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National Situation Update: Thursday, March 20, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Current Weather

After massive rains from Texas to Ohio over the past couple of days (more than a foot in parts of Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois), many rivers are in Major-to-Moderate flooding.

Approximately 55 gauges are indicating Major or Moderate Flooding, with some streams and rivers heading toward record crests.

Moderate rain will continue in the Ohio Valley and will end as the rain pushes toward the Northeast and away into the Maritimes on March 20, 2008.  Once the storm moves through the Northeast, the biggest issue behind the storm will be gusty winds March 20, 2008, from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Maine, with wind gusts anywhere from 25, to as high as 45, mph.

Georgia/South Carolina Tornadoes Update:

Georgia
The Georgia EOC is at Level III, conducting normal operations during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT (M-F).

Joint Federal and State PDAs are continuing, with a request for Joint Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for Burke County.

To date, 136 residences with minor damage have been reported in Butts County.  In Floyd County, 17 residences were reported damaged, with 5 residences destroyed, 7 residences having major damage and 5 residences having minor damage.  Small Business Administration teams are currently working with onsite PDA teams.

One shelter, with 24 occupants, was opened at the Central Park Recreational Center in Fulton County.

There have been 2 confirmed fatalities, with one each in Polk and Floyd Counties.  Injuries to date are still listed at 28.  (GEMA, NSS, Region IV)

South Carolina
The National Weather Service confirmed that 7 tornadoes, with 17 touchdowns, intense hail and high winds occurred throughout South Carolina Saturday, March 15, 2008.

To date, 366 houses with minor damage, 89 houses with major damage and 70 houses destroyed have been reported statewide.

PDAs are being conducted by the State of South Carolina, and no requests for federal assistance have been made at this time.

The South Carolina State EOC is activated at Level IV (Partial Activation) during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT (M-F).  (Region IV, SC SEOC)

Midwest Flooding Update

State and Local Response
Illinois
Two (2) shelters are reported open, with a combined population of 43. The State EOC reported 29 people have been rescued because of the storms.

Sixty (60) families have been evacuated in the City of Harrisburg, with an additional 50 families expected to be evacuated.  Also, 14 residents from the Cache Valley Assisted Living Home were sent home with families, while 20 residents were transferred to Libery Village.

The State Patrol District 22 water system is reported down, and 3 bridges have washed-out in Ullin, IL.  Several rivers are expected to crest in the next 24-48 hours, with some rivers cresting at Moderate or Major Flood Stage.

The Illinois State EOC will open at 8:30 a.m. EDT, March 20, 2008, with a closing time to be determined during the day, March 20, 2008.

Arkansas
Two (2) injuries have been reported, with 11 people still missing. The Arkansas State EOC is activated to Level III, Limited Activation, and PDA teams are being placed on standby to begin assessments for the 23 counties affected by the storms.

Indiana

The Indiana State EOC is activated at Level III as of 8:45 CDT, March 19, 2008 for the 4 counties affected by the storms, and is currently operating at a 24x7 status. FEMA State Liaisons have been identified and are prepared to deploy to State EOC.

To date, 114 businesses are reported as either destroyed or with major damage.

Ohio
Due to weather system, 50 people were evacuated in Butler County.  Officials are considering evacuations in Warren County. The Ohio Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated 24/7.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported a Class III Dam in Delaware County has breached, but no damage to the downstream structures is expected. Several rivers are expected to crest at Minor to Moderate Flood Stage in the next 24-48 hours.

Missouri:
The Missouri State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is activated at Level II, conducting 24x7 operations, with a FEMA State Liaison onsite.

Seventy (70) counties are affected, including the City of St Louis.  Five fatalities are confirmed. 774 homes and 35 businesses were affected.

Nine shelters are open, with a population of 139.

The Missouri National Guard (MONG) has activated 20 National Guard Soldiers.

Several rivers in southwest Missouri have crested at record-high levels, with similar crests expected along waterways in southern and eastern Missouri.  Interstate 44, near mile marker 142, is currently closed in both directions.

