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Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Heavy snow fell on the Colorado Front Range and parts of the Rockies today. Accumulations up to 20 inches were seen in higher elevations in Wyoming and Colorado. The snow is forecast to decrease overnight with some additional light accumulations.
Midwest

Light rain and snow is forecast through the Midwest to the Great Lakes; some locations will experience 6-12 inches of snow. Rain will change to snow overnight across parts of Kansas and Oklahoma.

Heavy snow is forecast today from eastern Kansas back to the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. Some of these areas could periodically see near blizzard conditions.
South

Heavy rain is forecast from eastern Texas to Arkansas; strong to severe thunderstorms are possible.

Rain will turn to snow by tonight across northern Texas.
Northeast
No precipitation is forecast for the Northeast with the exception of isolated showers in northern New York and northern Maine.(NOAA’s National Weather Service, Hydro Meteorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)

Spring Begins Today

After record snowfalls in the northeast this winter, this is a welcome season. The Vernal Equinox officially occurs today at 1:32 p.m. EDT. The equinox, meaning equal night, marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall in the southern hemisphere when the sun shines directly on the equator. The length of day today; however, will actually exceed that of night by eight minutes. March 17, 2010 was the actual date when there were exactly 12 hours of day and night. This slight discrepancy is caused by the way we measure sunrise and sunset, which are both determined by the geometric appearance and disappearance of the Sun's upper limb.(U. S Naval Observatory)

Upper Midwest Flooding

River flooding continues across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The weather pattern across the Plains will feature a more southerly storm track over the weekend and into early next week, keeping the majority of accumulating precipitation well south of the flood areas.

Forecasts for the Red River at Fargo, North Dakota, have been lowered slightly; river is expected to crest on Sunday March 21, between 37 and 38 feet; below the record crest of 40.84 feet in 2009. At Grand Forks, North Dakota, the Red River is forecast to crest between 47 and 48 feet on Monday March 22; below the crest of 49.34 feet in 2009. Little to no precipitation is expected across the Red River basin, the Dakotas, and Minnesota over the next five days. Precipitation in Iowa late Friday will not be significant enough to impact rivers.

Cooler temperatures over the next three days will slow the rate of snow melt. Ice jams have been reported along the St. Croix River at Stillwater, MN and on the South Fork Crow River at Delano, MN, in Iowa, and eastern Wisconsin.

FEMA Headquarters
FEMA Response Watch Center remains at 24/7 operations monitoring flood response and recovery activities. NRCC Activation Team on alert for potential activation. The FEMA Logistics Management Division (LMD) continues to coordinate sourcing and shipment of commodities and generators to three ISBs established at Grand Forks AFB, ND, National Guard Armory at Mitchell, South Dakota, and Twin City Army Ammunitions Plant, Arden, MN.

FEMA Regions and State Actions

Region V

RRCC activated to Level III and conducting 24 hour operations along with Planning, Logistics, Operations, Finance and Administration, and ESF-15. An IOF is activated in downtown St. Paul, MN.

An IOF Operations Field Branch will be activated in Moorhead, MN today. FEMA Region V IMAT FRB is deployed to the St. Paul, MN IOF. Region V IMAT Red Team will deploy to the St. Paul, MN IOF today. IMAT White Team is on alert. Two FEMA Region V LNOs and a pre-designated FCO deployed to MN State EOC.
Minnesota

Minnesota EOC is fully activated at Level III, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT, Duty Officer maintains coverage 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. CDT. On March 15, 2010, the Governor declared a State of Emergency for 29 counties to protect property and infrastructure from damage due to flooding along the Red River, Mississippi, Minnesota and Crow Rivers. USACE is providing Emergency Protection Assistance to Moorhead, Oakport, and Breckenridge, Minnesota. Temporary levees are being built that will exceed by two feet the National Weather Service forecast crests. Additional water pumping equipment and technical assistance are also being provided to affected communities along the Red River and Minnesota River.

