Thursday, December 23, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:Â*
Numerous Watches, Warnings, and Advisories are in effect across the region; see www.wrh.noaa.gov/ for the latest information. Heavy rains and mountain snows over southern California, Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona will finally taper off today but Central Arizona will see up to two more inches of rain during the next 24 hours. Up to two inches of heavy rain is also forecast for the Olympic Peninsula in Washington through Saturday.
Midwest:
An area of low pressure will move across the Central Plains today and bring 2-5 inches of snow across eastern South Dakota today with a limited area at risk for 3-6 inches. The storm system moving through the Southwest is forecast to move out of the Rockies and into the Southern Plains on Friday.
South:
High pressure will keep the region generally cool and clear except for Texas where Gulf Coast moisture will bring widespread rain today. The storm in the Midwest is forecast to move east along the Gulf Coast Friday night and Saturday.
Northeast:Â*
Light snow is expected over parts of New England this morning. Lake effect snow is likely downwind of the Great Lakes including the Central and Northern Appalachians. A significant coastal winter storm is possible early next week from the Carolinas to New England.
(NOAA and various media sources)

Â*
Western Storms and Flooding

The series of strong Pacific storms that began on Friday, December 17, 2010, is moving east but continues to produce rain and high elevation snow in areas of Nevada and Arizona today. The Governor of California declared a state of emergency for the counties of Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Tulare on Dec. 21, 2010.
Residential flood damage is reported and localized evacuations remain in effect for portions of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and California. Rivers and streams are receding in Utah and the privately-owned Trees Ranch Dam has been declared safe. In California, the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee remains intact and no assistance is requested. Utah, Nevada, and California continue to operate shelters with unknown numbers of occupants.
FEMA Region IX is at Watch/Steady State and FEMA Region VIII is activated to Level III, both are monitoring the local situation. Preliminary Damage Assessment teams are on alert if required. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
(FEMA Region IX, FEMA Region VIII, FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

On December 22, 2010, FEMA 1951-DR-VT was declared for the State of Vermont for a Severe Storm that occurred December 1-5, 2010. Public Assistance for Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide were approved. The FCO is Albert Lewis. (FEMA HQ)

Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.


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