Tuesday, July 12, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Severe Weather â Midwest- July 11

Severe storms swept across the region causing widespread power outages and damages. There have been no unmet needs reported or requests for FEMA assistance.
Illinois
As of 10:07 p.m. EDT, approximately 505,000 customers (high of 852,000) were without power. No injuries reported.
Michigan
As of 10:07 p.m. EDT, approximately 74,000 customers (high of 162,000) were without power. One unconfirmed fatality is reported in Cutlerville (Kent County)
Iowa
Widespread damages and power outages have been reported across southern portions of the State. As of 12:15 a.m. EDT, approximately 22,313 customers (high of 75,000) were without power. Electrical utilities are reporting that electrical service will likely not be restored until Wednesday. As a preventive security measure natural gas has also been shut off in these cities. The City of Vinton is reporting that most downtown buildings have either had their roofs damaged or blown off. Two apartment complexes were destroyed, and others were damaged. Other reported damages include a cell and phone tower just north of Vinton. The city of Garrison (Benton Co) reports a fire station and many homes were destroyed. In Tama County, wide spread damage was reported with the communities of Garwin, Clutier, Traer and Dysart receiving substantial damage in the rural areas and within their city limits.Â* Many roads were impassable due to power poles down and lines across roads.Â* Additional damages have been reported across multiples towns. The City of Maxwell (Tama Co) has declared a local disaster. City officials in Dysart reported almost every house took some damage. The roof was torn off the Calvary Baptist Church, trees were toppled in the city park, and a school roof was damaged. The State provided water and ice to the City of Vinton. The NWS indicates the damages in these areas are consistent with tornado impacts; however there were no reports of tornado touchdowns by local emergency managers, law enforcement or even Doppler radar. One ARC shelter is open with an unknown number of occupants.

Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary

Overview
USACE continues to manage releases from the Fort Peck, Garrison, Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point reservoirs.Â* All six reservoirs are expected to maintain or decrease their current release rates over the next few days; however, overtopping of levees continues. Four federal levees and 13 non-federal levees have breeched or overtopped across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. USACE continues to provide flood fight supplies and technical assistance to levee districts and communities across the Missouri River Basin. USACE continues to monitor and complete projects reinforcing levees along the Missouri River in an effort to keep record levels of water in the system from causing additional damage along the Missouri River. Root Levee District levee 63G in Carroll County, MO was breached on July 11, 2011. 22,369 acres are impacted, of which 22,314 acres are in agricultural production. US-65 Highway near Waverly, MO remains open however it could close at any time. Amtrak Train Services is reporting that their âMissouri River Runnerâ service between St. Louis and Kansas City was suspended on July 9th due to the diversion of additional Union Pacific Railroad freight train from flooded tracks onto the Union Pacific route used by the Amtrak passenger service between Jefferson City and Kansas City, MO.

Kansas
The MRLS-R-500 agricultural levee along the Missouri River located northeast of Highland, KS is projected to have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days as the Missouri River continues to rise.Â* This levee is being closely monitored for potential structural issues.
Iowa
The MRLS-L-601 Watkins Ditch RB (Right Bank) agricultural levee along the Missouri River is located west of Tabor. USACE is projecting this levee will have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days. This levee is also being closely monitored for potential structural issues.
Â*
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding â Minot, ND
Current Situation
As of 3:00 a.m. EDT on July 12, the Souris River at Minot was at 1,554.57. feet (Moderate flood stage) and is expected to continue to recede. The outflow for Lake Darling measured along the Souris River at Foxholm is 7,930 cfs and USACE will continue to cut flows by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily or every other day, until the conservation pool is reached or conditions warrant different action. Recent rains in the basin have extended the target date for reaching 5,000 cfs in Minot to July 22, 2011. Reconstruction of the levees/recovery will begin once the flow drops below 5,000 cfs.
Minot and Sawyer (Ward County), and Velva (McHenry County), ND
The mandatory evacuations remain in effect for portions of Ward County; however, more residents are being gradually allowed to return to their homes as the waters continue to recede. Half of the cityâs 25 sewage lift stations are flooded and not operational; only 3 of the remaining lifts are operating at 100%. Potable water remains a limiting factor in Minot (Ward County) with boil water orders in effect. The Boil Order has been lifted for portions of the City; however, the Boil Order is still in effect for many other areas of Minot and the surrounding area previously on the Boil Order. Â*The City is working on isolating and testing the other areas within Minot. Â*People still need to conserve water in all areas of Minot and the surrounding areas.
Federal and State Response
North Dakota
Three shelters are open supporting 306 occupants.