In Oakport, Minnesota, construction is ongoing with 24 hour operations to build 3.5 miles of levee to 40 feet. In Moorhead, Minnesota, construction is in progress to build 1 mile of levee to 40 feet. Completion for both Oakport and Moorhead is expected no later than March 21, 2010. Minnesota Department of Corrections is assisting by preparing sandbags for use in Bemidji, Moorhead and the Red River Valley area. The Salvation Army has 5 canteens conducting mobile feeding operations and 5 fixed feeding sites in the Fargo/Moorhead area. 273 Minnesota National Guard members are deployed in Clay County. They will be conducting dike and security patrols, monitoring pumps and providing command and control. Minnesota Dept of Transportation reports several roads closed across western and northwest Minnesota due to high water and overland flooding. Minnesota DOT is working with the Federal Highway Administration on damage assessments. No interstate highways have been reported closed. Minnesota State Patrol has assigned 30 Troopers to northwest Minnesota to assist with traffic control points, rapid response teams and command and control. Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft with pilots are also available in the area. Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources deployed four boats with operators to Clay County to assist with personnel transport and rescue. Minnesota DNR is also working with National Weather Service representatives to respond to any questions regarding flooding.(USACE, MN HSEM Sitrep, 18 March 2010, MN HSEM Sitrep, 19 March 2010)

Region VII
RRCC is at Watch/Steady State, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT (M-F). On March 12, 2010, the Governor of Nebraska requested Joint PDAs for 35 counties for flood related damage since March 1, 2010. PDAs began on Wednesday, March 17. No State EOCs are activated. Duty Officers from each state continue to monitor the situation.
Iowa
Rivers throughout the State continue to recede. Eight rivers remain above moderate flood stage. Most of affected areas are agricultural or low-lying. State EOC is not activated. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is monitoring the overtopping occurring on the Saylorville Lake Reservoir in Des Moines, IA and will install a Pneumatic Crest Gate system this weekend. Currently, the levee is at 865 feet (flood stage 890 ft). The Saylorville levee is forecast to crest early next week at 888.5 feet. 7000 residents live or work near the reservoir. The Bird Land Park levee is another area of concern due to unstable boiling spots and rodent infestation. Hesco Barriers have been purchased to provide secondary containment around weakened portions of the levee. There are no unmet needs or requests for Federal assistance.

Region VIII

RRCC is at activation Level III (7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. MDT Mon-Sun), Denver MOC 24/7, Operations, Planning, External Affairs, Admin/Finance, Human Resources, Logistics/IT, DEC, and facilities are activated. Advanced Planning Region VIII IMAT- deployed to SD and ND. 15 person IMAT-A deployed to ND on March 1 and merged with the FEMA-1879-DR-ND JFO team located in Bismarck, ND. Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) locations are pending Huron County approval, review of mass care plan with State planners, and coordination with volunteers for long term recovery strategy and Long Term Recovery Centers. FEMA Tribal Liaison and other staff are in contact with each tribe and tribal chairman in SD to discuss resource needs.

North Dakota
State EOC is activated at Level I (Full Activation, 24/7 operations). Grand Forks EOC is operational 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. MDT. FEMA-1879-DR-ND was signed Feb 26 for Severe Winter Storms. The President signed state of emergency FEMA-3390-EM in North Dakota on March 14, 2010 to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), including Federal assistance under the Public Assistance Program.

National Guard activated March 16 to assist in levee construction and traffic control. The City of Grand Forks declared a State of Emergency to allow the City to prepare for high waters. Flood controls are in place and additional crews, equipment and supplies are on standby if needed.

South Dakota

State EOC is activated at Level III, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. MDT (Mon-Sun). Aerial surveys and photographing of flooded areas are being conducted. The State is identifying available housing in coordination with the South Dakota Housing Development Authority; less than 50 families have been displaced. The City of Redfield, Spink County is preparing to construct a temporary dike to protect homes along Turtle Creek. The City of Aberdeen is concerned flood waters may reach the wastewater treatment plant. Numerous roads and bridges are closed due to flooding.

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

Iowa

FEMA-1877-DR-Iowa; Amendment No.1, effective March 19, 2010, adds six counties for Public Assistance, 5 counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow assistance, under the Public Assistance program for any continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period. (FEMA HQ)
Minnesota

On March 19, 2010, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA-3310-EM for the State of Minnesota for flooding for the incident period March 1, 2010, and continuing. Specifically, the declaration authorizes to provide emergency protective measures (Category B) including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding. This assistance is for 28 counties and the Tribal Nation of the Upper Sioux Community.(FEMA HQ)