Wednesday, March 9, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
A storm will produce light snow from parts of the Upper Midwest to Northern New England by Thursday. Along the transition zone from rain to snow pockets of freezing rain will develop, affecting areas from Michigan to northern New England.
Northeast:
A storm will produce light snow from parts of the Upper Midwest to northern New England by Thursday. Potential renewed flooding exists for interior southern and central New England.
South:
Expect showers and thunderstorms over the central Gulf Coast today and into the southeast/southern Mid-Atlantic by Thursday. A slight risk of severe weather is associated with these thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.
West:
Multiple storm systems will move into the Pacific Northwest today, producing coastal and lower elevation rain inland to the Northern Rockies and higher elevations snow in the Northern Rockies on Wednesday and Thursday. The last system will move into the Northern Rockies by Thursday night. (National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)
Tornadoes

Texas
The State of Texas State Operations Center received reports of damages due to tornado touchdowns that occurred March 9. In Lamar County in the Brookston and Roxton areas, southwest of Paris, four mobile homes received minor damage. In Red River County, north of Clarksville, high winds damaged 3 homes and some power outages were reported. No storm-related injuries or fatalities were reported. No requests for FEMA assistance received. (Region VI)
Earthquake Activity

Japan
The USGS reports that a Magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred at 9:45 p.m. EST Tuesday night off the coast of Honshu, Japan approximately 105 miles east of Sendai, Honshu, Japan and 258 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 8.8 miles. There were no reports of damage or injury. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that a 1.8 ft tsunami was generated that may have caused damage along the coast near the earthquake epicenter. However, a damaging tsunami was not expected along the Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coasts. (PTWC, WCATC, USGS)
Wildfire Update

New Mexico
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG-2866âFMâNM) was approved for the Quail Ridge Fire, Grant County, NM onÂ*March 8. Over 1,700 acres of land has burned since the fire started on March 7. The fire is 95% contained; there are no open flames, just many hot spots. 640 homes were threatened by the fire; however, only 15 homes were destroyed. One firefighter was hospitalized for minor injuries, and two law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation. Voluntary and mandatory evacuations remain in effect, and law enforcement is providing citizens 15 minute escorts to their homes to retrieve pets and medication. Curfews remain in effect to prevent looting. One shelter is open at the Silver City Convention Center, with an estimated 150 occupants. (FEMA Region VI)Â*
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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