FEMA
02-28-2011, 02:24 AM
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)
Significant National Weather
West:
Heavy rain and snow are expected to slowly drift southward from the southern Cascades and the Central Great Basin into the Sierras and the desert southwest.Â* The heaviest precipitation amounts are expected to fall in the mountainous terrain and along the coast.Â* Strong winds and low relative humidity have produced increased fire danger areas across portions of north central New Mexico. Critical Fire areas are expected to expand into southern New Mexico this afternoon.
Midwest:
Snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the southern Great Lakes before moving off the coast of New England.Â* An arctic air mass moving across the Northern Plains will keep wind chills between 20 and 40 below zero overnight.Â* The risk of localized flooding from ice jams is expected to continue through the end of the week in portions of Nebraska and Iowa.
Northeast:Â*
Heavy rains will continue across portions of the Ohio River valley and northern Mid-Atlantic States through this evening.Â* Heavy to moderate snow is forecast for New England through early Saturday. Strong winds with gusts as high as 60 mph are expected by this afternoon across portions of the Mid Atlantic.Â* A few small pockets of freezing rain will develop over parts of interior New England this morning.Â* High pressure Saturday will produce cooler, drier air across the region.Â* Localized ice jam flooding is also possible in parts of the Northeast this weekend as a result of heavy rainfall and mild temperatures.
South:
Severe storms are expected from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast early this morning before moving off the central Atlantic Coast late this afternoon.Â* Strong thunderstorms with potentially damaging winds and tornadoes are possible this morning from Lower Mississippi Valley eastward into the southern Appalachians. Windy and dry conditions are expected to persist over portions of western Texas over the next few days. The strong winds and low relative humidity have produced increased fire danger.Â* Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this afternoon for portions of western Texas.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Severe Weather â Lower Mississippi & Tennessee Valleys
Feb. 24 - 25, 2011
A line of severe thunderstorms began to move northward from the Lower Mississippi Valley to Tennessee Valley overnight. The storms will continue to produce thunderstorms and strong winds in the Tennessee Valley this morning.Â*
Earthquake Activity
At 7:12 p.m. EST, Feb. 24, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred approximately 22 miles ESE from Honolulu, Hawaii, and 38 miles southeast of Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii, at a depth of 11.8 miles. The earthquake was widely felt, but there were no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated.Â* (USGS )
International â Update on New Zealand Earthquake
Background
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred on Feb. 21, 2011, near Christchurch New Zealand. The cities of Christchurch and Lyttelton suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings. Numerous aftershocks continue.
Current Situation
A National State of Emergency was declared on Feb. 23. There are 113 confirmed fatalities and 164 serious injuries. Two hundred people are reported missing. Approximately 70 people have been rescued. Urban Search and Rescue teams from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are assisting in Search and Rescue. USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team, which includes one USAR Team from Los Angeles County (USTF-2) to assist in Search and Rescue. Virginia TF-1 (USTF-1) is on standby. Power, telecommunications and essential services continue to be disrupted.
Excessive liquefaction has produced additional difficulties for restoration. Seventy-five percent of electricity distribution has been restored with full restoration expected to take a number of weeks. An air bridge was used to evacuate approximately 1,140 people from Christchurch to surrounding areas. The Christchurch hospital is operational and, as of 8:30 p.m. EST Feb. 24, is treating 594 patients.
The Army is establishing two water purification plants (Lyttelton and New Brighton Pier). Approximately 50 percent of the city remains without service and more than 40 water tankers have deployed to deliver drinking water across the city. Five shelters are open with 458 occupants. The flow of essential supplies is expected to begin moving at local air and sea ports Friday (Saturday local). All state highways and state highway bridges have been inspected; minor damage has been reported in some areas. Eighteen bridges and 25 distributor roads remain impassable. Rail service between Christchurch and Lyttelton is suspended with all other lines operational. (USGS,USAID, NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management )
Preliminary Damage Assessments
Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: Illinois, Oklahoma, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
More... (http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/2011/nat022511.shtm)
Significant National Weather
West:
Heavy rain and snow are expected to slowly drift southward from the southern Cascades and the Central Great Basin into the Sierras and the desert southwest.Â* The heaviest precipitation amounts are expected to fall in the mountainous terrain and along the coast.Â* Strong winds and low relative humidity have produced increased fire danger areas across portions of north central New Mexico. Critical Fire areas are expected to expand into southern New Mexico this afternoon.
