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National Situation Update: Friday, March 30, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Severe Weather Expected in Texas and Oklahoma

South:
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain will move across the southern Plains and Texas today.

Large hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are possible.

Slow-moving thunderstorms may yield torrential rain and amounts may exceed six inches in some locations across parts of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. A flash flood watch has been issued for much of Oklahoma.

Midwest:
An unsettled storm system is expected for most of the Midwest.

Thunderstorms will continue southward from Iowa to the southern Plains.

Some freezing rain is possible across parts off northern North Dakota and Minnesota.

Areas of South Dakota are forecast to pick up more snow.

West:
Snow and strong winds will continue today in parts of Montana through Colorado, to the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Winds and snow will slowly diminish tonight.

Northeast:
The Northeast will have highs from the 40s in Maine to the 70s in Virginia. Most of the region will be dry with sunny weather. (NWS, Media Sources)

Oklahoma Tornado/ Storm Damages

Oklahoma State and Local Emergency Management officials are conducting damage assessments to determine the severity of the impacts from severe storms that moved through the state on Thursday (March 29). Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) officials remain in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas.

4 injuries were reported in the Oklahoma City metro area. Media reports indicate 2 people were killed in Elmwood, OK as a result of a severe storm that struck their home.

Thursday evening about 3,100 customers were without power statewide; down from the previous total of 14,000 customers. The majority of the outages were in western Oklahoma City. 

Oklahoma City Emergency Management reports about 50 structures have been damaged, including 6 homes with major damage, 6 homes with moderate damage and numerous homes and outbuildings that sustained minor damage.
 
There are no requests for Federal or state assistance at this time.  (FEMA Region VI, OK OEM, media sources)

Colorado Tornado Damages

On March 28, 2007, a 600-foot wide and one-mile long tornado touched down in the small southeastern town of Holly (population 1,048). 

One fatality and nine injuries were reported. One person remains in critical condition and the remainder are in stable condition. 

Governor Ritter requested a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) for the Town of Holly, scheduled to begin Friday morning.

The water supply is compromised with residents and responders advised to use bottled water. Wal-Mart donated semi-trailer truck load of bottled water supplies to the community. 

Natural gas service has been affected throughout the area.
 
Initial assessment shows a significant debris challenge within the affected storm path. 
 
Region VIII RRCC has been activated at Level 3 with operating hours of 9:00 am MDT to 9:00 pm MDT.

There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA Region VIII, CO DEM, media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

CO - The State of Colorado has requested Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs), which are scheduled to begin at 11:00 am MDT Friday March 30. (Region VIII, CO DEM)

Wildfire Update

For the 24-hour period ending at 10:00 am MDT Thursday March 29, there were 219 new fires, of which one was a large fire. During the same period, 3 large fires were contained with 2 large fires uncontained. The National Preparedness Level is 1 (on a scale of 1-low to 5-high).(National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)