Tuesday, March 1, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
A low pressure system in the Pacific is producing onshore flow over the Pacific Northwest. Precipitation will spread eastward across the Northern Rockies and into the Northern Plains. Lower elevations in Washington and western Oregon will pick up an inch or more of rain and higher elevations will get a foot of new snow. A high avalanche threat continues in the Olympic and Cascade ranges. Tonight and tomorrow, a large Pacific storm will bring rain to the entire West Coast. The Sierras could pick up an additional one to two feet of snow.
Midwest:
The region will be generally dry. Precipitation will be limited to snow associated with the system in the Pacific Northwest spreading across the Northern Plains. A dry cold front will drop southward into the Plains. Behind the front, temperatures will be as much as 10 to 40 degrees below average. The dry air and cold temperatures will remain in place through midweek. Despite the break in precipitation, moderate to major flooding is occurring on rivers across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
South:
High pressure is building over the region. A marginal fire weather threat may develop this afternoon across the Texas Panhandle, western Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico. The front that brought heavy precipitation and severe weather to the entire East Coast has moved offshore except where it crosses the Florida Peninsula. Rainfall totals there will be limited to half an inch. Gusty northwest winds over the Outer Banks of North Carolina will gradually diminish as the front moves further offshore.
Northeast:
High pressure is building over the region. Coastal areas of Maine will see winds gusting as high as 30 to 40 mph this morning. Northwest winds will gradually diminish later in the day across New England and the eastern Mid-Atlantic. Tonight and tomorrow, a cold front will produce a few snow showers from northern New York to Maine.
(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources).
Severe Weather Outbreak

Severe thunderstorms from Feb. 27-28, 2011, produced heavy rains, hail, high winds and tornadoes.
Midwest Flooding

Widespread moderate to major flooding is occurring on rivers across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. There are no unmet needs and there are no requests for FEMA Federal assistance.(Region V, NOAA)
International â Update on New Zealand Earthquake

Background
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred on Feb. 21, 2011, near Christchurch, New Zealand. The cities of Christchurch central business district and Lyttelton suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings.
Current Situation

• The multinational response effort is ongoing
• USAID/DART USAR searched Christchurch Cathedral and a 16-story building; secondary searches of 8 city blocks in Christchurch were also performed and secondary, building-by-building searches are nearly complete
• There are 154(+7) confirmed fatalities, 70 people rescued and 240 people are reported missing
• Of the 200 homes evacuated in Sumner, all but 20 have been able to be reoccupied
• Three welfare centers are open with over 300 occupants
• Power has been restored to 85 percent of homes and businesses and will reach 95 percent soon.
• Sixty-six percent of water is back on across Christchurch; boil water advisory is in effect.
• New Zealand has not requested further international assistance.

(USGS,USAID, NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management)
Earthquake Activity

United States
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 9:19 p.m. EST, on Febr. 28, 2011, 75 miles north northwest of San Francisco, Calif. at a depth of 1.6 miles. There were no reports of damage or injury.
(FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: Illinois, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Wildfire Update

Gusty winds and low relative humidity across much of western Texas have caused wind driven wildfires. Five Fire Management Assistance Grants were requested. Four FMAGs were approved and the FMAG request for Quinn Ranch Fire (Howard County) was denied.
Disaster Declaration Activity

Illinois Request
On Feb. 28, 2011, the State of Illinois requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of a severe winter storm and snowstorm that occurred during the period of Jan. 31 to Feb. 11, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting public Assistance for 60 counties, snow assistance for 43 counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
North Dakota Request
On Feb. 28, 2011, the State of North Dakota requested an Emergency Declaration due to hydrologic conditions indicating a strong potential for severe spring flooding in the Devilâs Lake, James, Missouri, Red River of the North and Souris River basins beginning on Feb. 14, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance (Category B), including direct Federal Assistance for the Spirit Lake Nation, and the Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa Indian reservation, and 17 counties.
(FEMA HQ)


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