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National Situation Update: Monday, January 28, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
There will be rain and snow throughout the West Monday, January 28, 2008 with moderate to heavy snow in the Cascades, Tetons, Wasatch and western Colorado Rockies.  Gusty winds will continue over elevated areas of the West and northwest winds will accompany arctic air into Montana and northern Wyoming.

Northeast
An ocean storm is forecast to slowly abate during the day Monday.  The eastern shores of New England will have gusty northeast winds and light snow

Midwest
There will be strong southerly winds from Missouri to the Great Lakes.  Unseasonably mild air is expected over much of the Midwest Monday, January 28, 2008 resulting in some record high temperatures.  Arctic air is expected in the Dakotas

South
The southern U.S. will remain dry.  Gusty southerly winds will develop west of the Mississippi River, pushing unseasonably warm air northward.  Most of the South will be milder than average for late January.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Severe Weather West, Midwest and Northeast

CA Severe Weather
At approximately 12:19 PST, January 27, 2008, two mudslides occurred in the Valley Center and Poomacha Burn Areas of San Diego County, California.  One slide closed Pala Reservation Road, State Route #78 between Ramona and Escondido in San Diego, and the other closed a portion of State Road #76 near Valley Center.  Approximately 450 to 500 La Jolla Band Mission Indians have been isolated by the mud slides.  No injuries have been reported and no emergency services have been requested, however FEMA and the State of California will ensure that the tribe has first responder capabilities.

Watches and Warnings:
A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect through Monday morning January 28, 2008 for the San Diego County Mountains.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 10:00 a.m. PST Monday, January 28, 2008 for the Greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County, San Bernardino County Mountains and the Riverside County Mountains.
A High Wind Watch is in effect through Monday evening, January 28, 2008 for portions of southeast California and southern Nevada, eastern Sierra slopes, Owens valley, White Mountains of Inyo County, Death Valley National Park, and the western and eastern Mojave Desert.(CA OES Daily Situation Report, January 27, 2008)

Federal Response:
FEMA Region IX has been in close contact with the Pasadena JFO and the CA OES.  The Pasadena JFO activated its Flood Contingency Plan in preparation for mounting a response to any significant weather events in southern California.  There are no requests for assistance from CA.  There are no reports of any widespread damage.  To date, all events have been well within the capabilities of first responders. (FEMA HQ, FEMA Region IX, Bothell MOC)

State/Local Actions:
EOC Activations:
The CA State EOC is NOT activated.  Ventura County EOC is activated at minimal levels, primarily in support of Public Works personnel who are on standby to clear storm drains.  Orange County activated to Level 1 on January 26, 2008.  Department of Water Resources (DWR) Flood Operations Center activated.  CalTrans/CHP Joint Operations Center activated.  OES Southern Regional Emergency Operation Center in Los Alamitos activated.

Evacuations:
Orange County issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents of Mojeska, Harding, Silverado and Williams Canyons.  A mandatory evacuation order for special needs residents (disabled or impaired, special medical needs, etc.) went into effect January 26, 2008.  A shelter at El Modena High School in Orange opened January 26, 2008. (CA OES Daily Situation Report, January 27, 2008)

Midwest Flooding Update
A gradual warm-up is expected, and will likely break up ice jams, which should allow river levels to descend.

Wisconsin
Ice jamming along the Rock River between Beloit and Afton is producing moderate flooding of streets and homes.  Frozen ice across the river is rough, indicating continued ice jam.  Little improvement is expected over next 24hrs, as very cold temperatures will continue.

Illinois
Flood Warning continues for the Rock River at Latham Park, affecting Winnebago County.  Moderate flooding is occurring and is expected to continue.
Ice jam flooding will continue along the Rock River north of Rockford and Machesney Park, Illinois.
Flood Warning continues for the Illinois River at Havana, affecting Fulton and Mason Counties; at Beardstown, affecting Brown, Cass, Morgan and Schuyler Counties.

Indiana
Flood Warning continues for the Kankakee River at Shelby, affecting Lake and Newton Counties with minor flooding occurring this is forecast to continue.  The river is forecast to fall below flood stage by January 29, 2008.
Flood Warning continues for the Tippecanoe River near Ora, affecting Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke Counties.  Ice jamming is causing a rise in river levels along the Tippecanoe River near Ora with minor flooding forecast.

Michigan
Flood Advisory continues for Grand River near Portland, due to ice jamming affecting Ionia County.  Some water is moving with lots of ice in the river through Portland, low areas along the river are being impacted; no homes threatened.
Additional ice jams could form before warming occurs. (FEMA Region V, NWS)

State of the Union (SOTU) Address

The SOTU is scheduled to commence at approximately 9:00 p.m. EST and has been designated as a National Special Security Event.  The National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Activation Team will activate to a level II at the FEMA COOP site from 3:00 p.m. EST Monday, January 28, 2008 until 1:00 a.m. EST Tuesday, January 29, 2008.  The NRCC Watch will transfer operations to the FEMA COOP site effective 7:00 p.m. EST Monday, January 28, 2008 until 7:00 a.m. EST Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

The Maynard Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) System will deploy a Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle.  ESF-9 will place US&R Incident Support Team and three National US&R Task Forces on Advisory status.  FEMA HQ LNOs will deploy to the Joint Field Office/Joint Operations Center (JFO/JOC), National Operations Center, United States Secret Service Washington Field Office Multi-agency Coordination Center, and the Health and Human Services Operations Center.  The LNO in the JFO/JOC will serve as the Federal Coordinating Officer.

The FEMA Region III Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) will activate to level II from 3:00 p.m. EST Monday, January 28, 2008 through 1:00 a.m. EST Tuesday, January 29, 2008.  Region III's Emergency Response Teams-Advance will be placed on Alert during this same time frame.  The MERS Operations Center Thomasville will provide support to the Region III RRCC Duty Officer during the SOTU operational period.

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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)