Midwest:
Snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the southern Great Lakes before moving off the coast of New England.Â* An arctic air mass moving across the Northern Plains will keep wind chills between 20 and 40 below zero overnight.Â* The risk of localized flooding from ice jams is expected to continue through the end of the week in portions of Nebraska and Iowa.
Northeast:Â*
Heavy rains will continue across portions of the Ohio River valley and northern Mid-Atlantic States through this evening.Â* Heavy to moderate snow is forecast for New England through early Saturday. Strong winds with gusts as high as 60 mph are expected by this afternoon across portions of the Mid Atlantic.Â* A few small pockets of freezing rain will develop over parts of interior New England this morning.Â* High pressure Saturday will produce cooler, drier air across the region.Â* Localized ice jam flooding is also possible in parts of the Northeast this weekend as a result of heavy rainfall and mild temperatures.
South:
Severe storms are expected from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast early this morning before moving off the central Atlantic Coast late this afternoon.Â* Strong thunderstorms with potentially damaging winds and tornadoes are possible this morning from Lower Mississippi Valley eastward into the southern Appalachians. Windy and dry conditions are expected to persist over portions of western Texas over the next few days. The strong winds and low relative humidity have produced increased fire danger.Â* Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this afternoon for portions of western Texas.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Severe Weather â Lower Mississippi & Tennessee Valleys
Feb. 24 - 25, 2011
A line of severe thunderstorms began to move northward from the Lower Mississippi Valley to Tennessee Valley overnight. The storms will continue to produce thunderstorms and strong winds in the Tennessee Valley this morning.Â*
Earthquake Activity
At 7:12 p.m. EST, Feb. 24, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred approximately 22 miles ESE from Honolulu, Hawaii, and 38 miles southeast of Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii, at a depth of 11.8 miles. The earthquake was widely felt, but there were no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated.Â* (USGS )
International â Update on New Zealand Earthquake
Background
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred on Feb. 21, 2011, near Christchurch New Zealand. The cities of Christchurch and Lyttelton suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings. Numerous aftershocks continue.
Current Situation
A National State of Emergency was declared on Feb. 23. There are 113 confirmed fatalities and 164 serious injuries. Two hundred people are reported missing. Approximately 70 people have been rescued. Urban Search and Rescue teams from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are assisting in Search and Rescue. USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team, which includes one USAR Team from Los Angeles County (USTF-2) to assist in Search and Rescue. Virginia TF-1 (USTF-1) is on standby. Power, telecommunications and essential services continue to be disrupted.
Excessive liquefaction has produced additional difficulties for restoration. Seventy-five percent of electricity distribution has been restored with full restoration expected to take a number of weeks. An air bridge was used to evacuate approximately 1,140 people from Christchurch to surrounding areas. The Christchurch hospital is operational and, as of 8:30 p.m. EST Feb. 24, is treating 594 patients.
The Army is establishing two water purification plants (Lyttelton and New Brighton Pier). Approximately 50 percent of the city remains without service and more than 40 water tankers have deployed to deliver drinking water across the city. Five shelters are open with 458 occupants. The flow of essential supplies is expected to begin moving at local air and sea ports Friday (Saturday local). All state highways and state highway bridges have been inspected; minor damage has been reported in some areas. Eighteen bridges and 25 distributor roads remain impassable. Rail service between Christchurch and Lyttelton is suspended with all other lines operational. (USGS,USAID, NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management )
Preliminary Damage Assessments
Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: Illinois, Oklahoma, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
More... (http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/2011/nat022511.shtm)