Friday, May 13, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

Louisiana
The LA EOC is activated at Level III (Modified Activation). To date, 32 parishes have declared a Parish State of Emergency. All affected State agencies and parishes are taking precautions deemed necessary to prepare for the impending flood. Several parishes have instituted voluntary evacuations, but there are no mandatory evacuations in effect.
Heavy flooding could disrupt refinery operations along the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. There are 10 refineries located along the Mississippi River that can process 2.4 million barrels of oil per day, which equates to 13.7 percent of the nations refining capacity.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened 160 of the 350 bays on the Bonnet Carre Spillway and it is expected to reach full discharge in the next several days.
The Morganza Spillway may be opened if the flow reaches a rate of 1.5 million cubic feet per second.Â* The current flow rate is 1.36 million cubic feet per second.No decision has been made to operate the Morganza Floodway.
The Coast Guard is conducting river over flights and standing by to assist with evacuations if the Morganza Spillway is opened.
The Louisiana National Guard has approximately 500 soldiers deployed to 19 affected parishes. They are prepared to support the parishes by conducting door-to-door notifications to evacuate and with levee inspections. High-water vehicles have been staged in the affected parishes and they have started constructing 13,000 feet of HESCO barrier to fortify and elevate levees along Lake Palourde to prevent backwater flooding in Morgan City and Amelia.
The Department of Health and Hospitals has contacted 17 hospitals and 11 nursing homes to discuss and plan for possible evacuations. Also, they are in the process of contacting every in-home nursing service recipient in the 21 affected parishes to ensure they are prepared for evacuation. The American Red Cross of southeastern Louisiana remains prepared and ready to assists with any shortfalls.
Mississippi
Eight counties remain under a Local Emergency.
Mississippi National Guard Liaison Teams are deployed to 5 counties to provide assistance with preventing any potential backwater levee breaches. Vicksburg Southern Railroad has suspended operations and various local roadways are closed. As of May 12, the ARC reports 4 shelters open with 25 occupants.
Tennessee
One fatality has been reported as a result of flooding. As of May 12, the American Red Cross ARC reports 8 shelters open with 534 occupants.
Kentucky
One fatality has been reported as a result of flooding. As of May 12, theAmerican Red Cross (ARC) reports 4 shelters open with 35 occupants.
Significant National Weather

West
Today, most of the region will remain dry, with the exception of scattered rain showers over portions of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Isolated to scattered evening showers and storms are expected later this evening throughout the Intermountain West. Unseasonably warm temperatures are forecast across Arizona, with the high in Phoenix expected to reach 100 degrees.

South:
As a cold front moves east today and Saturday moisture with origins in the Gulf of Mexico will spread up through the Deep South and into the Ohio Valley, Mid- Atlantic and northeast.Â* Rain and thunderstorms from the Midwest into the Ohio Valley along a front draped north of the cold front initially moving through the Southern Plains. High pressure will sink southward through the Plains as the wet weather shifts east into the Central and Northern Plains. Minimum temperatures along portions of the Central and Northern High Plains are forecast to be at or below freezing Saturday and Sunday morning.

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are expected from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. Moderate to severe thunderstorms are forecast from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Southern Plains. Locally heavy rain possible from the Midwest to the Appalachians and well below average temperatures expected from the northern to Central Plains.

Northeast:
Today, mainly dry weather is expected with seasonal temperatures across the interior portion of the region with cooler than normal temperatures along the coast. Some scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from West Virginia to Upstate New York. Light rain will develop over the northeast and extend westward across parts of the Upper Great Lakes into parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley Friday night into Saturday.
Â*To date, 32 parishes have declared a Parish State of Emergency. All affected State agencies and parishes are taking precautions deemed necessary to prepare for the impending flood. Several parishes have instituted voluntary evacuations, but there are no mandatory evacuations in effect.
Other Flooding across the Nation

Across the country many streams and rivers are currently above flood stage. While some precipitation is expected to fall across these areas over the next few days, the precipitation is expected to be light.
Temperatures are expected to rise across central Alaska over the weekend. This will increase the rate of snowmelt, causing rivers and small streams to rise early next week.
Vermont
Lake Champlain water levels have crested and are now receding. Although the lake will continue to recede, it will remain above flood stage for several weeks.
There are currently no shortfalls or unmet needs, but they have requested Joint Public Assistance (PA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) to evaluate the flooding impacts.
New York
A State of Emergency remains in effect for five counties and they continue to evaluate alternate housing options, since some residents are not able to return home. As of May 12, the ARC reports 1 shelter open with 50 occupants.
There are currently no shortfalls or unmet needs, but they have requested Joint PA and Individual Assistance (IA) PDAs to evaluate the flooding impacts.
North Dakota
Widespread spring snow melt and riverine flooding continues along the Red River and its tributaries.
There are currently no shortfalls or unmet needs and all of the requested Joint PA and IA PDAs have been completed.
Alaska
The AK SECC is at Level II (Heighten Awareness).
On May 12, a Disaster Initial Response Team (DIRT) deployed to Crooked Creek.
No requests for FEMA assistance.
Crooked Creek
On May 10, the Tribal Administrator declared a local disaster for the community of Crooked Creek.
Water is still flooding many homes in low lying areas of Crooked Creek. Some roads remain flooded limiting access between the lower and upper parts of town. The landing strip is usable, but ground access is limited.
Water levels have dropped 6-10' behind the ice jam on the Kuskokwim River near Crooked Creek. The jam is weakening, when it releases it could flood the Community of Aniak downstream.
There are currently no shortfalls or unmet needs and no PDAs have been requested.
Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs)

Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
On May 9, FMAG-2907 was approved for the Horseshoe Two Fire located approximately 50 miles northeast ofÂ* Bisbee, AZ. Approximately 13,300 acres have burned and the fire is 10 percent contained with an estimated containment date of May 22.

Earthquake Activity

Guam
On May 12, three earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 5.1 to 5.5 occurred approximately 80 miles southwest of Hagatna, Guam at depths of six to 11 miles.Â* No damage or injuries were reported, and no tsunami was generated for these events.

Wildfire Update

• Thursday, May 12, 2011:
• National Preparedness Level: 2
• Initial attack activity: LIGHT (97 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 3
• Large Fires Contained: 6
• Uncontained Large Fires: 23
• Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
• Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
• States affected: FL, NC, GA, TX, AZ, NM, CA, & KS

Disaster Declaration Activity

Kentucky
Effective May 12, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1976-DR-KY, dated May 4, 2011, is amended to add Clay, Franklin, Harlan, Lee, and Owsley Counties for Public Assistance, including direct Federal Assistance.



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