Friday, July 1, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary

Numerous levee sections continue to experience seepage and boiling and are being closely monitored by authorities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is continuing flood fighting efforts to control and mitigate the impacts of flooding levee overtopping. Currently there are 20 stream gages in Missouri above flood stage. Eight stream gages are on the mainstem of the Missouri River, five are on the mainstem of the Mississippi River and seven are in northern Missouri. Along the Missouri River, releases this week are expected to be slightly reduced in the upper four dams in order to decrease the river stage at Fort Randall and to reduce reservoir levels at Fort Randall and Oahe. Any additional rain could prompt a return to the previous peak releases.

North Dakota
The Garrison Dam reservoir appears to have crested and based on the latest forecast will stay nearly level for the next several days or so and then begin to recede. Releases from Garrison will remain at 145,000 cfs until Friday when it will be reduced to 140,000 cfs. The reservoir is using surcharge storage above the exclusive flood control zone and spillway gates are being used to pass floodwaters.
South Dakota
Big Bend Damâs releases were reduced to 155,000 cfs and will remain at this level until the reservoir reaches its normal operating level; at that point, releases will be reduced to 150,000 cfs.
Concerns remain in regards to potential damage to the spillway wing walls due to high spillway flows.
Iowa
A full levee breach occurred on Missouri River Federal Levee L-575 near Percival (population 276), Fremont County, in southwest Iowa. There was a previous breach on Levee L-575 near Hamburg.
This new breach will inundate areas not previously inundated by the Hamburg breach; these new inundation areas (between Interstate 29 and the Missouri River) have already been evacuated.
Interstate 29 closed an additional 14 miles. 24 farmsteads, most of which have already been evacuated, will be impacted by the flooding.
Nebraska â Eppley Airfield
The State of Nebraska, the city of Omaha, and Eppley Airfield placed seepage berms, erosion control, and pumping efforts but have expended their resources. USACE has been requested to provide technical and direct assistance to address multiple sand boils and seepage areas along the levee surrounding the airfield. Significant interior flooding has occurred due to rain and backed-up storm sewers but has not affected the integrity of the levees at this time. Airport operations have not been disrupted.
Kansas
The Kansas Department of Corrections Levee (non-Federal levee) is overtopping and developing an overtopping breach. The levee is in Leavenworth County. 3,200 acres have been inundated and 3,100 acres are in agricultural production. No towns, businesses or residences have been affected.
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding â Minot, ND

Current Situation
The river crest passed in Minot with a reading of 1561.72 feet at midnight EDT on June 26, 2011, and floodwaters will remain high for several days and slowly recede. As of 12:00 a.m. EDT on July 1, the river at Minot was at 1559.84 feet (flood stage is 1549 feet). The river is forecast to decrease below the 1,558 feet historical record stage (set in 1881) on July 6.
Flows were not reduced at Lake Darling on June 30; however, flows will continue to slowly fall as the pool elevation falls. Releases will continue to reduce by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily until the conservation pool is reached or conditions warrant. With the reduced releases from Lake Darling and favorable weather patterns, the levels in the Souris have receded approximately two feet from the crest from Foxholm (Ward County) through Velva (McHenry County). In Bantry (McHenry County), the water is slowly receding from the crest on June 28, 2011. There are no reports of breached levees at this time.
Reconstruction of the levees/recovery is not expected until mid-July, when the flow will drop to 3,000-5,000 cfs.
Minot and Sawyer (Ward County), and Velva (McHenry County), ND
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for approximately 13,000 residents of Minot and Burlington (Ward County). Mandatory evacuations were lifted for residents of Velva (Ward County). Broadway Bridge has been opened on a limited basis during peak commuting hours. Trinity Hospital is operating at the Lewis & Clark School (capacity 20) to triage and treat people on the north side of Minot. Trinity Hospital is using reverse osmosis to purify water. Shelter populations in Minot continue to decline. The overnight sheltered population at the Minot State University Dome was 169. Approximately 50 residents are sheltered at the Northern Lights Community Center in New Town (Mountrail County).
Three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in North Dakota - two are in Minot and one is in Bismarck. Two MCOVs are staged in Bismarck for possible deployment as MDRCs. Locations for DRCs/MDRCs are being researched for Morton, McHenry and Renville counties. A Boil Water Order remains in effect for Minot.
Significant National Weather

