Wednesday, July 13, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Severe Weather â Midwest- July 11 - 12, 2011

During the early morning hours of July 11, 2011, severe storms swept across the region causing widespread power outages and damages. There have been no unmet needs reported or requests for FEMA assistance.
Illinois
As of 12:00 a.m. EDT, approximately 251,000 customers remain without power (from a high of 852,000). Over 900 crews are working to restore power. Full restoration is expected within 72 hours. One unconfirmed fatality has been reported.
Michigan
As of 12:00 a.m. EDT, approximately 28,000 customers (high of 162,000) remain without power; full restoration is expected early this morning. One unconfirmed fatality has been reported in Cutlerville (Kent County)
Iowa
(Flooding).Widespread damages and power outages have been reported across southern portions of the State. As of 12:15 a.m. EDT, approximately 11,840 customers remain without power (from a high of 75,000). Electrical utilities are reporting that service will likely not be restored until Wednesday. As a preventive security measure, natural gas has also been shut off in these cities. One ARC shelter is open with an unknown number of occupants.

Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary

Overview
USACE continues to manage releases from the Fort Peck, Garrison, Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point reservoirs. All six reservoirs are expected to maintain or decrease their current release rates over the next few days; however, overtopping of levees continues. Four federal levees and 13 non-federal levees have breeched or overtopped across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. USACE continues to provide flood fight supplies and technical assistance to levee districts and communities across the Missouri River Basin. USACE continues to monitor and complete projects reinforcing levees along the Missouri River in an effort to keep record levels of water in the system from causing additional damage along the Missouri River.

Kansas
The MRLS-R-500 agricultural levee along the Missouri River located northeast of Highland, KS is projected to have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days as the Missouri River continues to rise. This levee is being closely monitored for potential structural issues.
Iowa
The MRLS-L-601 Watkins Ditch RB (Right Bank) agricultural levee along the Missouri River is located west of Tabor. USACE is projecting this levee will have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days. This levee is also being closely monitored for potential structural issues. Aerial reconnaissance continues below Kansas City. Information revealed no additional breeches or overtopped levees. A total of 3 million sandbags are on hand, and 2,400 were issued over the last 24 hours; all automatic sandbag machines have been deployed to the affected areas.
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding â Minot, ND
Current Situation
As of 11:00 p.m. EDT on July 12, the Souris River at Minot was at 1,553.85 feet (Moderate flood stage) and is expected to continue to recede. The outflow for Lake Darling measured along the Souris River at Foxholm is 6,640 cfs and USACE will continue to cut flows by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily or every other day, until the conservation pool is reached or conditions warrant different action. In the Souris River Basin, water continues to recede as Lake Darling releases continue to be reduced. The original levees are visible again and when the water returns to normal levels, the City of Minot will be able to begin dewatering flooded neighborhoods. The originally constructed levees are approximately 90% visible; however, the areas between the original line of protection and the fallback levees are still inundated.

Minot and Sawyer (Ward County), and Velva (McHenry County), ND
The mandatory evacuations remain in effect for portions of Ward County; however, more residents are being gradually allowed to return to their homes as the waters continue to recede. Residents in designated areas are being allowed back into their homes between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Residents were advised not to use their sinks, toilets and to continue to keep their sewers plugged. Half of the cityâs 25 sewage lift stations are flooded and not operational; only 3 of the remaining lifts are operating at 100%. Potable water remains a limiting factor in Minot (Ward County) with boil water orders in effect. The Boil Order has been lifted for portions of the City; however, the Boil Order is still in effect for many other areas of Minot and the surrounding area previously on the Boil Order. The City is working on isolating and testing the other areas within Minot. People still need to conserve water in all areas of Minot and the surrounding areas.
Significant National Weather

