Wednesday, May 11, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

Major to record flooding is expected along the Mississippi River over the course of the next two to three weeks.
Tennessee
The Mississippi River levees in the Memphis area are performing as designed. Some areas of Memphis are experiencing backwater flooding. These affected parts are in low-lying areas prone to flooding, not protected by the federal levee system. Downtown Memphis is expected to remain largely dry. As the river crests, authorities report that no additional areas are expected to see serious flooding as levees continue to hold. As of May 10, the American Red Cross reports seven shelters open with 489 occupants.
Kentucky
One fatality has been reported as a result of flooding. As of May 10, the Red Cross reports seven shelters open with 28 occupants.
Illinois
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for portions of Alexander County. Voluntary evacuation orders are still in effect for several municipalities. As of May 10, the Red Cross reports four shelters open with 206 occupants.
Arkansas
Flooding continues along White, Black, and Mississippi Rivers. Several roads along the White River remain closed, including I-40 east of Little Rock, Ark.USACE Little Rock District is engaged in flood fighting in the White Rivers and Black River basins in southern Missouri and Arkansas. The districtâs reservoir operations and assistance to local levee boards have dramatically reduced flood damages at a number of towns in the region. As of May 10, there are nine shelters open with 146 occupants.
LouisianaÂ*
USACE may need to operate the Morganza Floodway, which will require evacuation of people and livestock for communities within the Atchafalaya River Basin. Today, around 3:00 pm CDT a decision will be as to whether or not the Morganza Spillway will be opened. The state is concerned about the potential opening of the Morganza Spillway (Pointe Coupe Parish) in east central Louisiana and the impacts that will have on the communities of Morgan City (St. Mary Parish) and Houma (Terrebonne Parish).
Missouri
As of May 10, there are five shelters open with 81 occupants.
Severe Weather Outbreak â April 25-28

On April 25 -28, severe weather moved across the Southeast, producing over 300 reports of tornadoes and significant damage in numerous states across the South.
Alabama
As of May 10, the Red Cross reports four shelters open with 208 occupants.
Mississippi
As of May 10, the Red Cross reports two shelter open with 25 occupants.
Georgia
No shelters are open.
Tennessee
No shelters are reported at this time.
Significant National Weather

West:
Under High pressure, most of the region will remain dry with the exception of higher elevation snow.Â* Red Flag Warnings and Critical Fire Weather will continue from southeast Arizona to west Texas, due to low relative humidity and gusty winds.Â*
Midwest:
Strong to severe thunderstorms areÂ* forecast across portions of the CentralÂ* Plains to the Great Lakes. Flash flooding is possible across portions of the Ohio Valley. In the Lower Mississippi Valley, near Record River flooding will persist along the Mississippi River as the crest moves downstream from Memphis, TN.
South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible across the Southern Plains and into Lower Mississippi Valley through this evening. Severe thunderstorms are forecast across most of South Carolina throughout the morning. Critical Fire Weather conditions will continue for portions of west Texas to southern Kansas, due to low relative humidity and gusty winds.
Northeast:
Isolated thunderstorms are forecast from the Canadian Maritimes and into eastern New England. The precipitation is expected to taper off this evening.(National weather service, Hydrometeorological prediction center, and various media sources).Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
FMAG-2907 was approved on May 9, 2011. Approximately 8,900 acres burned and 5% contained. More than 200 people were evacuated.
Matt Loop Fire, TX (Howard County)
FMAG-2908 was approved on May 9, 2011. Approximately 1,500 acres burned and 70 % contained.
There were four homes destroyed and all evacuations have been lifted.
Gage Holland Fire, TX (Brewster County)
FMAG-2906 was approved on May 8, 2011. More than 4,550 acres (private land) burned; 70% contained and all evacuations have been lifted.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following stats: Vermont, New York, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Wildfire Update

• Tuesday, May 10, 2011:
• National Preparedness Level: 2
• Initial attack activity: LIGHT (190 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 7
• Large Fires Contained: 3
• Uncontained Large Fires: 26
• Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
• Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
• States affected: TX, FL, GA, NC, KS, NM, AZ, CA(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

North Dakota
On May 10, the President approved Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1981-DR for Flooding on Feb. 14, 2011, and continuing. The declaration provides Public Assistance for Barnes, Benson, Bottineau, Burke, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, and Williams Counties and the Spirit Lake Nation, the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation. All counties and Indian Tribes in the State of North Dakota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Willie G. Nunn.
Minnesota
On May 10, the President approved Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1982-DR for Severe Storms and Flooding on March 16, 2011, and continuing. The declaration provides Public Assistance Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Grant, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lyon, McLeod, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sibley, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin, and Yellow Medicine Counties.Â* Direct Federal assistance is authorized. All counties in the State of Minnesota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Paul J. Ricciuti.
Alabama
Amendment No. 11 to FEMA-1971-DR-AL adds 14 counties for Public Assistance (Categories C-G), (already designated for Individual Assistance and assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A and B], including direct Federal assistance).
Kentucky
Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-1976-DR-KY approved on May 10, 2011 adds six counties for Public Assistance.
South Dakota
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for South Dakota as a result of flooding beginning on March 11, 2011, and continuing.Â* The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Buffalo, Clark, Codington, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, Miner, Moody, Perkins, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, and Sully Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.(FEMA HQ)


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