What We’re Watching: 3/2/12

Weather Outlook

REMAIN VIGILANT: The National Weather Service forecasts call for dangerous weather to continue across portions of the South and Midwest into Friday evening. Specifically, there is a high to moderate risk for severe thunderstorms across southern Indiana, southwest Ohio, most of Kentucky, central Tennessee, northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama. There is also a slight risk of severe weather from near Lake Erie southward to the central Gulf Coast states. These storms present threats of tornadoes, widespread damaging wind, hail and flash flooding. The most significant flash flood threat is from southeast Tennessee into northwest Georgia, northern and central Alabama and east central Mississippi.

FEMA urges all individuals in the path of the storms to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news for severe weather updates and warnings and follow the direction provided by their local officials.

Although the severity of the storms may lessen on Saturday and the through the remainder of the weekend, heavy rains may continue in parts of the Southeast and flooding has the potential to occur where the ground is already saturated.

We encourage everyone to become familiar with the terms used to identify a tornado and flood hazards and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued:

• Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.
• Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
• Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if local officials give notice to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Flash Flood Watch: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Flash Flood Warning: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Visit www.ready.gov for more information on tornado and flood preparedness tips.

Additionally, there are winter weather advisories currently in effect for the Great Lakes. Continue to listen to the weather forecasts and visit www.ready.gov/winterweather for information on winter storms.

High winds are expected in parts of Southern California, the Southwest, Southern Rockies, the Southern and Central plains and Ohio Valley.

Severe drought conditions continue for parts of central and Southern Great Plains, the Southwest and Southeast, and Upper Mississippi Valley. Weather conditions are favorable for wildfire activity in parts of the Southwest including Texas, New Mexico and Southern California. Visit www.ready.gov/wildfires for things that you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your property.

As always, we encourage you to monitor your area’s local forecast as weather conditions can change. Stay up-to-date on your local forecast by visiting weather.gov or mobile.weather.gov on your mobile device.

Thoughts and Prayers to Coast Guard

Following the tragic accident of the U.S. Coast Guard aircraft that crashed this past Tuesday while on a training mission in the Gulf Coast, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and shipmates of CG-6535. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

March is Red Cross Month

Yesterday, President Obama proclaimed March as Red Cross Month. All month, we salute the Red Cross for their many contributions to emergency response. Last year, the American Red Cross responded to 137 large-scale domestic disasters across the United States in 46 states and territories. In addition to collaborating with FEMA in training exercises and disaster response operations helping disaster survivors, the American Red Cross supplies almost half of the nation’s donated blood, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and their families.

Midwest Severe Weather Response

In the aftermath of all the severe weather we’ve also seen how the proactive efforts of local agencies prepared them to deal with this week’s tornado outbreak. For Skaggs Regional Medical Center, a local hospital in Branson, Mo., that preparedness included mass casualty medical surge training at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Ala.

AmeriCorps members from the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team were deployed to several sites in Missouri following the aftermath of the severe storms and weather in the Midwest.

Missouri state emergency officials requested assistance from AmeriCorps programs in Stone and Taney counties, where a significant portion of the damage occurred. Less than 24 hours after the storms hit, 19 members from AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team had boots on the ground in hard-hit towns like Branson, which sustained significant damage. Additional deployments are waiting on standby in the coming days.

Chad Angell, team leader with AmeriCorps St. Louis said:
 

We are working hard to support to the people of Taney and Stone counties and provide an effective disaster relief operation. Together, AmeriCorps members and everyday volunteers are critical in getting those affected by disasters on a pathway to recovery.