Friday, March 4, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
A low pressure system off the Pacific Northwest will generate rain along coastal Washington and Oregon with heavy snow possible in the Olympia and Cascades Mountain ranges. This system will also produce an additional five to 10 inches of new snow from the Northern Rockies into the Central Plains.
Midwest:
A slow-moving frontal system extending from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes will produce extensive precipitation, including severe weather, as it moves across the region. Showers with embedded thunderstorms will produce 1 1/2 to three inches of additional precipitation in the Middle Mississippi Valley. This additional precipitation will exacerbate ongoing flooding conditions that currently exist in the low lying areas. Possible flash floods are forecast for the Ohio Valley with severe thunderstorms along the Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas borders. On the northern edge of this frontal system Wisconsin and Iowa could receive several inches of additional snow.
South:
Isolated rain and severe thunderstorms will extend from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes over the course of the day. This low pressure system will potentially produce another one to three inches of rain as it moves eastward across the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys.
Northeast:
Today, most of the region will remain sunny and dry.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Midwest Flooding

Additional, river flooding is possible over the weekend as a new system moves across the region.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
International â Update on New Zealand EarthquakeÂ*
Background
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred on Feb. 21, 2011, near Christchurch New Zealand. The cities of Christchurch central business distsrict and Lyttelton suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings.
Current Situation
The multinational response effort continues. There are 163 (+3) confirmed fatalities, 70 people rescued and approximately 200 people are still missing. Urban Search and Rescue operations have transitioned to the recovery phase. New Zealand has not requested any additional international assistance. (USGS,USAID, NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management)
Â*
Preliminary Damage Assessments

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

Florida - Iron Horse Fire (Volusia and Brevard counties)
The Iron Horse Fire began on Feb. 28, 2011. Approximately 16,700 acres have burned and the fire is currently 25 percent contained. Interstate 95 is currently open in both directions. There have not been any requests for FEMA assistance. (FEMA Region IV)
Texas - Wildfires
Over the past seven days, four Fire Management Assistance Grants were approved. All of the fires are at least 90 percent contained and all evacuation orders have been lifted. No additional requests for FEMA assistance have been submitted.Â*(NIFC, NWS, ARC, Texas Forest Service)


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