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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 12, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A frontal system moving ashore will bring rain to lower-elevations and mountain snow from Northern California to Washington.  Snow levels along the West Coast will range from 3,000 feet in the Washington Cascades to 4,000 feet in the Siskiyou and Mount Shasta area of northern California.
Tomorrow the Pacific Northwest could get a break from precipitation but snow showers will spread into the Rockies and the high Plains of New Mexico.  A weak to moderate Santa Ana wind event could develop tomorrow for Southern California and linger into early week.

Midwest:
A frontal system dropping into the upper Midwest will produce light snow over the northern Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes.  A second low pressure system will produce light showers Missouri and Arkansas and Oklahoma.  Flood warnings remain in effect for Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.  Some areas, particularly along larger rivers, will remain in flood stage through Tuesday. 
Temperatures are returning to seasonal norms but a significant outbreak of arctic air is likely across most of the Region next week.

South:
High pressure centered over Kentucky will produce dry weather over much of the Region but a cold front stalled across the northern Gulf to the Carolinas will produce a few showers from the Florida Peninsula to South Carolina. A disturbance aloft will cause a few showers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.  Temperatures will remain above average through the weekend.

Northeast:
With high pressure ridging in from the south, most of the region will be cool and dry.  There will be some lake effect snow east of the Great Lakes.  High temperatures will range from the 30s in New England to the 40s in Virginia.  A developing low along the front extending from the Atlantic across Florida will affect the Region by tomorrow evening. Depending on the exact track of the storm, New York City and New England may see a significant snowfall. (NWS, Media Sources)

Midwest Severe Weather Update

FEMA Region V has identified members for Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams to respond if any States request assistance.

Wisconsin
The Governor declared a State of Emergency on January 8, 2008 for Kenosha County.  Emergency Management is reporting 46 residential structures with minor damage, 32 with major damage and 27 destroyed.  There are 160 residences displaced; 15 injuries and 0 fatalities.

Indiana
The Emergency Operations Center will be partially activated through the weekend.  The State Liaison Officer will remain at the Indiana State EOC until 1200 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2008.  Flood Emergencies have been declared for both Oakdale and Norway dams.  The State has not declared any State Disaster Areas, however; local emergencies have been declared for Fulton, White, Pulaski, Elkhart, Jasper and Carroll counties.  Two members of the Chicago FIRST Team deployed to Pulaski County traveled to Elkhart, White and Carroll Counties on Friday, January 11, 2008 to conduct field operations with local Emergency Management officials. 

There have been evacuations of approximately 100 people as of January 10, 2008 with additional evacuations on January 11, 2008 due to an unexpected rise of one foot in local river level.  County officials in Buffalo are conducting controlled releases of dams on Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman Northern Indiana  Public Service Company will be turning off power and gas to over 45 homes not yet evacuated.  Indiana Dept of Homeland Security reports 10 shelters open with 56 evacuees.  Three fatalities were contributed to flood waters.  There have been no requests for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA  Region V & IDHS)

Illinois
The EOC deactivated Friday, 11 January, 2008.  The Governor declared Livingston and Iroquois counties State Disaster Areas.  Emergency Management has confirmed two flood related fatalities.
NSS is reported two shelters open with 81 evacuees.  Emergency Management will begin conducting State level damage assessments on January 14, 2008.  Flood warnings remain in effect for rivers in east-central Illinois through Saturday, 12 January, 2008.  There have been no requests for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA, Region V)

Ohio
The National Weather Service has issued Flood Warnings for 14 counties.  ARC is caring for evacuees.  No injuries reported.  There have no requests for Federal Assistance at this time.(FEMA Region IV, NOAA)

Southeast Region Tornado Activity Update

A storm system produced a significant, severe weather outbreak (mainly impacting Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee) on Thursday, January 10, 2008.  The storms produced at least 10 likely tornadoes, over 100 reports of wind damage and large hail across the four southern region states on January 10, 2008.  No fatalities have been reported as of this time, but at least 18 injuries have occurred, 10 of these serious.

STATE and LOCAL RESPONSE
Mississippi:
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has deployed a SERT Team, consisting of MEMA personnel, Mobility Operations and generators to Lowndes County.  Damage from multiple tornadoes; destruction of elementary school gymnasium, several homes including mobile homes damaged or destroyed and heavy damage to a dairy barn.  Sixteen injuries occurred, eight serious; three children from the elementary school injured, not seriously.  No Federal Assistance has been requested at this time.  (FEMA Region IV)

Alabama:
Numerous additional reports of minor structural damage, power line damage, and downed trees were reported across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee on January 10, 2008.  Two homes and two other structures were destroyed.  Most of this damage was caused by straight line winds, but a number of tornadoes will likely be confirmed once WFO surveys are completed.  One injury reported.
No Federal assistance has been requested at this time. (FEMA Region IV)

FEMA Regional Response
FEMA Region IV RRCC reports that all regional states have been contacted, and there are no requests for Federal assistance at this time.  RRCC will continue to monitor this situation, and will report any additional information, as necessary.  State Liaison Officers are en route to the Alabama and Mississippi EOCs at this time. (Region IV)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDA's in Missouri and Kansas are ongoing.  (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1739-DR, for severe winter storms in Nebraska December 10-12, 2007.  Eight counties are eligible for Public Assistance and all counties in the State of Nebraska are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The FCO is Justo Hernandez.  (FEMA HQ)

Washington:  Amendment # 7:  FEMA-1734-DR-WA. The FCO for this disaster has been changed to Willie G. Nunn. (FEMA HQ)