Landing is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to continue rising through April 12, 2008.
    • Baton Rouge is at Moderate Flood Stage and will continue rising to reach Major Flood Stage by April 9, 2008, and forecast to steadily rise through April 11, 2008. River traffic and industrial activity on the river side of the levees will be greatly affected.

Mississippi

The Mississippi State EOC is at normal operations (24/7). The Governor declared a State of Emergency for 33 counties on April 4, 2008. There has been one drowning fatality and 95 people displaced. One American Red Cross Shelter is open in Vicksburg with a population of six. 18 roads are closed and/or damaged and Mississippi state PDAs indicate 3 homes destroyed and 37 homes with major damage.

Major/Moderate Flooding update:

  • Mississippi River:
    • Arkansas City is at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to rise through April 11, 2008.
    • Greenville is at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to rise gradually through April 12, 2008.  Areas between levees are flooded and approximately 50 buildings have water inside.
    • Vicksburg is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to continue rising through April 12, 2008.
    • Natchez is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to steadily rise through April 12, 2008.

Missouri
The Missouri SEOC is not activated. The Governor declared a State of Emergency for 70 Counties and the City of St. Louis on March 18, 2008. Five fatalities have been attributed to flooding, and one individual is reported missing. 1,243 homes have been damaged, destroyed or affected, and an estimated 50 businesses damaged or destroyed. PA PDAs are ongoing. All rivers in Missouri are below Moderate Flood Stage. (Region V, Region VII, Region VI, NWS, NSS, NGB, NICC, ADEM, TX SOC, IL EOC, ARC, MEMA, NOAA)

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region IV
RRCC activated at Level III, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT (M-F).

FEMA Region V
RRCC activated at Level III, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT (M-F). FEMA state liaisons identified for state EOCs, if requested. IA PDAs for 12 counties in Illinois began April 1, 2008 and were completed  April 7, 2008.

FEMA Region VI
RRCC activated at Level III, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT (M-F). FEMA state liaison deployed to Texas EOC. Region VI is conducting daily conference calls with Texas and the National Weather Service. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans District is currently conducting levee patrols/inspections along the Mississippi River and providing technical Assistance as necessary. PDAs are are ongoing in Arkansas.

FEMA Region VII
RRCC activated at Level III, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT (M-F). FEMA state liaison deployed to Missouri EOC. PA PDAs are ongoing in Missouri.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The JFO for FEMA DR-1734-WA closed April 7, 2008.
The JFO for FEMA DR-1746-KY is closing April 9, 2008.
The JFO for FEMA DR-1731-CA is closing April 25, 2008.(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 08-Apr-2008 08:32:56 EDT