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Temperatures are forecast up to 15 degrees above average, with highs ranging from near 90 in Boston and New York to near 100 degrees from Philadelphia to Virginia. Some Thunderstorms will develop from New England to the southern Mid-Atlantic and some storms could be severe, with damaging wind gusts and hail. Localized rain accumulations of a half inch or less are expected in most areas, but northern Maine could see totals of up to one inch. A cold front moving across the Great Lakes region today will bring cooler temperatures to much of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic.Â* High temperatures will drop by as much as 10 degrees on Wednesday, and humidity will begin to lessen.
South
Thunderstorms will develop today from the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma to Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.Â* Some storms could be severe with heavy rain and strong wind gusts. Hot and very humid conditions will continue to dominate the region, with temperatures up to 15 degrees above average.Â* Highs will peak mainly in the 90s and low 100s. A cold front will move into Arkansas, the Tennessee Valley and Carolinas midweek, further enhancing the thunderstorm threat across the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast.
Midwest
More thunderstorms and thunderstorm complexes will develop today from the Northern Rockies and Central Plains to the Ohio Valley.Â* More severe weather is expected, with the primary threats being damaging wind gusts and hail.Â* Total rain accumulations of 1-2 inches are possible with some longer duration storms. The front extends from the Nebraska-Kansas border to the Ohio Valley with very hot and humid conditions continuing south of the front.Â* To the north, cooler conditions can be expected. Temperatures will remain above average from Kansas to the southern Ohio Valley, with highs ranging from the 90s in the Ohio Valley to over 100 degrees in much of Kansas. Thunderstorms are expected to continue through midweek from the Plains to Kentucky, while the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes will experience dry, pleasant conditions.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico
No activity expected within the next 48 hours.
Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico
Area 1

A tropical wave located about 250 miles east of the Windward Islands is producing cloudiness and scattered showers. Although significant development of this system is not expected, brief periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds could affect the southern and central Lesser Antilles during the next day or two. This disturbance has a low chance (10%) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves westward at 20 to 25 mph.
Area 2Â*
A tropical wave accompanied by a weak surface low pressure system near the southern coast of Nicaragua is producing a large area of cloudiness and scattered thunderstorms over much of the western Caribbean Sea and adjacent portions of Central America. Although upper-level winds continue to improve across the region, surface pressures are not falling and significant development of this disturbance is not expected due to interaction with land. This system has a low chance (10%) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestward or northwestward at 5 to 10 mph. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall will occur over much of Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize and adjacent offshore islands during the next few days.
Eastern / Central Pacific
No activity expected within the next 48 hours..
Western / South Pacific:
No activity expected within the next 48 hours
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Monday, July 11, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: Light (150 new fires)
New Large Fires: 11
Large Fires Contained: 6
Uncontained Large Fires: 24
Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
Type 2 IMT Committed: 4
States affected: NM, AZ, NC, GA, TX, LA, OK, CA, CO, OR, NV, & AK
Â*
Wildfires
Texas
Nolan County Complex Fire â FEMA-XXXX-FM-TX (approved July 11, 2011)
The fire, located approximately 50 yards from the town of Sweetwater, has burned 3,000 acres and threatens 200 homes.
New Mexico
Las Conchas Fire â FEMA-2933-FM-NM (approved June 26, 2011)
The fire has consumed 147,642 acres and is 50% contained. The fire is located thirteen miles west of Los Alamos, NM. The Bandelier National Monument, Kasha-Katuwe Tents Rocks National Monument, Santa Fe National Forest, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed. Closures and restricted air space in the Los Alamos remain in effect for surrounding Federal forests and monuments in order to facilitate firefighter movements. The fire has destroyed 63 residences and 44 outbuildings. Approximately 565 residences, outbuildings and commercial buildings remain threatened. One Type 1 IMT committed to this fire. Five injuries and no fatalities have been reported.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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