Wednesday, March 2, 2011
 

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:Â*
A frontal system extending southward from a deep low off the coast of Washington will produce moderate rainfall, heavy mountain snow and gusty winds along the entire West Coast and inland to the Northern and Central Rockies. Moderate to heavy snowfall will also affect the higher terrain from the Sierras and the Siskiyous in California to the Cascades and Olympic mountains in Washington and Oregon. Over a foot of snow will fall near the higher elevations in the Sierras with winds expected to gust over 80 mph along the ridge tops.
Midwest:
High pressure will remain in place across the Northern Plains. Temperatures in this region will range from the below zero over North Dakota and Minnesota to the 30s from Nebraska to Indiana. Morning fog and some freezing drizzle are possible from South Dakota to northern Kansas.
South:Â*
High pressure will bring sunshine, a few clouds, and warm temperatures to much of the region.
Temperatures will reach into the 60s and 70s from Oklahoma and much of Texas to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.
Northeast:
A cold front will move through the region producing scattered snow showers across northern New York and New England. Lake effect snow is expected to develop along the southeastern shores of Lake Ontario.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Severe Weather Outbreak - Update

Severe thunderstorms from Feb. 27-28, 2011, produced heavy rains, hail, high winds and tornadoes
Midwest Flooding

Widespread moderate to major flooding is occurring on rivers across the region
Florida Wildfire Activity

The Iron Horse Fire (Volusia and Brevard counties) started Feb. 28, 2011.Â* Sixteen thousand acres have burned.Â* The fires are 25 percent contained.Â* Two shelters are open in Brevard County with 30 occupants, and one shelter open in Volusia County with an unknown number of occupants.Â* Voluntary evacuations are in place for Volusia County where one home was destroyed. Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 North are closed near the Brevard and Volusia county line.Â*Â*(FEMA Region IV)Â*
Texas Wildfire Activity- Update

Gusty winds and low relative humidity across much of western Texas have caused wind driven wildfires.Â* Five Fire Management Assistance Grants were requested.Â* Four FMAGs were approved and the FMAG request for Quinn Ranch Fire (Howard County) was denied.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
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 central business district and Lyttelton suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings.
Current Situation

• The multinational response effort is ongoing.
• USAID/DART USAR accessed previously unsearched portions of an 18-story building in Christchurch.
• The US USAR team completed secondary searches of three additional sites and deployed two structural engineers.
• There are 155 (+1) confirmed fatalities, 70 people rescued and 240 people are still missing.
• Of the 200 homes evacuated in Sumner, all but 20 have been able to be reoccupied.
• Three welfare centers are open with between 150-200 occupants.
• Power has been restored to 85 percent of homes and businesses and will reach 95percent soon.
• Sixty-six percent of water is back on across Christchurch, but a boil water advisory is in effect.
• New Zealand has not requested further international assistance. (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 and Wisconsin.
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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