Wednesday, March 7, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West
Critical Fire Weather conditions continue for far southern Arizona, much of New Mexico, far west Texas and portions of the Texas Panhandle. Extremely critical fire weather conditions are likely across southwestern New Mexico, where wind gusts to near 50 mph are forecast.Â*Â* Snowfall will continue across much of the western two-thirds of Utah and southwest Wyoming until this afternoon.
Northeast
Generally dry and sunny conditions are expected across most of the region today, with temperatures ranging from 10-20 degrees above average. Gusty winds will develop near the coast and around the eastern Great Lakes. A Red Flag Warning is in effect through this evening for eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey.Â* Enhanced Fire Weather conditions are expected this afternoon with gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity values.Â*
South
Showers will begin to develop over the Southern Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley by this evening and will move east into the Tennessee Valley and Northeast by late Thursday. Heavy rain is possible across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Above average temperatures are expected across the Southern High Plains, with temperature highs ranging from 10 to 20 degrees above average. Critical Fire Weather conditions and Red Flag Warnings are in effect across western Texas and portions of the Texas Panhandle as a result of gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Midwest
Showers will increase from eastern Kansas to Michigan today, ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. Temperatures ahead of the cold front will be 10-20 degrees above average, while those behind the front will be well below average. Some snow flurries are possible across the Northern and Central Plains, though no significant accumulations are expected.
Severe Weather Outbreaks - Update

Severe thunderstorms began in the Midwest on February 28, 2012, and moved across the Ohio & Tennessee Valleys through February 29, 2012. A second system began in the Midwest on March 2, 2012, and moved across the Ohio & Tennessee Valleys and into the Southeast US through March 3, 2012. These two storm systems created high winds, large hail, heavy rain, and tornadoes. National Weather Service ground teams have confirmed a total of 77 tornadoes across 14 states. Widespread damages, electrical and water disruptions were reported. All states have power fully restored or only sporadic power outages remaining. Power to water treatment plants in Kentucky are restored, cutting the number of customers without water service from nearly 30,000 to 260.Â* The American Red Cross reports one shelter open in Kentucky with 53 occupants. State Emergency Operations Centers remain open in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are ongoing in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee.
Â*
FEMA Regional Administrators remain in contact with officials in the affected states and no unmet needs are identified. The FEMA Region VII Regional Response Coordination Center remains at Level III (partial activation); all other FEMA Regions and the FEMA National Watch Center remain at Watch/Steady State. FEMA Region IV Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) and a FEMA liaison officer remain deployed to the Interim Operating Facility in Frankfort, Kentucky, and additional liaisons are on standby for Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The FEMA Region V IMAT and one liaison are deployed to the Indiana State Emergency Operations Center. The FEMA Logistics Incident Support Base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky remains operational with pre-positioned commodities and medical kits.
Severe Weather â Hawaii

Heavy rains, landslides, high winds and flooding began on March 3, 2012 and continue to cause extensive damage to private and public property in the County of Kauai and the City & County of Honolulu, State of Hawaiâi. The Governor signed an Emergency Proclamation for Kauai and Honolulu. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is not activated; however, Kauai & Oahu county EOCs are partially activated.Â* Preliminary 3-day rainfall data shows some areas of Kauai have received up to 36 inches of rain and portions of Oahu have received almost 16 inches. Showers may linger over the eastern half of Kauai through Thursday, but should be much weaker. The Hawaii National Guard is activated to support local response efforts. At least one bridge and numerous roads and schools are closed in Kauai. There are three shelters open with 85 occupants. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
Space Weather:

Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. G2geomagnetic storms, S1 Solar radiation storms and radio blackouts reaching the R3 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be moderate, with G2 geomagnetic storms, S1 solar radiation storms and R1 radio blackouts expected.
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

Kentucky
On March 6, 2012, the President approved major disaster declaration FEMA-4057-DR for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred from February 29, 2012, to March 3, 2012. This declaration specifically provides Individual Assistance for Johnson, Kenton, Laurel, Lawrence, Menifee, Morgan and Pendleton counties. Requests for Public Assistance are under review. All counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) is Elizabeth Turner of the National FCO Program.


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