• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Monday, March 12, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Potential Hazards for the Week

The potential for heavy rain exists over most of Louisiana from March 12-13.

There is the potential for flooding across parts of the Midwest and Red River Valley of the North due to warming temperatures and snowmelt.

Much below normal temperatures are expected across most of Alaska from March 12 to March 16.

Severe drought will continue across much of the north-central United States though northern portions of Minnesota have experienced slight relief with the recent blizzard; modest additional relief is possible.

Severe drought will continue over parts of the Southwest - Texas - and Oklahoma with little if any relief expected.

National Weather

South
Temperatures throughout much of the South, especially east of the Mississippi River, are running 5 to 20 degrees above the seasonal average. A slow-moving storm should bring heavy showers and thunderstorms to Texas and adjacent areas of the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley through at least Tuesday. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe Monday and Tuesday, producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes, but the overall threat will be much less than it was on Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible through Monday in central Texas, with up to 2 inches possible along the Texas/western Louisiana coast and in Oklahoma.

Midwest
A few light rain and snow showers are expected around the Great Lakes as a weak disturbance pushes through. No significant snow accumulation is anticipated. The remainder of the Midwest should have a sunny to partly-cloudy day with very warm temperatures.

Northeast
Much of the Northeast remains dry through Monday night, with the exception of a few light rain or snow showers around the eastern Great Lakes. Temperatures should run a bit cooler, especially Monday morning with readings expected to be back in the 10s and 20s; by afternoon readings are forecast to climb into the 30s and 40s north and the 50s south.

West
Northwest skies will be cloudy with occasional showers. Precipitation should be on the light side from Washington and Oregon to Montana during Monday and Tuesday. (NWS, media sources)

Wildfire Forces Hundreds to Evacuate in Southern California

Fire "241" in Orange County, California has grown beyond 2,036 acres, and was only 30 percent contained at 12:00 midnight EDT, Sunday, March 11, 2007.
One structure was destroyed and three more damaged, including two homes. Authorities evacuated up to 700 homes from several sub-divisions. Twelve hundred people were involved in the mandatory evacuations. A Red Cross shelter was opened at La Modena High School. By 1:00 am today most of the evacuees were allowed to return to their homes. No injuries have been reported.
Authorities believe the blaze began with a vehicle fire. The fire quickly tripled in size in an unincorporated part of Orange County and in Anaheim Hills. The area, like much of Southern California, is under a Red Flag Alert, indicating a high fire danger. A prolonged drought has left the chaparral-covered hills highly combustible. Temperatures are in the 90s and humidity was at 5%.
Part of Hwy 241 Toll Road is closed until further notice. Power lines are also threatened.
Four air tankers and 800 fire fighters from Cal Fire, Orange County Fire and Anaheim Fire Departments are on scene. Firefighters were aided by helicopters and planes dropping water and retardant on the flames, and police went door to door to warn residents to evacuate. California State Warning Center is monitoring the situation.
A Fire Grant request was approved at 6:14 pm EDT, Sunday, March 11, 2007 (Fire Grant # 2683).No Stafford Act assistance is anticipated at this time. FEMA Region IX will continue to monitor. (FEMA Region IX, California State Warning Center, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

A Fire Grant request was approved at 6:14 pm EDT, Sunday, March 11, 2007 (Fire Grant # 2683) for the "241 Fire", located near Anaheim Hills, California in Orange County. (FEMA HQ)

Georgia Tornado Recovery Update

Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) staff is scheduled to transition to the Joint Field Office (JFO) Monday, March 12, 2007.

Five Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open and one Mobile DRC will deploy to Taylor County as soon as GEMA identifies a location

Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments will be conducted in Wilkinson County today. (Region IV)

Flood Watch for Western Washington and Northern Oregon

Although major flooding is not expected, flood potential is still a threat and will continue to be through Monday. Of particular concern are 58 damaged levees from the November 2006 flooding that have not been repaired.

Seattle District has alerted its Crisis Management Team (CMT) and flood teams for possible field activity, and the district Hydraulics & Hydrology Section is monitoring weather conditions and river and reservoir levels

The National Weather Service Emergency Operations Center (NWS EOC) activated on March 9, 2007 and will remain at activation level II or higher as the event warrants.

A strong and wet pacific storm system brought heavy rainfall amounts on the coast and in the Olympic Mountains, continued to affect western Washington and northern Oregon through the night.  (Region X , NORTHCOM, USACE)

Maryland Dam Update

Pumping of the Garrett Memorial Dam, an earthen dam at Site #1 on the Little Youghiogheny River in Maryland is proceeding as planned.

The water level has fallen over 30 inches; the combined discharge of the pumps is more than 1.5 million gallons of water since the start of pumping.  (Region III, MJOC & MEMA Western Region Reporting)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

An ongoing brush fire that began late Sunday has grown to 500 acres near Corona, California in Riverside County. According to fire officials the fire has the potential to become even larger.

The fire was 25 percent contained as of 11:00 pm Sunday, and the area is currently under a Red Flag Warning, increasing the chances that the brush fire could spread.  About 21 engine crews and 100 firefighters, two air tankers, three water tenders and an air attack aircraft battled the blaze. No structures were immediately threatened and the cause of the blaze was unknown. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)