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National Situation Update: Thursday, April 26, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Severe Weather is Forecast for the Midwest and Eastern U.S.

Midwest
A major storm system will move slowly eastward Wednesday evening and Thursday morning through the area extending from the Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley and to the Gulf Coast.

The storm system is expected to bring severe thunderstorms for much of the area through Thursday.

Large hail, damaging winds and even a few tornadoes may accompany the thunderstorms.

Rainfall is expected to continue in the Iowa area through Thursday causing additional flood warnings. FEMA Region VII reports that minor to moderate flooding is forecast in portions of Kansas and Missouri. Current flooding is affecting low-lying and agricultural areas. Rivers are expected to fall below flood stage Thursday.

South
Showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday in the Southeast, especially in Alabama and Georgia.

Thunderstorms may contain large hail and damaging winds.

Dry, sunny weather is forecast for the areas in Texas that were hard hit this week by tornados and heavy rains. 

Northeast
Rain (1-3 inches) is forecast for much of the Northeast on Thursday and Friday in the area extending from southern New England south to eastern Virginia.

The rainfall may increase the flood threat in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 

West
Most of the West will be dry and sunny Thursday.

Some light rainfall is forecast for the coastal area of Washington State and in states east of the Rockies.

The Southwest will be sunny and hot with highs in the 90s-100s.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Texas Tornado and Severe Storm Update

The April 24 tornado that struck Eagle Pass, Texas (and Piedras Negras Mexico) killed 7 people in Texas and injured at least 40 people.

The storm cut off power to the city's water treatment plant and destroyed 50 homes. Repairs to the water treatment plant are expected to be completed by Thursday April 26.

Three shelters were opened in the affected areas and provided care for at least 256 storm victims.

The Texas National Guard is providing 112 Guard members on state active duty in support of tornado response operations, including:  search and rescue, medical help, and food distribution.

Governor Perry is requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for the State of Texas as a result of severe storms and tornadoes on April 21 and April 24, 2007. 

The Governor has requested Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance for Maverick, Moore, and Swisher Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The Governor further requested assistance to be funded at 100 percent Federal cost share.

FEMA Region VI has activated to Level III and sent a State Liaison to the State EOC. Two (2) IA staff, one (1) PA staff and one (1) PIO have been deployed to the Texas Panhandle area to assess damages in Moore and Swisher Counties. (FEMA Hqs, American Red Cross, TX State Operations Center, National Guard Bureau)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Connecticut - Individual and Public Assistance PDAs in an undetermined number of counties has been requested. Due to continued flooding of rivers, limited PA PDAs began on April 19, 2007.

Kentucky - Public Assistance PDAs for six counties are scheduled to begin April 26, 2007.

Massachusetts - Individual Assistance PDAs for eight counties and Public Assistance PDAs for five counties began on April 23, 2007.

Rhode Island - Public Assistance PDAs for five counties began April 25, 2007.

Texas - PDAs for IA and PA in three counties are ongoing.

Vermont- Public Assistance PDAs in eight counties have been completed.   (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1 (On a scale from 1 to 5)

Wildland fire activity remains moderate throughout the country with 258 new fires reported. Five new large fires were reported: two each in Virginia and North Carolina, and one in Minnesota.

Ten large fires were contained: three in Oklahoma, two in North Carolina, and one each in Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.

There are currently 7 uncontained large fires.

Sweat Farm Road Fire- Ware County, GA Update:  The fire located 10 miles southeast of Waycross, GA has consumed an estimated 56,000 acres. It is 70 percent contained.  The fire has destroyed at least 18 homes and 5 outbuildings. The Georgia Forestry Commission Incident Management Team responsible for the Sweat Farm Road Fire, is coordinating with a Federal-led Incident Management Team working the portion of the fire located in the Okefenokee (now called the Big Turnaround Fire).

Local and state emergency officials reopened portions of US Highway 1 after closing the main artery between Jacksonville, FL and Waycross, GA early Wednesday morning when the wildfire crossed GA Highway 177 and approached US Highway 1. The area between the city limits on the south side of Waycross and Race Pond Road at the Ware-Charlton County line will remain closed.  The evacuation, ordered shortly after Tuesday for the areas in Ware County, south of Waycross, is still in effect. Residents may seek shelter at the Waycross Middle School.

Big Turnaround Fire, GA (Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge) Update: The fire has consumed an estimated 7,320 acres. It is 80 percent contained. The fire is burning 10 miles southeast of Waycross Georgia.

A combination of Federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts of the two Georgia fires that are located near each other. The Georgia National Guard is providing CH-47 helicopter support for fire suppression.  (National Interagency Fire Center, Georgia Forestry Commission, DHS)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a major disaster declaration for Maine (FEMA-1693-DR). Public assistance has been approved for Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford and York Counties. All counties in the State of Maine are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)