Federal Response
FEMA Region V
RRCC is activated at Level III for 24x7 operations until further notice. A State Liaison Officer will deploy to the Illinois SEOC on March 20, 2008. There are no requests for Federal assistance.

FEMA Region VI
RRCC is activated at Level III from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT until further notice. State Liaison Officers deployed to Arkansas and Texas State EOCs.

FEMA Region VII
RRCC is activated at Level III from 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. CDT through Thursday, March 20, 2008.
A State Liaison Officer is currently deployed to the Missouri SEOC.

The State of Missouri requested bottled water for the City of Piedmont (Wayne County), and FEMA Region VII will send a truckload of bottled water from the National Logistics Staging Area (Topeka, KS), to arrive March 20, 2008.

A Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1794-DR, was signed on March 19, 2008 for the State of Missouri.  (NOAA, MO SITREP, NGB, NSS, USACE,  FEMA HQ, Regions V & VII, NRCC, NWS)

Torrential Rain Triggers Life-Threatening Flooding

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Residents stacked sandbags or grabbed belongings and evacuated March 19, 2008, after a foot of rain pushed rivers and creeks out of their banks in the nation's midsection.

Record or near-record flood crests were forecast at several towns in Missouri. Flooding was reported in large areas of Arkansas and parts of southern

The National Weather Service (NWS) posted Flood and Flash Flood Warnings from Texas to Pennsylvania. After two days, rain stopped falling March 19, 2008 in much of Missouri and Arkansas.

A foot of rain had fallen in sections of southern Illinois and at Mountain Home, Ark., and Cape Girardeau, Mo., while 6.2 inches fell at Evansville, Ind., according to the NWS.

An estimated 300 houses and businesses were flooded in Piedmont, a town of 2,000 residents on McKenzie Creek. Dozens of people were rescued by boat.

Outside St. Louis, Missouri, the Meramec River was threatening towns including Eureka and Valley Park, where the flood stage is only 16 feet.  A levee completed in 2005 is designed to hold a flood of 43 feet, three feet above the crest forecast for later this week, March 16 - 22, 2008.

The James River was approaching record levels of more than 33 feet above normal at the small Ozarks hilltop town of Galena, west of Branson, flooding a commercial strip and homes near the town.

Floodwaters swept away at least 30 homes from several towns on the James River in southwest Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. Several homes were seen floating down the river.

Widespread flooding in Arkansas had washed out some highways and led to evacuations in some areas, said a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

Some residents of southern Illinois had to evacuate. In Marion, Illinois, firefighters in some cases used their own fishing boats to rescued 13 residents.

Key roads were closed in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, where water four feet deep was reported in businesses in the suburb of Sharonville, Ohio.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2755-TX was issued at 8:30 p.m. EDT, March 19, 2008, for the Encino Fire in the Town of Encino, Brooks County, TX, March 19, 2008.  The fire started at 11:55 a.m. CDT, March 19, 2008, with unknown containment.  As of 5:00 p.m. CDT, fire was 1 mile from homes.  Although structure protection is being provided, 92 residences and an unknown number of businesses are being threatened, leading to possible economic injury.  The Town of Encino (population 117) has been voluntarily evacuated.  Burn bans are in effect.  (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

On March 19, 2008 the President signed a Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1749-DR for the State of Missouri for Severe Storms and Flooding that occurred March 17, 2008 and continuing. The declaration designates Public Assistance for 70 counties and the independent City of St. Louis 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 L. Parker of the National FCO Program.

On March 19, 2008 the President signed an Emergency Declaration, FEMA-3285-EM, for the State of Wisconsin for Snow that occurred February 5-6, 2008.  The declaration designates Public Assistance for eight counties for Emergency Protective Measures (Category B), including snow removal assistance, under the Public Assistance Program.  The FCO is Edward Smith of the National FCO Program.  (FEMA HQ)