Tuesday, March 8, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Rain will form over portions of the Central Plains and move into the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Central Appalachians by Wednesday evening. Some patches of freezing rain will evolve over portions of Kansas to Michigan. Snowfall is forecast from the Central and Northern Plains to the Upper Mississippi Valley through Wednesday. The heaviest snow is expected across central Nebraska and western Kansas.
Northeast:
A strong high pressure system will keep New England cold and dry through mid week. The remainder of the East Coast, Southeast and Mid Atlantic will also stay dry through mid-day on Wednesday.
South:
A developing strong storm over the Southern Plains will move northeastward to the southern edge of Lake Michigan by Wednesday night. Showers and thunderstorms are expected over portions of the central and eastern Gulf Coast and as far north as the Tennessee Valley, where already elevated river levels will exacerbate flooding and flash flooding concerns through Wednesday. There is a slight risk of severe weather associated with these thunderstorms.
West:
A storm system will produce widespread rain and higher elevation snow across the Northwest coast and the Cascades. Locally heavy mountain snow is expected over portions of the Central/Northern Rockies and Northern Plains, moving into the Upper Great Lakes by Wednesday night. (National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)
Louisiana Severe Weather of March 5 - Final

There were reports of six tornado touch downs Mar 5 across southern Louisiana. The most significant impact was from a reported EF-2 tornado that touched down in Rayne, La. (Acadia Parish). One confirmed fatality and 12 injuries were reported. Mandatory evacuations were ordered due to broken gas lines; residents were allowed to check on their homes Monday, March 7. The American Red Cross reported one shelter open with 15 occupants on March 6. Twenty to thirty people were received at the Rayne Fire Station reception Center. One hundred to 150 homes are reported damaged, as well as roof and window damage to Rayne High School. Local damage assessments are underway.

Volcanic Activity

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) monitoring network continues to detect activity within the Kilauea Volcano. Summit and east rift zone seismic tremor levels remain significantly elevated, and the fissure eruption that started on Saturday, March 5 at the east rift zone continued intermittently on Monday. The deflation of the floor of the PuâuâOâo Crater is slowing. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed the Chain of Craters Road, numerous trails, and the Kulanaokuaiki campground until further notice. The Kilauea Volcano has been active since 1983 and this activity is viewed as a continuation of that eruption. No request for FEMA assistance. Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING; Aviation Color Code: RED. (USGS HVO)
Earthquake Activity

Oregon
Seven earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.9 to 5.0 have occurred off the coast of Oregon, approximately 340 miles west southwest of Portland, Ore., since Saturday, March 6. A Magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred at 8:26 p.m. EST March 7 at a depth of 11.1 miles in the same general location. This quake is the largest of the seven over the past three days. No tsunami was generated. (PTWC, WCATC, USGS)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: New York, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Washington.
Wildfire Update

New Mexico
A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved for the Quail Ridge Fire, Grant County, N.M. on March 8, 2011. Te fire is twenty-five percent contained and approximately 1,000 acres of state and private land has burned since the fire started on March 7. The fire is threatening power lines, a water treatment plant and 640 homes in and around the south end of Silver City, N.M. (population 40,000). Voluntary and mandatory evacuations are in effect for approximately 200 people. One shelter is open at the Silver City Convention Center. As of Monday night 32 to 37 homes were damaged or destroyed. Five additional large fires are burning uncontrolled in New Mexico. (FEMA Region VI)
Disaster Declaration Activity

Massachusetts
On March 7, 2011, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1959-DR-MA for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a Severe Winter Storm and Snow Storm that occurred January 11-12, 2011. Public Assistance (assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities) was approved for six counties for debris removal and emergency protective measures; assistance for emergency protective measures, including snow assistance, for five counties for a period of 48 hours and for one county for a period of 72 hours. All counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant program.
New York
Effective March 7, 2011, Amendment #1 to FEMA-1957-DR-NY adds Bronx and Queens counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow assistance, under the Public Assistance program for any continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period (December 26-27, 2010 for Severe Winter Storm and Snow Storm). (FEMA HQ)


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