Northeast
High pressure building in the Midwest and Great Lakes will bring much cooler and drier weather eastward into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.Â*A few thunderstorms are possible today across Upstate New York and New England, with clearing expected on Thursday.
South
It will remain very hot from the Southern Plains and Texas to the Southeast. Temperatures will continue to average up to 10 degrees above average, with highs in the 90s and 100s.Â*There will continue to be a chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles and the Southeast. A few storms could be severe with heavy rain and strong wind gusts.
Midwest
Monsoonal flow over the Gulf of California is pumping moisture into the Central Rockies and Plains, producing heavy precipitation in areas already inundated with major flooding concerns.The Northern Plains will remain dry early today, but by early afternoon, the possibility of storms will again increase.Â*Scattered thunderstorms are also possible across the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Kentucky. Localized rain accumulations could reach 1 to 4 inches in a few areas. Some severe thunderstorms in the western counties of Dakotas and Nebraska could produce damaging wind gusts and hail. High pressure will dominate across the Great Lakes and upper Ohio Valley, resulting in cooler and drier conditions.Â*Temperatures are forecast to be up to 15 degrees below average for most of the region, but still slightly above average from southern Kansas to southern Kentucky, with highs in the 70s from the Dakotas to Michigan, in the 80s across the Ohio Valley and between 90 and 100 degrees in most of Kansas.
West
Showers and thunderstorms are possible today across Washington and Oregon, though the most numerous storms will again develop from Montana southward to northern and eastern Arizona and New Mexico.Thunderstorms may also develop from northern Idaho and Montana to New Mexico.Â*Some severe thunderstorms are possible from Montana to eastern Colorado, and may contain damaging wind gusts and hail. Localized rain accumulations of up to an inch are possible.Â*

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico
No activity

Eastern / Central Pacific

A low-level circulation located 1100 miles southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, is moving to the west at 12 mph. Isolated thunderstorms periodically develop, but remain disorganized, upper level winds are not conducive for tropical cyclone development. There is a low, near zero percent, chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Western / South Pacific:
As of 8:00 p.m. EDT, July 12, Tropical Storm (TS) 08w (Ma-on) is located approximately 805 miles east-southeast of Iwo To, Japan, is moving west-northwestward at 10 mph over the past six hours. Maximum sustained winds are 57 mph with gusts up to 69 mph.Â*

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Tuesday, July 12, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: Moderate (232 new fires)
New Large Fires: 6
Large Fires Contained: 7
Uncontained Large Fires: 22
Type 1 IMT Committed: 2
Type 2 IMT Committed: 4
States affected: NM, AZ, NC, GA, TX, LA, OK, CA, CO, MS, & NV
Â*
Wildfires
Texas
Nolan County Complex Fire â FEMA-2937-FM-TX (approved July 11, 2011)
The fire has consumed 3,880 acres and is 40% contained. The fire is located approximately 50 yards from the town of Sweetwater. 200 homes are threatened, 30 homes were evacuated and none have been destroyed.
New Mexico
Las Conchas Fire â FEMA-2933-FM-NM (approved June 26, 2011)
The fire has consumed 148,790 acres and is 50% contained. The fire is located thirteen miles west of Los Alamos, NM. The fire has destroyed 63 residences and 44 outbuildings. Approximately 565 residences, outbuildings and commercial buildings remain threatened. Flash flooding and debris flow threats exist in burn areas across New Mexico. Closures and air space restrictions remain in effect for Federal forests and monuments facilitating fire fighting movements. Firefighters continue to work on establishing fire lines and hold/mop up existing lines. The US Army Corps of Engineers facilities at Cochiti Lake are closed through July 19. The Valles Caldera National Preserve will reopen its Staging Area today (July 13). One Type 1 IMT committed to this fire. Eight injuries and no fatalities have been reported.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Tennessee
On July 11, 2011, the Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Tennessee as a result of a severe storms, straight-line winds, flash flooding, flooding, hail, and tornadoes during the period of June 18-25, 2011.Â* The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for seven counties, Individual Assistance for two counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Wyoming
On July 11, 2011, the Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Wyoming as a result of unprecedented snowpack and heavy rain causing severe landslides and widespread flooding beginning on May 18, 2011, and continuing.Â* The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for fifteen counties and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes on the Wind River Reservation, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Mississippi
On July 12, 2011, Amendment No. 2 was approved for Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1983-DR-MS, to include 13 counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance).


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