National Situation Update: Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Snow is expected in parts of Michigan where one to two inches is expected.  Ohio and Indiana could see rain showers with gusty winds over much of the Midwest.  High temperatures will range from the 20s in northeast North Dakota to the 70s in northwest Minnesota; southwest Kansas and the Great Lakes will be in the 30s and 40s.

Northeast
Snow showers mixed with rain will spread into the western portions of New York and Pennsylvania.  High temperatures are forecast from the 30s in northern New England and far northern New York to the 50s in New Jersey and southeast Pennsylvania.

South
Mississippi River Valley can expect gusty southwest winds.  High temperatures will range from the 50s in the southern Appalachians and the 80s in west and south Texas.  Freeze warnings will be in effect for most of the southeast until 9:00 a.m. EDT.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for today for the eastern Florida panhandle, southwest and south central Georgia and southeast Alabama due to expected long durations of low relative humidity.  Fire Weather Watches are in effect for Wednesday morning and afternoon for much of the eastern Florida panhandle, southwest and south central Georgia and southeast Alabama due to possible long durations of low relative humidity.

West
Rain and mountain snow showers are forecasted in western Washington, western Oregon through Idaho, and western Montana and Wyoming.  Sunny, warm conditions are expected in southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.  Highs will range from the 20s in Yellowstone National Park to the low 90s in the lower Colorado River Valley and southwest Arizona.  Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest will be limited to the 40s and 50s.

Midwest Flooding Update

State and Local Response
Illinois:

  • State EOC is activated 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CDT (Region V)
  • FEMA State Liaison Officer has departed the Illinois Emergency Operations Center
  • Counties:  19 counties declared States of Emergency
  • Fatalities:  2 (Region V)
  • Shelters:  1 open with 11 occupants (IL Incident Report #5)
  • No requests for Federal Assistance.(Illinois SITREP #11)

Arkansas:

  • Arkansas Department of Emergency Management activated at Level III (limited activation), 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Counties:  45 affected with 37 under State Disaster Declaration
  • Fatalities:  1
  • Injuries:  4
  • Missing:  1
  • Shelters:  1; established for a possible evacuation (Region VI Spot Report #9)
  • Joint PDAs scheduled to begin today (Region VI, NWS, NSS, NGB, ARC)

Indiana:

  • State EOC activated 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT (M-F)
  • FEMA State Liaison Officer has departed the Indiana Emergency Operations Center
  • Counties:  6 affected with 4 declared States of Emergency
  • Fatalities:  1
  • Injuries:  8
  • Shelters:  1 with 6 occupants
  • No requests for Federal Assistance (Incident Report #6)

Ohio:

  • State EOC returned to normal operating operations, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT (M-F)
  • Counties:  7 affected with 4 declared as States of Emergency
  • Fatalities:  2
  • Shelters:  All shelters closed
  • State damage assessments continue
  • No requests for Federal Assistance (Region V, NWS, NSS, NGB, IL EOC, OEOC, NOAA)

Missouri:

  • SEOC at Level III (normal ops), 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT
  • Counties: 70 affected and the City of St. Louis
  • Fatalities confirmed: 5
  • Shelters: 3 with 9 occupants (Region VII Incident Report #12)
  • Joint State/FEMA Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) will begin the week of March 25 for Individual Assistance. Public Assistance PDAs will begin the week of March 31.(Region VII-MO Incident Report #12)

Oklahoma

  • EOC at normal operations
  • Counties: 27 affected
  • Fatalities: none reported
  • Shelters: none
  • Flood warnings are in effect for a small portion of east Oklahoma
  • Joint PDAs for PA will begin March 26, 2008(Region VI)

South Carolina Tornadoes Update:

Seven confirmed tornadoes touched down throughout South Carolina late Saturday March 15, 2008.  The SEOC returned to Operating Condition Five (Daily Operations) effective March 21, 2008.  Joint FEMA/State PDAs are complete.  The Governor of South Carolina has requested a Major Disaster Declaration due to the severe storms on March 15, 2008. (Region IV, National Shelter System (NSS), NWS)

Salmonella Outbreak - Colorado

The CO Health and Human Services reported an outbreak of Salmonella in Alamosa County March 19, 2008.  Governor Ritter declared a State Disaster Emergency for Alamosa County.  The state EOC is activated at Level II, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. MDT.  There are now 148 cases suspected, 68 cases have been confirmed; nine individuals were hospitalized; eight have been released. (Region VIII)

A Region VIII Liaison has been deployed to the EOC to monitor the situation.  No Federal assistance has been requested. (Region VIII)

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)

Wildfire Update

Texas Wildfire

  • Texas EOC Activated at Level I, 24/7 (emergency operations)
  • Cumulative fire information (as of 2:00 p.m. CDT 24 March, 2008)
    • Total Acres Burned:  1,026,761
    • Total Homes Threatened:  7,549
    • Total Homes Saved:  7,397
    • Total Homes Lost:  152
    • Total Homes Damaged:  36

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment number 1 to FEMA- 3284-EM-TX was approved on March 24, 2008. Thirty-two counties added for Emergency Protective Measures Category B limited to direct federal assistance under Public Assistance.
The Governor of South Carolina has requested a Major Disaster Declaration due to the severe storms on March 15, 2008. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008 08:31:27 EDT