Saturday, January 7, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

Northeast
Temperatures are expected to be 5-20 degrees above average today for most of the region with highs in the 50s and 60s expected from Virginia to southern New England. Light rain will develop from New York to the Lower Mississippi Valley.Â*
South
Showers and thunderstorms will continue over the central Gulf Coast through Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to be above average again today for much of the region with temperatures in the 50s and 60s in northern Texas and Oklahoma.
Midwest
Snow showers are expected from the Upper Midwest to northern Michigan. Temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees above average are expected today region wide. Highs in the 20s and 30s are expected from North Dakota to the northern Great Lakes. Temperatures will reach in the highs 40s and 50s South Dakota to the Ohio Valley.
West
Light snow is expected for the Great Basin and Central Rockies. Approximately 2-4 inches of snow are expected in the upper elevations of Utah and Colorado Saturday night. Temperatures are expected to be as high from the 20s to 40s from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado. Highs in the 50s and 60s are expected from California to New Mexico with the deserts receiving lows in the 70s. In Alaska, heavy snow will continue portions of southern Alaska through Sunday with additional accumulations of up to two feet expected by Sunday night.
Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.
Heavy Snow - Southern Alaska:

Prince William Sound, Alaska
A significant winter storm moving across the Prince William Sound is expected to continue bringing heavy snow through the weekend.Â* The City of Valdez received 39 inches of new snowfall since early Thursday, Jan. 5 and an additional heavy snowfall of two feet or more is anticipated this weekend. The season to date snowfall at Valdez has reached 271 inchesâthe mean snowfall season to date is 154 inches. Multiple avalanches have been reported in and around Cordova and Valdez, AK (est. pop: 9,636) forcing the closure of multiple area roads.
The City of Cordova declared a local snow emergency and requested state assistance with snow removal. Two commercial buildings collapsed and several other buildings and residences are at risk of collapse due to the weight of the snow. Officials are monitoring the potential impact to commercial boats operating in the harbor. Avalanches closed Copper River Highway in Cordova, severing the city from the airport; however, the road has been partially cleared for controlled one-way emergency access and the Cordova, Alaska airport remains partially open.Â* One local shelter is open.
The Alaska state Emergency Operation Center is partially activated for daytime operations only (11:00am -11:00pm EST). FEMA Region X Regional Administrator and Region X Incident Management Assistance Teams are in contact with state officials. FEMA Region X remains in contact with the state Emergency Operation Center and the NWS. There have been no requests for FEMA assistance and FEMA Region X remains at Watch/Steady state.
Train Collision - Indiana

Porter County, Indiana
On Jan. 6 at approximately 3:07 p.m. EST, three cargo trains were involved in a sequence of rear-end collisions. Initial reports indicated an explosion/fire and the possible presence of hazardous materials. As a result, approximately 100 residents within a ½ mile radius were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Later, however, the fire was extinguished and all evacuations were lifted. On-scene officials determined there were no hazardous materialsâthe cars involved were empty ethanol tankers. Two minor injuries were reported. The state Emergency Operation Center remains at normal operations and there were no requests for FEMA assistance.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

Alaska
At 6:37 pm EST, Jan. 6 a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred in southern Alaska. The earthquake was centered approximately 31 miles E of Pedro Bay and 151 miles SW of Anchorage, at a depth of 86.5 miles. A tsunami was not generated. There have been no reports of damage or injury. The Alaska state Emergency Operation Center remains at normal operations and there have been no requests for FEMA assistance.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Massachusetts
The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4051-DR for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the Severe Storm and Snowstorm that occurred during the period, Oct. 29-30, 2011. Specifically, the declaration provides Public Assistance for six counties and snow assistance for a period of 48 hours four counties.Â* All counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating officer is Mark H. Landry.



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