Friday, March 25, 2011
 

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Japan Recovery â Support Operations

The National IMAT Support Cell IMAT-East remains activated supporting the EPAâs air monitoring mission.Â*Â*Â*(FEMA HQ)Â*
Significant National Weather

West:
A system moving in off of the Pacific is forecast to drop as much as two inches of rain along the California coast and inland valley.Â* This system is also forecast to bring as much as three feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada and the Shasta region. Precipitation will persist through the weekend.Â* Widespread precipitation in the form of snow continues across the Great Basin and the Northern and Central Rockies.Â* Critical Fire weather and Red Flag Warnings continue to persist from western Colorado to southwestern Texas due to gusty winds and low humidity.
Midwest:
A mix of rain and snow is expected from South Dakota into the lower Ohio Valley.Â* Areas in the upper Midwest will be generally dry, but cold.Â* Heading into the weekend, snow and strong winds will impact the Northern Plains and northern potions of the central plains early Saturday.
South:
Thunderstorms and showers are forecast for the upper Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.Â* Heavier rainfall just under two inches and thunderstorms are forecast in the Tennessee Valley by Saturday.Â*Â* The remaining portion of the region is forecast to be dry and cool.
Northeast:
Light snow is forecast for western New York and New England through today.Â* High pressure over the Ohio Valley will keep the remaining portions of the region dry, but cool. Widespread high temperatures in the 40s are forecast through Saturday.Â* (National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Spring Flood Preparation

Upper- Midwest
Rivers in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin continue to rise due to recent snowmelt and ongoing precipitation.

Earthquake Activity

• No significant U.S. activity.

International

• Magnitude 6.8 earthquakeoccurred on March 24, 2011, at 9:55 a.m. EDT
• 55 miles north of Chiang Rai, Thailand in Myanmar near border with northern Thailand
• Depth of 6.2 miles
• 25 unconfirmed fatalities
• 5 monasteries and 35 buildings collapsed
• Aftershocks of 5.4 and 5.0 magnitude (USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

• The State of Mississippi completed an IA PDA for 1 county on March 23, 2011 for the severe weather that occurred March 8. (FEMA Region IV)Â*
• The State of Hawaii completed IA PDAs for 1 county and 1 PA PDAs for 1 county on March 23, 2011 for the Pacific tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011.Â*(FEMA Region IX)Â*Â*Â*

Wildfire Update

March 24, 2011:
Fire Management Assistance Grant
Georgia â Elan Church Road Fire (Long County)

• On March 25, 2011, FEMA-TBD-FM-GA was approved for the Elan Church Road Fire
• The fire began on March 24, 2011
• Over 750 acres burned; 30% or less contained
• Mandatory evacuations are in place for over 300 people, which includes residents from a nursing home and 100 inmates from a correctional facility
• 89 homes, a nursing home, a correctional facility, 5 businesses, a pulpwood paper facility and CSX Railroad in and around the city of Ludowici are threatened (FEMA Region IV)

Georgia â Mosely Road Fire (Coffee County)

• On March 25, 2011, FEMA-TBD-FM-GA was approved for the Mosely Road Fire
• The fire began on March 24, 2011
• Over 1,500 acres burned; 30% or less contained
• Mandatory evacuations are in place for over 250 residents
• 50-75 homes, 5 businesses and a Walmart Distribution Center in and around the city of Douglas are threatened (FEMA Region IV)

Georgia â Arabia Bay Fire (Clinch County)

• On March 25, 2011, a FMAG request was denied for the Arabia Bay fire
• The fire began on March 17, 2011
• 1,500 acres burned; 30% or less contained
• No mandatory evacuations are in place; no shelters opened
• 200 homes in and around the city of Homerville are threatened (FEMA Region IV)

Oklahoma â (Osage County)

• On March 24, 2011, FEMA-2874-FM-OK was approved for the Osage County Complex fire.
• The fire began on March 23, 2011.
• 58,000 acres burned; containment unknown.
• Mandatory evacuations are in place for 472 residents.
• The fire has destroyed 4 homes and is threatening 360 homes in the vicinity of the cities of Prue, Skiatook, Bartlesville, and Hominy.
• Bartlesville airport and water treatment facility threatened. (FEMA VI)

Colorado - Indian Gulch Fire (Jefferson County)

• On March 21, 2011, FEMA-2873-FM-CO was approved for the Indian Gulch fire
• The fire began on March 20, 2011, west of Denver in the city of Golden
• 1,502 acres burned; 25% contained
• Evacuations have been lifted; all shelters closed
• Federal Type I IMT is on scene
• State of Emergency declared for Jefferson County (FEMA Region VIII)

Current Wildfires
Colorado: Burning Tree Fire (Franktown, Douglas County, previously called Bayou Gulch Fire)

• 1,660 acres burned; 70% contained
• All 8,500 evacuated residents were allowed to return home
• No fatalities, injuries or damages reported
• State EOC deactivated overnight, may reactivate in the morning
• No requests for Federal Assistance. (FEMA Region VIII)

North Carolina (Onslow County)

• Wildfire in Camp Lejeune on the Greater Sandy Run
• 3,000 acres burned; unknown containment
• Onslow County has declared a State of Emergency
• State EOC remains at Normal Operations
• Mandatory evacuation is in place for 20 homes; voluntary evacuation is in place for mobile home park
• Several highways closed
• No requests for FEMA assistance. (FEMA Region IV)

Disaster Declaration Activity

• New Mexico
  On March 24, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1962-DR-NM was approved for the State of New Mexico as a result of a Severe Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Temperatures that occurred February1-5, 2011.Â* Public Assistance for 6 counties and 4 Tribal jurisdictions and Hazard Mitigation for all counties and Indian tribes statewide have been approved. The FCO is Thomas J. McCool.Â*(FEMA HQ)

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