National Situation Update: Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Changing weather conditions are forecast for the Region as a cold front moves eastward through the northern Rocky Mountains.  The Southwest should remain warm to hot Tuesday with temperatures in the 70s in the higher elevations and in the 90s to very low 100s in the deserts.  Rain and snow showers will continue behind the cold front across the northern Rockies and Northwest by Wednesday rain and snow will fall across the northern and central Rockies.  Temperatures along the Southern California Coast will continue to decline as an onshore wind becomes more established.  Red Flag Warning for Arizona, southwest Utah, southeast Nevada, southeast California, Eastern Colorado and New Mexico for dry air, decreased humidity and windy conditions creating an environment conducive for fire. 

Midwest:
A significant warming trend is forecast for the Midwest as high pressure moves off to the east.
Winds will increase from 25 to 35 mph across the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
Tuesday night and Wednesday the gusty winds will shift southeastward to the Great Lakes, middle Mississippi Valley and the central Plains.
Rain is forecast from the Plains into parts of Iowa and Missouri on Thursday.  Precipitation should shift eastward on Friday.

South:
Showers are forecast for the Southeast today.  The storm is likely to produce some heavy surf, rip currents, gusty winds and beach erosion with the worst conditions expected along Florida's Atlantic beaches.  Red Flag Warning for west central Georgia, west Texas and all of Florida.  Dry air, increased winds and decreased humidity creating an environment conducive for fire.

Northeast:
A low pressure system in the Southeast is moving northward and will bring gusty winds, heavy surf and beach erosion to the Mid-Atlantic States and to New England Thursday and Friday.  Wednesday highs are expected to range from the mid 40s over northern New England to the lower 60s over southeast Virginia.Wednesday highs will range from the upper 50s over northern New England to the lower 70s over southern Virginia. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

CURRENT SITUATION
No significant precipitation is expected in the watershed during the next 24 hours.   Flood Warnings and Flood Advisories are in effect for the Mississippi River Valley from Louisiana to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.  River flooding will continue for parts of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys.

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region IV
RRCC Activation Level III 8:00 a.m. 11:00 p.m. EDT (Mon-Fri)
Mississippi

  • EOC at Level III (Partially Activated w/MEMA and key State agencies only).
  • Governor's State of Emergency for Mississippi River Flooding signed April 4, 2008.
  • The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration on April 11, 2008.
  • Mississippi State PDAs indicate 3 home destroyed and 37 homes with major damage.
  • Major/Moderate Flooding:
  • The Mississippi River:
  • Greenville, MS is at Major Flood Stage April 15, 2008.   At the current level, practically all areas between levees are flooded and approximately 50 buildings have water inside.   At 57 ft, Major Flood Stage, Harbor Front road is under water.
  • Vicksburg, MS is at Major Flood Stage on April 14, 2008.   No reports of any damage at time of report.
  • PA and IA Joint PDA assessments completed April 10, 2008.  (Region IV RRCC, Region V RRCC, Region VI RRCC, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Emergency Operations Center, Louisiana Governor's Office of State Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP), Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Texas Division of Emergency Management State Operations Center, National Weather Service, National Guard Bureau, USACE.)

FEMA Region V
RRCC Activation Level III 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri)
Illinois

  • Counties: 19 Counties with Declared States of Emergency.
  • Major/Moderate River Flooding:
  • Rock River:
  • At Moline is at major flood stage and will start to fall below major stage by 7:00 a.m. CDT.
  • Ohio River:
  • Grand Chain Dam is at Major Flood Stage, and will remain steady throughout the forecast until Friday then it will start receding.    
  • Joint IA PDAs have been completed in 12 counties(NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service,    USACE, Region V)

Wisconsin
Rock River:
At Newville is at major flood stage until April 17, 2008, and then it will start to fall below the major stage

FEMA Region VI
RRCC at Level III, 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri)
FEMA state liaisons deployed to state EOCs in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.   Mission Assignment issued to the USACE to provide pumps to address the flooding in Jacksonport (Jackson County), Arkansas.

  • Two Disaster Recovery Centers are opening in Arkansas; one in Norfolk (Baxter County) and one in Pocahontas (Randolph County).
  • IA and PA PDA Teams are on stand-by to deploy to the affected states.
  • State EOC at Level III (Limited Activation)(Region VI SPOT Report, 12APR0).
  • Major Disaster declaration, FEMA-1751-DR, declared March 26, 2008.
  • Two shelters open, population 23.   Homes destroyed/damaged: 161 homes destroyed and 699 damaged.
  • 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)
  • Major/Moderate Flooding Update:
  • White River:
  • The following locations on the White River are above the Major flood stage: Newport, above Augusta, Georgetown, DesArc and at Clerendon.   Starting on April 18, 2008 the flood gauges in the northern part of the state will start to fall below major flood readings.   The flood gauges south will start to fall below major flood stage starting April 20, 2008 thru April 23, 2008 as the flow allows.(NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service).
  • Mississippi River:
  • Arkansas City is at Major Flood Stage; all land inside levee protection is inundated.
  • PDAs are on-going in Arkansas.   6 assigned IA PDAs remain and 3 PA PDAs remain as of April 12, 2008.  (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service).

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. 9 Parishes have declared States of Emergency.
  • Major/Moderate River Flooding:
  • Mississippi River:
  • Baton Rouge is at Major Flood Stage and will continue to steadily rise throughout the forecast period.   According to Region VI, the base line height of the levee is 48 ft and at this time, there is no impact in the area.  (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, Region VI)
  • NWS and USACE assessment that no levees will be overtopped and the river will crest well below the maximum protection height of the New Orleans levees.(NWS/USACE/Region VI)

FEMA Region VII
FEMA state liaison deployed to Missouri EOC.

FMEA Region IX
FEMA 1743-DR-HI JFO closure effective the close of business (COB) on Friday, April 25, 2008

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report.   (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

April 14, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. EDT, 240 miles west of Newport, OR an earthquake measuring 4.3 struck and at 3:50 a.m. EDT.   Another measuring 4.2 struck 195 miles northwest of Neah Bay, WA. There were no reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami generated. (USGS, NOAA, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration on April 11, 2008.
FEMA 1743-DR-HI JFO closure effective the close of business (COB) on Friday, April 25, 2008.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-Apr-2008 08:27:45 EDT