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

National Situation Update: Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

Midwest:
A frigid air mass will take firm hold across the Upper Midwest overnight into Tuesday.
Another icy blast will keep things cold on Wednesday and Thursday, as well. Wind chills will be dangerously low throughout the period. As the cold passes over the Great Lakes, look for lake-effect south of Lake Superior and east of Lake Michigan overnight through Tuesday.  High temperatures will range from below zero in much of eastern North Dakota and far northwest Minnesota to the low 60s in southwest Kansas. Highs around the Great Lakes will be mostly in the teens. Parts of the Midwest, possibly around the I-70 corridor may see some wintry precipitation on Thursday

Northeast:
Colder air will sweep across the northeast on Tuesday.  Snow will fall from Northern New England back to West Virginia. Lake-effect snow will fall east of Lake Ontario late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Some locations may see over a foot of snow. Snow showers will also fall southeast of Lake Erie but significant ice cover on the lake will hold down snowfall amounts. Temperatures will be considerably colder over the next couple of days with highs ranging from the 20s in northern Vermont, Upstate New York and northern and western Pennsylvania to the 50s in southeast Virginia. A weak system may produce some light snow across the region on Wednesday but a more significant winter storm is possible later in the week.

West:
Low pressure will approach the West Coast on Tuesday.  Look for an increasing chance for rain along the coast of California. Lighter showers may occur up through the Oregon Coast, perhaps all the way to Washington. Look for snow across the Cascades and Sierras but amounts will be light.  More significant precipitation is likely to move into the West Coast and the Intermountain West later in the week and over the coming weekend.

South:
Most of the South will have a dry and moderate Tuesday. A weakening front may dot parts of Tennessee with light showers and the southern Appalachians with some very light snow. A few showers and thundershowers may pop up across southern Florida, as well. Highs on Tuesday should range from the 40s in northeast Arkansas and Tennessee to the 70s in south Florida and parts of southern and West Texas. There are indications that more significant rain will inundate the Southeast late Thursday through Friday.

Weekend Tornadoes South Central/Southeast U.S.

A strong upper level storm system, and an associated cold front, swept eastward from the Plains States through the Midwest, Mississippi Valley and Interior Southeast and off the Atlantic coast Saturday afternoon, February 16, 2008 into early Monday, February 18, 2008, triggering numerous strong-to-severe-thunderstorms over portions of the Southern United States. 

Several tornadoes developed late Saturday and early Sunday, February 17, 2008 over east Texas and Louisiana, producing mostly minor structural damage.  More numerous (and significant) tornadoes developed over Alabama, northwest Florida, and Georgia on Sunday, many associated with several long-lived super-cell thunderstorms. Additional severe thunderstorms, and several tornadoes, occurred in eastern North Carolina Sunday evening into early Monday morning.

Preliminary reports suggest as many as 39 tornadoes may have occurred in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida on Sunday alone, damaging over 250 homes and other structures, and injuring at least 73 people.  As of late Monday evening, no fatalities had been reported.  The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) logged 50 tornado reports - 3 Saturday, 40 Sunday, and 7 early Monday.

State and Local Response
Alabama:
Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) Operations states widespread major damage in Prattville, AL. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is currently activated at Level III for storm response.

Joint Federal State IA/PA PDAs were conducted February 18, 2008 and final reports are pending. Preliminary finding are indicated below:

Dallas County reports:

• 10 homes destroyed
  
• Six major damage
  
• 11 minor damage

Autauga County/AEMA reports:

• 200 damaged homes
  
• 40 damaged businesses
  
• 50 injuries (two in critical condition)
  
• American Red Cross (ARC) reports one open shelter

City of Prattville has established a curfew, effective from 7:00 p.m CST, February 18, 2008, to 5:00 a.m. CST, February 19, 2008.

Federal Response
FEMA Region IV:
Region IV RRCC Level III will return to normal operations today, February 19, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST.

FEMA State Liaison Officer on site at Alabama State Emergency Operations Center (AL SEOC).  (FEMA Region IV, NWS)

Midwest Flooding

Flood Warning continues for Illinois River at Morris (affecting Grundy County) and at La Salle (affecting Bureau and La Salle Counties), IL.

Water levels along the Illinois River in the above-reference localities remain elevated due to heavy rainfall and enhanced runoff.

Minor ice jam flooding had been reported in the Ottowa, IL, area.

Flooding impact is limited to agricultural or rural areas.

State and Local Response
Illinois:
American Red Cross (ARC) reports three shelters open, with a population of thirty-two.

No requests for Federal Assistance.

Federal Response
FEMA Region V:
State Liaison Officer Deployed to Wisconsin EOC for situational awareness.

RRCC is activated at Level III 7:00 am-5:00 pm CST.   (FEMA Region V, NWS)

Leadville, CO, Mine Drainage Tunnel

Local, State and Federal officials agreed that pumping the nearby Gaw Shaft is the best way to reduce the risk of a blowout at the old mine drainage tunnel and hope to finalize details today, February 19, 2008, on how to install a giant pump to lessen building water pressure inside a mountain.

Lake County commissioners, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Reclamation and Colorado Division of Emergency Management will meet at 10:30 a.m. MST today to decide how best to install the pump.

The emergency notification system at the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel will be tested during the week, with a tentative date of February 22, 2008.  This test will be conducted in coordination with Lake County Emergency Services.  (NICC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)