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National Situation Update: Friday, April 3, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather

West:
Morning showers are forecast for the Pacific Northwest. A storm moving out of the Rockies is expected to produce moderate to heavy snow from eastern Colorado and eastern Wyoming, eastward through the eastern sections of Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.  Some areas could receive a foot of new snow.
Midwest:
A low pressure system over the Ohio River Valley will bring rain, gusty winds and a few embedded thundershowers from Kentucky to the eastern Great Lakes. The storm will move off to the northeast later tonight. The next storm system moves east of the Rocky Mountains into the northern Plains tonight with snow. As the storm gets better organized tomorrow, the snow should increase over the Dakotas with rain changing to snow in Nebraska and northern Iowa.
South:
A cold front trailing southward from the storm over the Ohio River Valley will bring the threat of severe thunderstorms to eastern North Carolina. Under building high pressure the remainder of the region will get a respite from the recent precipitation.
Northeast:
As the low approaches the region from the west, rain with a few embedded thunderstorms will move across the region. A few of the thunderstorms across extreme southern New Jersey, the southern half of the Del-Mar-Va peninsula, and eastern Virginia could be locally heavy, producing strong winds and hail.(NWS, and Various Media Sources)

Red River Flood Preparations

Federal Response:
FEMA Headquarters

• FEMA NRCC is at Watch/Steady State; 24/7 (Watch only)
  
• National IMAT - West deployed to ND EOC
  
• National IMAT East is on alert for possible deployment
  
• FEMA's National Logistics Staging Area (NLSA)/Grand Forks(LMD commodity update as of April 2) 5:30 p.m.):
  
• On Hand:(DR-1829-ND)
  
  • Meals (ea)                  181,485    
    
  • Water (lt)                   247,969  
    
  • Cots (ea)                      29,059   
    
  • Blankets (ea)               65,195 
    
  • Generators (ea)                   54
    
• Inbound (DR-1829-ND):
  
  • Water (lt)                     61,345    
    
  • Cots (ea)                        1,728   
    
  • Blankets (ea)                 5,195    
    
  • Generators (ea)                     1   
    
  • MDRC          1
    
  • Partitions                           630
    
• On Hand (EM-3304-MN):
  
  • Water (lt)                    72,288   
    
  • Meals (ea)                   40,320   
    
  • Cots (ea)                       4,400    
    
  • Blankets (ea)                4,412    
    
  • Generators (ea)                  50
    
• Inbound (EM-3304-MN)  
  
  •     JFO Kits   2

 Region VIII:

• RRCC is at Watch Steady State; 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. MDT
  
• ESFs are working on a demobilization plan
  
• ERT-A deployed to Bismarck, ND
  
• IMAT-West deployed to Bismarck, ND
  
• Denver MERS deployed to Bismarck, ND
  
• IRCT operational in Bismarck, ND
  
• One DMAT operational; four are being staged
  
• 600 pet carriers have been requested and are en route from Monroe, LA. Estimated ETA is April 5.

North Dakota

• State EOC Level I - 24/7
  
• Two confirmed fatalities; 62 injuries
  
• All Shelters Closed

South Dakota

• State EOC is at normal operations

Region V
Region V RRCC is activated at Level III -7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CDT; ESFs 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are on call-back status as of 7:00 pm Apr 1.

• Region continues to monitor flooding and maintain communications with USACE and ESFs
  
• Region V IMAT at MN SEOC
  
• Maynard MERS at Moorhead, MN
  
• JFO location has been contracted in Dilworth, MN
  
• JFO assumes operational control from Region V on Apr 8
  
• No unmet needs

Minnesota Flooding - Red River Basin

• The State EOC is at Partial Activation; 7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.CDT
  
• One shelter; population: 5
  
• Joint IA PDAs are ongoing in Clay, Marshall, Norman, Kittson, Polk, Traverse and Wilkin County and scheduled to be completed today.

Flooding and Severe Weather in the South

Heavy rain continues across southeast Alabama, Southern Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. Rain will persist in these areas until the frontal system passes by early this morning.  The National Weather Service had preliminary reports of ten tornado touchdowns across the southeast and widespread reports of gusty winds and hail.

Region IV
Region IV RRCC is at Watch/Steady State; 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. EDT

• R-IV ERT-A & IMAT on standby
  
• No Federal assistance requested

Mississippi:

• State EOC is at Level III (Partial Activation)
  
• Governor declared a State of Emergency for 8 counties
  
• 3 rivers are currently at moderate flood stage.
  
• 28 injuries reported in 3 counties
  
• 2 tornadoes (preliminary report)
  
• Damage: reported in 32 counties
  
  • 801 structures
    
  • Multiple power outages and trees down

Alabama: 

• EOC activated at Level III (Partial Activation) with select staff, performing 24/7 operations.
  
• Governor declared a State of Emergency for 11 counties
  
• 2 confirmed fatalities
  
• NG transported 5 boxes & 3 pallets of sandbags to Dothan, AL
  
• 1 shelter; unknown occupants
  
• 3 tornadoes (preliminary report)

Georgia:  

• EOC activated to Level II, 24/7 operations
  
• Governor declared a State of Emergency for 6 counties
  
• No fatalities/ 1 injury (Firefighter)
  
• 5 shelters / occupants unknown
  
• Mandatory evacuation of 5-6 homes near Satilla River; flood stage is 16ft and it will crest at 19.19ft today.
  
• Damage: 124 structures
  
• 75-80% roads in Alma (Bacon County) severely damaged (67 mi NE of Valdosta, GA)

Florida:

• EOC activated to Level II (Partial Activation) with select staff until midnight.
  
• Governor declared a State of Emergency for 19 counties
  
• 8 counties declared Local States of Emergency
  
• 1 shelter/11 occupants
  
• 5 counties issued voluntary evacuation orders
  
• 55 evacuated / 15 rescued in 2 counties
  
• Damage:  76 structures

Region VI
Region VI RRCC is at Watch/Steady State; 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT
Louisiana:

• State EOC at normal operations
  
• 8 parishes have declared emergencies
  
• Joint IA PDA's were completed on April 2 in 7 parishes
  
• The Pearl River near the town of Pearl River is at 18.97 ft and the flood stage is 14 ft.
  
  • Subdivisions in Slidell, just l, just south of I-10, are threatened by the flooding
    
•  No reports of injuries or fatalities

Mt Redoubt

Seismicity at the volcano remains relatively active, with small earthquakes occurring at a rate of 3-4 per minute. Larger, earthquakes are continuing to occur at a rate of 2-8 per hour.  The low elevation steam emissions are likely to continue. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) is still in effect within a 10 mile radius of Mt. Redoubt and up to 60,000 feet. The current Alert Level is WARNING and the Aviation Color Code is RED.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2801-TX was requested and issued April 3, 2009 for the Largarto Fire, near Largarto, Live Oak County, TX. The 175 acre fire was caused by a down power line.  There were 22 homes and 10 vehicles destroyed with an additional 22 homes damaged. There were six residents and one fire fighter injured.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting U.S territories in the Western Pacific. (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

On April 2, 2009, FEMA-1818-DR-KY amendment # 3 was approved to include Allen and Clay counties for Public Assistance [Cat C-G], (already designated for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Cat A and B) including direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance program. (FEMA HQ)