Monday, May 23, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Midwest Severe Weather Outbreak on May 21 - 22, 2011

On May 22, there was a second day of severe weather, with preliminary reports of 48 tornadoes.
Missouri
There were reports of tornado activity with baseball sized hail that occurred May 22 in Joplin (population approx 49,000) in Jasper County. A State of Emergency has been declared for the recent storms in the State. A hospital and nursing home were destroyed, two fire stations and numerous utility poles were damaged and there are reports of extensive damage throughout Joplin. The hospital is being evacuated and there are reports that oxygen and combined fuels may cause an explosion. There are unconfirmed reports of 24 fatalities and numerous injuries. One shelter is open with 110 occupants. An estimated 20,000 customers are without power. Interstate 44 and other roads are closed.
USAR Missouri Task Force 1 has been deployed to assist with search and rescue efforts; the State has also requested search and rescue teams from Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma through EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact).
There has been no request for FEMA assistance.

Kansas
There were reports of 14 tornado touchdowns with damaging winds and hail statewide. The City of Reading (population 231) in Lyon County was hardest hit by tornado damage. 20-30 homes were destroyed and 200 homes were damaged. The City of Reading is without power. There was one confirmed fatality and several injuries. One ARC shelter is to be opened. An Incident Command Post has been established in Reading.
Minnesota
There were multiple reports of tornado touchdowns in Washington County. There are downed trees and power lines and significant damage to roofs. 20,000 customers are without power. No fatalities have been reported but there are multiple injuries. There are no shelters open.
Wisconsin
There are reports of over 200 homes damaged in the La Crosse area. The State is performing damage assessments.
Mississippi Valley Flooding

The Mississippi River is cresting at Red River Landing, LA. USACE continues to monitor the crest and continues flood fighting measures throughout the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) system. Gages below Morganza have crested and are expected to remain at crest/current levels for the next two weeks. The River is forecast to fall below flood stage on May 27.

Louisiana
17 of 125 gates are open along the Morganza Floodway. 330 of 350 gates are open along the Bonnet Carre Spillway (100% capacity) and they are anticipated to remain open for 2 to 4 weeks. 1,766 power outages reported Statewide as of May 21, 2011.
Mandatory evacuations were issued for Happy Town and Sherburne Wildlife Areas of St. Martin Parish on May 21. The mandatory evacuation for Butte La Rose has been lifted to allow further flood fighting measures but will be re-evaluated today, May 23. 90% of the population has already evacuated. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for portions of Krotz Springs and Melville in St. Landry Parish. No shelters are open, but ARC has shelters on standby if requested. The State has identified sufficient shelter capacity to meet anticipated needs.
The US Coast Guard reported the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway has been closed and the Port Allen Lock is limited to daylight operations. The Bayou Chene waterway in St. Mary Parish, Atchafalaya River from mile marker (MM) 117 to MM00 are closed, and the lower Mississippi River near Baton Rouge from MM232 to MM237 is closed to all traffic due to a barge allison with a dock facility in Baton Rouge. The White Castle and Plaquemines ferries are out of service due to high water.

Mississippi
Five shelters are open with 30 occupants. 1 fatality has been confirmed. 4,523 power outages were reported Statewide. Numerous self-evacuations have occurred across the state. 5 DRCs are open in Tunica, Desoto, Bolivar, Yazoo, and Wilkinson counties. USACE will continue to monitor the entire MR&T system, with a focus on monitoring backwater flooding levee conditions near the Yazoo Basin. Four water treatment plants remain non operational. The Yazoo County airport remains closed.
Northeast Flooding

Vermont
State of Emergency remains in effect. IA teams are on site and in the field Record flooding is forecast to continue and Flood Warnings continue for Lake Champlain
New York
Major Flooding is ongoing and Flood Warnings continue for Lake Champlain at Rouses Point. States of emergency remain in effect for various towns and villages in the following counties: Clinton, Essex, Allegany, Oneida and Cattaraugus counties due to flash flooding that occurred on in April and on May 19, 2011. One shelter is open with 19 occupants.
Significant National Weather

West:
A front and a developing scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the region.Â*Â* Locally heavy showers will produce up to an inch of precipitation. Southern California andÂ* the Southwest will be dry.Â* In fact, southwesterly winds of 15 to 20 mph with higher gustsÂ* and low relative humidity will result in critical fire weather from eastern Arizona toÂ* western Texas. Upper level low will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the region.Â* Locally heavy showers will produce up to an inch of precipitation. Southern California and the Southwest will be dry.Â* In fact, southwesterly winds of 15 to 20 mph with higher gusts and low relative humidity will result in critical fire weather from eastern Arizona to western Texas.
Midwest :
A cold front stretches from the Great Lakes to the Texas Panhandle.Â* This front will interact with copious moisture off the Gulf of Mexico to produce extensive precipitation across much the region.
Heavy showers, thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms are forecast along the front. Threats include hail, gusty winds and tornadoes. Areas along the front will pick up an inch or more of precipitation. Tomorrow, the threat of severe thunderstorms will continue in the lower Midwest.
South:
Record flooding continues along the lower Mississippi River. Most of the region will be dry.Â* The tail end of the front discussed above will bring showers, thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms to Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.
Northeast:
The system moving out of the Midwest will produce showers and thunderstorms across the region. The heaviest precipitation (half an inch) is expected from the Mid-Atlantic states to New York. Tomorrow, the cold front will move through New York and New England and stall over the Mid-Atlantic.(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and Storm Prediction Center)Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Â*
Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
FMAG -2907 was approved on May 9, 2011 by the Region IX Administrator for a wildfire located 7 miles southwest of Portal, Arizona.Â* The fire has burned 37,500 acres and remains 25% contained with an estimated containment date of June 22, 2011. Seven injuries have been reported.Â* A mandatory evacuation of Cave Creek and a voluntary evacuation for Paradise remain in place as a safety precaution due to burnout operations; 228 structures are being threatened.Â*
Moose Mountain Fire, AK (Fairbanks, Alaska)
On May 22, 2011, a FMAG was approved for the Moose Mountain Fire near Fairbanks, Alaska
The fire began May 20, 2011 and has burned 800 acres. The fire is 60% contained. 600 homes in Fairbanks are threatened with 400 of those homes within one mile of the fire. Voluntary evacuations and a Temporary Flight Restriction are in place.Â* (FEMA Region X, FEMA HQ)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean:
Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1.
Eastern / Central Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours
Western / South Pacific:
Based on the current warning Tropical Storm 04W (Songda) is no threat to U.S. territories or interests.Â*Â*(NOAA, NWS, NHC, CPHC JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Sunday, May 22, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (48 new fires)
New Large Fires: 1
Large Fires Contained: 0
Uncontained Large Fires: 11
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
States affected: GA, NC, TX, FL, LA MS & AZÂ*(NIFC)


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