Friday, May 6, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Light to moderate rain is expected over the Midwest through this evening with a second round of rain developing over the Midwest early Saturday. Showers and isolated can be expected across portions of Illinois and Ohio. Flood warnings remain in effect all along the Mississippi Valley. Unseasonably warm and humid conditions expected to develop across the Midwest next week.
South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move into northern Arkansas and Tennessee overnight, rainfall should average under 1/4 of an inch with a few isolated areas receiving up to1/2 inch high. High pressure will build over the southeast states tonight into Saturday. Moderate to major flooding will continue in eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Mississippi and northeastern Louisiana. Critical fire weather conditions will exist across portions of southern Colorado, western Texas panhandle and much of eastern New Mexico.
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Northeast:
Cool and dry weather will accompany a high pressure as it builds east from the Ohio Valley through tonight.Â* Most of the region will remain dry, with the exception of rain showers across portions of central New York and northern Pennsylvania. A series of weak fast-moving systems will bring unsettled conditions across portions of New England through the weekend. Temperatures will average below normal into at least early next week.
West:
A storm system will move across the intermountain west and into the Northern Plains by Friday afternoon; precipitation will be very light. Another system will move into the Pacific Northwest this weekend bringing rain to the region with snow in the higher elevations of the Cascades and upper portions of the Intermountain West. The Southwest will remain warm and dry ahead of a low pressure system expected to move into the Southwest by Monday, bringing showers, windy conditions and much lower temperatures.
Severe Weather Outbreak â April 25-28

Alabama
As of May 5, the American Red Cross (ARC) is reporting 11 shelters open with 347 occupants.
Mississippi
As of May 5, the ARC is reporting two shelters open with 26 occupants.
Georgia
As of May 5, the ARC reports three shelters open with seven occupants.

Kentucky
Sandbagging operations continue in the City of Smithland located in Livingston County and the City of Ledbetter located in McCracken County. As of May 5, the ARC reports five shelters open with 31 occupants.
Tennessee
The housing complex at the U.S. Navy facility in Millington remains under mandatory evacuation.Â*Approximately 6,400 customers remain without power. As of May 5, the ARC reports 10 shelters open with 279 occupants.
Midwest Spring Flooding

Due to recent heavy rains across the Middle Mississippi River Valley and the Ohio River Valley, runoff will cause most of the central and lower Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya River to reach record levels next week.

Illinois
Voluntary evacuations are ongoing in Alexander, Galllatin, Hardin, Massac, Pope and Pulaski Counties. Sandbagging operations continue in the City of Metropolis, Karnack, Cairo, Olive Branch and Old Shawnee Town. The counties of Franklin, Jackson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Alexander, Union, White, Hardin and Williamson have declared emergencies. As of May 5, there are five shelters open with 235 occupants.
Birds Point â New Madrid Floodway
At approximately 3:35 p.m. EDT on May 5, the US Army Corp of Engineers detonated the last of three levee breaches in the Birdâs Point-New Madrid Floodway project near Dorena.Â* This completes the project to open the floodway.

The Ohio River at Cairo is currently at 59.51 feet and receding; since operation of the Birds Point New Madrid (BPNM) Floodway on May 2, the river has receded 2.21 ft.Â* The river is forecast to remain at this level for the next 48 hours.Â* Record flood stage was 59.5 ft.Â* Major flood stage is 53 ft.Â*The City of Cairo (population 3,632) remains under a mandatory evacuation order.

Arkansas
Flooding continues along White, Black, and Mississippi Rivers.Â* In Woodruff County, evacuations continue for approximately 1,000 residents in the Towns of Cotton Plant, Gregory, and McClelland due to flooding along the White River. Approximately 60% of the residents have self evacuated. As of May 5, there are 11 shelters are open across the with approximately 60 occupants.
Louisiana
The Governor requested an Emergency Declaration for 14 Parishes.
There is a high level of concern for future flooding along the lower Mississippi River Valley and the Atchafalaya River beginning the week of May 9 and extending through the end of May. The Governor has ordered a phase-one evacuation of Angola State Penitentiary located along the Mississippi River.Â* The evacuation is expected to begin on Monday, May 9.

The Army Corp of Engineers may begin opening the Bonnet Carre spillway as early as next week.Â* The spillway takes pressure off New Orleans area levees by diverting the water toward the Lake Ponchartrain Basin.

Missouri
As of May 4, there are 5 shelters are open with 57 occupants.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Â*
Thursday, May 5, 2011
National Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (74 new fires)
New Large Fires: 1
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 11
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 2
States affected: TX, FL, GA, NM, AZ, CO & KSÂ*(NIFC) Disaster Declaration Activity

Missouri
On May 5, the Governor requested a major disaster declaration as a result of severe storm systems that generated flooding, flash flooding, high winds, hail, and tornadoes beginning on April 19, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for 29 counties, Public Assistance for 38 counties, and Hazard Mitigation for the entire State of Missouri.
Louisiana
On May 5, the Governor requested an Emergency Declaration as a result of flooding along the Mississippi River. The Governor specifically requested Public Assistance (Categories A and B), including direct Federal assistance for 23 parishes.
Iowa
On May 5, the President approved Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1977-DR-IA for the State of Iowa.Â* Specifically, the declaration approves Public Assistance for 6 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.Â* Michael R. Scott of the Federal Coordinating Officer Program has been assigned.Â*(FEMA HQ)Â*


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