Wednesday, April 27, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

South:
A frontal system extending from the Great Lakes southward to the Texas Gulf Coast combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will bring another day of showers and severe thunderstorms to much of the region. The most severe thunderstorm activity is expected in the Tennessee and Ohio valleys. See the Storm Prediction Center
( www.spc.noaa.gov/ ) for the latest information. Heavy precipitation will add to ongoing flooding. The Tennessee Valley is forecast to receive up to 6 inches of precipitation over the next 24 hours. Ahead of the cold front winds will gust between 35 and 45 mph. Only western Texas and Oklahoma will be precipitation free. Critical Fire Weather is expected in southwestern Texas due to low relative humidity and ongoing drought.
Midwest:
The frontal system discussed above will produce widespread precipitation including severe thunderstorms over the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Mississippi Valley. The severe thunderstorms in the Ohio Valley will produce destructive winds, hail and tornadoes. Several inches of precipitation is in the forecast and will add to the ongoing flooding in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.
Northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin could see a few inches of wet snow.
Northeast:
The region will have widespread showers and thunderstorm. Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Mid-Atlantic and New York State with heavy precipitation (2 inches), gusty winds, hail and possible tornadoes.
West:
A large area of high pressure is dominating weather over much of the region. There will be a few showers and snow showers over the Northern and Central Rockies. A new system moving ashore will bring rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest. Up to a foot of new snow is possible and the snow level will drop to 500 feet tonight.
Severe Weather Outbreak â April 26 & 27

There have been 41 preliminary tornado reports and numerous damaging wind and hail reports across Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky.
Arkansas
Severe weather and flooding throughout the state have been reported. There is confirmed tornado activity, damaged homes, businesses and power outages. There were 45 tornado warnings in Arkansas in the last 24 hours. Thirty-three of 75 counties have submitted verbal or written declarations. Shelters are open in Carroll, Faulkner andÂ* Garland counties with a capacity of over 400 (population is unknown). Local Coordinator in Washington County reported that there were 17 water rescues in the City of Springdale, 36 in the City of Fayetteville, and 27 throughout the county on April 26, 2011. There are 132 homes and 9 businesses damaged. There are 60,500 customers without power (down from 88,000) . A total of 11 fatalities and 14 injuries been confirmed by the State . Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments will commence in Faulkner and Garland Counties Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at approximately noon.Â*
Texas
Â*Over 100 homes were damaged when a tornado struck Edom (Van Zandt County) approximately 75 miles East of Dallas. One woman was injured when her mobile home was destroyed. Approximately 300 people sheltered in the Limestone County Courthouse basement in Groesbeck in East Texas due to tornadic winds. Numerous power lines are down causing the evacuees to remain in the courthouse. Significant damage was reported. Telephone and power are out in Groesbeck.
Louisiana
Minor injuries were sustained when a trailer at an oil drilling site blew over in high winds.
Kentucky
Â*The Commonwealth of Kentucky has declared that a state of emergency exists as of yesterday.Â* Also the following damages occurred over night.Â* There were unconfirmed reports of minor injuries.Â* No fatalities were reported and damage assessments will continue in the morning.Â* Reports of power outages, damaged homes and businesses in several counties

Midwest Spring Flooding

Widespread heavy rainfall will continue to produce flooding across portions of southern Illinois, Indiana Kentucky and Ohio.Â* Flooding will continue to affect numerous local and state roads, agricultural land and some residential areas.
Kentucky
Lake Jericho Dam near Sulpher
The Lake Jericho Dam (Henry County) was examined by an engineer and declared safe.
Main Stem Flooding
Â*Moderate flooding on the upper Ohio River from Cincinnati to Louisville; moderate flooding from Louisville to Owensboro and major flood to be expected downstream from Owensboro to the MississippiÂ* River.Â* States of Emergencies are in effect for 24 counties and 10 cities.Â* Five shelters are open with few occupants in four Kentucky counties and one Indiana county. State requested sandbags from United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); Sandbagging and pumping operations continue for at least 10 counties and several cities.
Moderate to major category flooding is forecast to continue along Minnesota tributaries and rivers.
Illinois
Voluntary evacuation order has been issued in Cairo, IL (Pop 3,000) (Alexander County) by the Mayor.Â* A shelter has been established at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, IL.Â* American Red Cross has coordinated bus transportation of residents from Cairo to Ullin.Â* Daystar Care Center voluntarily evacuated 68 residents.Â* Voluntary evacuation order has been issued in Brookport, IL (pop 1,054).Â* USACE provided pumps to Brookport and are closely monitoring unstable levees along the Ohio river.

Poplar Bluff
Officials have evacuated approximately 1,000 residents on April 25, 2011, in anticipation of the levee breach.
Coon Island
Remains a concern for local officials and is located in a remote area with 20 -30 residents.
The new levee breach has flooded all routes to the area.Â* Local first responders are working with neighboring communities to evacuate Coon Island residents.Â* Other than residents being secluded and the area being inaccessible to emergency crews should an emergency arise, there are no reported emergency situations on Coon Island.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported due to this levee breach,.
Fire Management Assistance Grant

Texas
Pleasant Farms (Ector County, Texas): On April 26, 2011, a Fire Management Assistance Grant (number to be assigned) was approved for the State of Texas for the Pleasant Farms fire burning in Ector County.Â* At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 123 homes in and around the housing area of Pleasant Farms (population 500), Texas.Â* The fire was also threatening primary residences and Utilities in the area.Â* Evacuations are taking place for approximately 80 people. The fire is zero percent contained.(FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Tuesday, April 26 2011

• National Preparedness Level: 1
• Initial attack activity: Light (69new fires)
• New Large Fires: 10
• Large Fires Contained: 2
• Uncontained Large Fires: 19
• Type 1 IMTs Committed: 2
• Type 2 IMTs Committed: 0
• States affected: TX, FL, & NM (NIFC)Â*

Wildfire Activity
PK Complex Fire (4 combined fires) FINAL - Palo Pinto, Young and Stephens counties, TX
FMAG-2888, FMAG-2893 and FMAG-2895 approved. 126,734 acres burned; 80% contained. (Texas Forest Service)

More...