National Situation Update: Friday, May 16, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
Northeast
Moderate to heavy rain should spread into northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey this morning and reach New England by this afternoon. Rainfall accumulations may exceed one inch in areas from Washington, DC northeast to Boston. Scattered showers and thundershowers are forecast across the region Saturday and Sunday. Flood Watches are in effect through this morning for Maryland, northern Virginia, and Washington, DC.
West
Hot temperatures will establish new record highs in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, and Nevada today. It should remain very hot through Saturday before a cooling trend begins Sunday along the coast. The extreme temperatures can lead to rapid snow melt in the mountains with flooding concerns in the rivers and potential avalanches on the mountains. Flood Warnings are in effect for Yakima County, Washington and Flood Watches are in effect for several counties in Idaho and Washington.
South
A cold front should drop into northern Florida bringing scattered thunderstorms and some fire relief today. Scattered thunderstorms are possible in southern Georgia, eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina. Thunderstorms may become severe producing hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
Midwest
Afternoon rain showers are possible for the Minnesota and Great Lakes region through the weekend.
Isolated late day thunderstorms are possible over the Ohio Valley through Sunday. Flood Warnings are in effect through the weekend for Illinois: Moderate flooding continues at locations on the middle Mississippi River from Illinois City, Ill to Chester, IL, with major flooding at Burlington, IA. Forecasts call for most locations to rise slightly or hold steady before a gradual recession over the next week (NWS, Various Media Sources)
Florida Wildfires:
Region IV:
FEMA Response Liaison arrived at the Florida EOC in response to the Florida Brush Fires. Joint PDAs began in Florida today.
Florida:
Brevard Complex Fire Update: 11,908 acres, overall containment is 60%. No fatalities and three injuries have been reported. One shelter is open with a population of 22. Damages: Within the County of Brevard a total of 30 homes have been destroyed and 31 homes have received major/minor damage.
880 customers remain without power. State Response: The Governor declared a State of Emergency and has ordered the activation of the FL National Guard. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is operating at Level II, Partial Activation. The Florida Department of Forestry Red Strike Team deployed to Brevard County. (FEMA Region IV Incident Report and FL Dept of Emergency Management, May 14-1100 EDT)
Severe Weather Outbreak:
Region IV:
Five Public Assistance (PA) and seven Individual Assistance (IA) Joint Federal-State Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in Georgia are scheduled to be completed Friday, May 16, 2008.
Region VIII provided a PDA Team to Region IV in Atlanta, GA to assist in performing Joint PDAs in nine counties in GA for damages resulting in severe storms occurring May 11, 2008.
Georgia:
Two fatalities and twelve injuries have resulted from severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on May 10, 2008. One shelter is operational with 56 occupants. Fewer than 100 residences and businesses remain without power. Damages: 1,890 residences and businesses were affected. State Response: State EOC partially activated to Level II, some ESFs activated. The Governor declared a State of Emergency in 13 counties; twenty-one counties were affected.
Region VI:
Joint FEMA-State IA PDAs are ongoing in Oklahoma. Intense rain of up to 10 inches (in the Shreveport, LA area) caused flooding of low areas and small streams in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas on Thursday. Flood Watches are in effect this afternoon and evening for Arkansas, Louisiana, and eastern Texas.
Oklahoma:
The president has signed FEMA-1756-DR-OK, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding for IA in Ottawa County in Oklahoma and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Eight confirmed fatalities and 152 injuries reported in Oklahoma (Ottawa and Pittsburg counties). One shelter is open with no occupants.
Damages: Joint IA PDAs in Ottawa County indicate 114 homes were destroyed and 30 homes sustained major damage. Electrical power has been restored in the City of Picher to structures that can safely receive it; however, natural gas service is "weeks away". (FEMA HQ)
Region VII:
All Joint PDAs were completed as of May 14, 2008 for damages incurred in Missouri. Joint PA PDAs began Tuesday, May 13 in five counties for damages as a result of severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on April 29, 2008. Flood Warnings are in effect through the weekend for Indiana; moderate flooding continues at locations on the middle Mississippi River from Illinois City, Ill to Chester, IL, with major flooding at Burlington, IA.
Missouri:
There have been 16 confirmed fatalities as a result of severe storms and tornadoes that occurred May 10, 2008. Over 200 injuries have been reported in Newton County. Damages: 154 residences and four businesses have been destroyed; a total of 316 residences and businesses were damaged. State Response: The State Emergency Management Agency - SEOC is operating at Level I. (Region IV, Region VI, Region VII, Federal Agencies, Affected States, FEMA HQ)
Region VIII:
A 12-person PDA Team deployed to Region IV HQ in Atlanta on May 12, 2008, to assist the Region in performing PDAs in Georgia resulting from the severe weather that occurred on May 11, 2008.
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new 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)
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:36:10 EDT