West:
Most of the region will remain dry with some rain expected along the Pacific Northwest. Some isolated storms are possible in New Mexico and southeast Arizona; these storms could bring dry lightning which may start new fires. The desert Southwest will see high temperatures ranging from the 90s to over 110 degrees.
Midwest:
Very warm temperatures are expected across the Mississippi Valley and into the Great Lakes. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the region. Some of the storms could be severe, with large hail and strong winds across the upper Midwest and Middle Mississippi Valley through Saturday morning.
South:
The Southern and Central Plains and much of the Deep South can expect high temperatures near 100 degrees today. Afternoon showers are forecast in Florida and the remnants of Tropical Storm Arlene may bring rain to southern Texas. Isolated storms are possible in southeast Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi and Alabama. Some of these storms could bring locally heavy downpours and gusty winds.
Northeast:

Temperatures are expected to be within seasonal norms. Most of the region will be dry with a chance for showers in New England.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
Remnants of Tropical Storm Arlene
On July 1, 2011 at 12:00 a.m. EDT, the remnants of Tropical Storm Arlene were located 120 miles southwest of Tampico, Mexico. The remnants are moving west-southwestward at 8 mph and this motion should continue for the next 24-48 hours Maximum sustained winds are 30 mph with higher gusts. Additional rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over eastern and northeast Mexico are expected through this afternoon. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
There are no coastal Watches or Warnings in effect. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern / Central Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western / South Pacific:
No activity.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Thursday, June 30, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (120 new fires)
New Large Fires: 4
Large Fires Contained: 7
Uncontained Large Fires: 26
Type 1 IMT Committed: 4
Type 2 IMT Committed: 10
States affected: NM, AZ, NC, GA, FL, TX, AL, CO, CA & UT
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Wildfires
New Mexico
Las Conchas Fire â FEMA-2933-FM-NM
The fire has burned 93,678 (+24,123) acres and is 3% contained.
The entire town of Los Alamos is under mandatory evacuations. Mandatory evacuations are also in effect for Bandelier National Monument, Conchiti Mesa and Las Conchas. Voluntary evacuations are in effect for the towns of White Rock and Conchiti. Shelters have been established in Espanola, (Rio Arriba County) and Pojoaque (Santa Fe County). There are several shelters on stand-by. The Los Alamos National Laboratory is closed and non-essential personnel have been evacuated. All radioactive material has been accounted for and protected. 13 residences have been destroyed, 3 damaged, and many structures remain threatened both on the Los Alamos National Laboratory and in the city of Los Alamos.
Donaldson Fire â FEMA-TBD-FM-NM (Lincoln County)
The fire has burned 72,650 acres and is 10% contained. The estimated containment date is July 2. A FMAG was approved at 10:14 p.m. EDT on June 30, 2011 The fire is 10 miles northwest of Ruidoso Downs, and south of the towns of Glencoe, San Patricio, Hondo and Tinnie and moving towards these towns. The population of Lincoln County is 19,411. 100 homes are threatened; 6 outbuildings and 1 residence have been destroyed. 50 residents have been evacuated and there is one shelter open with unknown number of occupants.
Little Lewis Fire â FEMA-2934-FM-NM (Otero County)
The fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 5%contained. A FMAG was approved on June 29, 2011. The fire is threatening the communities of Sacramento and Weed and 250 homes are threatened. 250 residents have evacuated. There is one shelter open with an unknown number of occupants.
Arizona and New Mexico
Wallow Fire â FEMA-2915-FM-AZ (Apache, Navajo, Graham & Greenlee Counties); FEMA-2917-FM-NM (Catron County) - FINAL
The fire has burned 538,049 acres and is 95% contained. Most evacuations have been lifted.
Arizona
Monument Fire â FEMA-2919-FM-AZ (Cochise County, AZ) - FINAL
The fire has burned 30,526 acres and is 98% contained; the expected containment date is July 15.
Georgia
Honey Prairie Complex Fires â FEMA-2920-FM-GA (Racepond, Honey Prairie, Paxton Road and Durdin Prairie Fires) - FINALÂ*
The fire has burned 286,698 acres and is 70% contained.Â*
Sweat Farm Again Fire â FEMA-2921-FM-GA - FINAL
The fire has burned 19,169 acres and is 75% contained.
North Carolina
Juniper Road Fire- FINAL
The fire has burned 30,593 acres and is 68% contained.
Disaster Declaration Activity

On June 28, 2011, the Governor requested an Emergency Declaration for the State of Missouri as a result of flooding that began on June 1, 2011 and continuing. Direct Federal assistance (Categories A & B) for the entire state was requested.
On June 30, 2011, FEMA-3325-EM-MO was declared for the State of Missouri for Flooding that began June 1, 2011, and continuing. Emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, at 75 percent Federal funding, for 27 counties and the Independent City of St. Louis were approved. The FCO is Elizabeth Turner. (FEMA HQ)

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