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National Situation Update: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Most of the West will be dry with mild temperatures.  Fog and low clouds will blanket portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Cedar River near Landsburg (affecting King County) and the Chehalis River at Porter (affecting Grays Harbor County) in Washington.  Moderate Santa Ana winds are forecast for Southern California throughout the day.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8:00 p.m. PST Friday for the Ventura and Los Angeles County mountains as well as the Santa Monica range due to gusty northeast winds and low humidity.  A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 4:00 p.m. PST today, for northeast Washington, Oregon and portions of northern Idaho.  Visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile.
Midwest:
A fast moving storm system will bring gusty winds and snow to the Midwest and Lower Great Lakes today.  Parts of northern Illinois, southern Michigan and much of Indiana and Ohio could get up to four inches.  Blizzard Warnings are posted for eastern Iowa and northern Illinois until noon today. 
A Wind Chill Warning remains in effect until 12:00 p.m. CST Wednesday for portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.  Northerly winds will combine with cold temperatures to produce wind chills to 50 degrees below zero through Wednesday morning.  Flood Warnings remain in effect at several points along the Illinois River.  River levels are receding and are expected to fall to minor flooding by Friday.
South:
Most of the region is forecast to be chilly and dry.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 6:00 p.m. EST Wednesday for southeast Alabama, southwest and south-central Georgia and the eastern Panhandle and Big Bend of Florida due to expected long durations of low relative humidity.  Flood Warnings remain in effect along rivers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.  Though levels are falling at all gauges, moderate flooding continues on the Big Black River in Mississippi, the Pearl River in Louisiana and the Tombigbee River in Alabama.
Northeast:
The Northeast will be dry and chilly during the day, but snow is forecast to move in later tonight.
A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for snow and blowing snow across the entire Champlain Valley and the remainder of Vermont until 3:00 am EST today.  (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Pacific Northwest Flooding:

As of January 13th at 8:00 p.m. PST, the NWS and Northwest River Forecast Center reported two river gauges that are above Flood Stage in Washington State; both rivers are at Minor Flood stage and are expected to fall below flood stage by this afternoon.  (NWS)

FEMA RRCC Actions:

• Region X RRCC activated at Level III
• The Washington State EOC is at Phase III, 24/7 operations
• All ESF's demobilized as of January 12th
• Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Teams deployed on January 12th and began assessing damage today
• Two Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) requested by the State are expected to arrive January 15, 2008.
• No fatalities or injuries have been reported.
• Five shelters were occupied overnight with a total population of 86
• USACE teams have been demobilized and released; National Guard personnel are continuing ongoing missions.
• Local road closures continue throughout Washington State; however, all Interstate Highways are open
• The boil-water advisory ended in Pacific County; tests have confirmed the water is safe to drink
• No unmet needs.

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Emergency Declaration FEMA-3300-EM, for the District of Columbia, 56th Presidential Inauguration, has been approved for the period January 17-21, 2009.

The Governor of Virginia is requesting an Emergency Declaration for emergency actions in support of the 56th Presidential Inauguration during the period of Jan 17-21, 2009. (FEMA HQ)