Thursday, February 24, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Winter storm warnings are spread across the region as a low pressure system moves over the Pacific Northwest along the West Coast from southern Washington to central California.Â* Snow is forecast from Washington to portions of northern California today to include areas at sea level and will spread southward to Sierra Nevada by Friday.Â* Rain will develop in the lower elevations of central California and will continue into Friday.Â* Cold air associated with the system will bring snow levels down to sea level as far south as Northern California through Friday.Â* A cold Canadian high pressure system will drop temperatures almost 45 degrees below normal and produce scattered light snow in the Northern and Central Plains today and continue into the Northern High Plains through this evening.Â* Snow will also develop over parts of the Great Basin to the Central Rockies through Friday.
Midwest:
Showers and thunderstorms over the Ohio Valley will change from light to moderate rain by this evening.Â* Severe thunderstorms and river flooding are possible along the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys.Â* Snow is forecast over parts of the Middle Mississippi and western Ohio valleys this evening.Â* Snow will also develop over the Great Lakes today and will end this evening, but will begin again Friday morning as a new system pushes northward into parts of the Lower Great Lakes and northern New England.Â* Freezing rain is forecast over portions of Kansas today.
Northeast:
Under a ridge of high pressure, New England and much of the Mid-Atlantic will be dry and cold.Â* Rain is forecast over the Mid-Atlantic.Â* A few small pockets of freezing rain will develop over parts of Interior New England by Friday morning.
South:
Moisture from the Gulf Coast will move into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys producing moderate rain and thunderstorms by this morning.Â* Severe thunderstorms are possible from the Southern Plains to the Lower Ohio and Tennessee valleys through this evening.Â* Moderate rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the Southern Plains and will move eastward into the Central Gulf Coast by this evening.Â*Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Midwest Winter Storms (Final)

A winter storm moved through the Upper Midwest and Northern portions of the Ohio Valley Feb. 21, 2011, causing widespread power outages in Michigan and Ohio.Â* Records snowfalls were recorded in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Earthquake Activity

No significant earthquake activity reported in the United States or its territories during the last 24 hours. (USGS )
International â Update on New Zealand Earthquake
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred on Feb. 21, 2011, near Christchurch New Zealand. Forty aftershocks between magnitude four and six have occurred and more aftershocks are expected.

• National State of Emergency was Declared
• Sixty percent of electricity distribution has been restored; restoration is ongoing but extensive liquefaction is slowing progress.
• Eighty percent of the city is without water service; water tankers are being used to deliver drinking water.
• Heavy congestion in all telecommunications networks.
• Christchurch hospital is operational.
• Five welfare centres (shelters) are open across the city; 900 people have registered for shelters.
• Numerous roads and bridges are impassable.
• Rail service between Christchurch and Lyttelton suspended; all other lines operational.
• The Christchurch Airport has re-opened.
• Lyttelton Port operations have been suspended.
• Intercity Coach (bus) Services are operational.
• Confirmed 98 fatalities and more than 400 injuries.
• Three hundred people are missing and reports continue to be collected.
• Urban Search and Rescue Teams from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are assisting in Search and Rescue.
• USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team which includes one USAR Team from Los Angeles County (USTF-2) to assist in Search and Rescue. Virginia TF-1 (USTF-1) is on standby. (USGS,USAID, NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management )

Preliminary Damage Assessments

• The State of Indiana requested Public Assistance PDAs for 65 counties due to a winter storm that occurred from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2011. Joint PDAs are scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 22, 2011.
• The State of Illinois requested Public Assistance PDAs for 73 counties due to a winter storm that occurred during the week of Jan. 31, 2011. Joint PDAs are scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 22, 2011.
• The State of Missouri requested Public Assistance PDAs for 64 counties due to severe winter storms that occurred Jan. 31, 2011. PDAs began Feb. 14, 2011. PDAs in five counties are ongoing and 59 have been completed.

Disaster Declaration Activity

New Mexico Request

• On Feb. 23, 2011, the Governor of New Mexico requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of a Severe Winter Storm that occurred Feb. 1-11, 2011.Â* Specifically, the governor has requested Public Assistance for nine counties and five Tribal jurisdictions and Hazard Mitigation statewide.Â* (FEMA HQ)

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