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National Situation Update: Saturday, August 2, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
High pressure ridging in off the Pacific will result in generally warm and dry conditions for most of the region with only a few scattered afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains.  A heat wave continues through the weekend with high temperatures to 115 degrees in the deserts, in the middle 90s to near 100 in the lower elevations and in the upper 70s to near 90 in the mountains.

Midwest:
A frontal system draped across the region will produce a few thunderstorms. A second system along the Canadian border will produce precipitation from Montana to Wisconsin.  High temperatures are forecast through the weekend for the High Plains of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas with temperatures to the upper 90s and lower 100s. Elsewhere, highs will range from the upper 70s over the Great Lakes to the lower 90s along the Mississippi River.  The high temperatures, low relative humidity and gusty winds will likely result in critical fire weather in western Kansas and eastern Colorado.

South:
The frontal system dropping into the region will give little relief to the heat but may produce scattered thunderstorms.  High temperatures should range from the lower to middle 90s across the Southeast to the upper 90s to nearly 110 across the lower Mississippi Valley, southern Plains and Texas.

Northeast:
A frontal system will produce strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rain across the region.  The warm front will produce showers and thunderstorms this morning. The cold front will move through during the afternoon and evening with heavier precipitation and severe thunderstorms producing large hail, damaging winds, and localized flooding.  High temperatures will range from the upper 60s in Maine to the 80s in Virginia due to the cloud cover and precipitation. (National Weather Service, Media Sources)

Mark Twain Lake – Salt River Flooding in Missouri

Mark Twain Lake experienced a record high water level due to ongoing heavy rainfall and river flooding in northeast Missouri.  Water levels at Mark Twain Lake are dropping with discharge currently 54,000 cfs, and remaining so until further notice.  Although the water is falling, officials say the level of flooding on the lake is still serious. Falling waters could quickly rise again if more rain falls into the lake's watersheds. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer officials say they will maintain a precautionary posture for potential additional rain.  A Flood Warning continues for the Salt River below the dam.  Missouri DOT is monitoring road and bridge conditions in the flood affected areas.(Region VII, media sources)

Alaska Flooding

The Tanana River at Nenana and Fairbanks North Star Borough is above flood stage. The Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor declared local disaster on July 31. A Flood Warning is in effect through 12:00pm AKDT Aug 3. The Alaska Rail Road Corp main track no longer passable between Denali and Fairbanks and all freight and passenger service is discontinued until Aug 3.(FEMA Region X)

Louisiana Oil Spill Update

On July 23, 2008, the Tanker Vessel Tintomara collided with the fuel barge DM932, causing a spill of approximately 9,000 barrels of heavy crude oil. Decreasing water level destabilized the barge resulting in additional spillage of 60 barrels; rapidly cleaned by on scene personnel. A safety zone is in effect from mile marker 98 to the Southwest Pass; commercial traffic is allowed to move at the slowest safe speed in the vicinity of salvage operations, shoreline clean-up workers and oil booms. All air monitoring tests yielded safe results. All water samples tested negative for hydrocarbons or oil contamination. LA Department of Environmental Quality continues to monitor water quality. Resources assigned are 148 work boats, 6 barges, 10 skimmers, 20 vacuum trucks and 5 Oil Spill Removal Organizations with total personnel of 1,789 employees on scene. No request for Federal assistance has been received or is anticipated. (USCG Command Center HQs, Region VI)

Telegraph Fire Update - California

Firefighters continue efforts to contain a wildfire burning near a main entrance to Yosemite National Park since the weekend. The fire has burned 34,034 acres and is 60 percent contained. Zero acres have burned on Yosemite National Park.  The fire continues to be active on the north and east flanks.
Sixteen minor injuries (all firefighters) have been reported; no fatalities to date. There are currently 9 shelters open with a population of 480 people. (NSS Daily Report 4:30 p.m. August 1)

California OES, Inland REOC and State SOC are activated at the duty officer level. Mariposa County has activated their EOC and an OES representative is on scene. There are currently 95 crews, 575 fire engines, 65 dozers, 55 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 12 air tankers, and 4,531 total personnel assigned to this fire. The number of destroyed structures is 21 residences and 33 outbuildings; 2,000 residences remain threatened. The majority of residents were allowed to reenter with the exception of Sherlock Road and parts of the community of Midpines.(Cal Fire)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

The FMAG request for the Spring Lake Fire located in Utah County, Utah was denied at 0305 EDT 2 Aug 2008. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
The area of low pressure over the eastern Atlantic located about 1,400 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands is moving westward about 15 to 20 mph. Only a few showers are currently associated with this low. However, slow development is possible as the system moves over slightly warmer waters during the next day or two.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas off the coast of Mexico for potential development.
Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone activity.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Friday, August 01, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Light (145 new fires)
New large fires: 6 (Oak, OH-AZ; West Elk, Albin Draw-CO; Double H-NC; Ratner Bridge West-FL).
Uncontained large fires: 34
Large fires contained: 2
States with Large fires: AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NV, NC, OK, TX, VA, WA and WY (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)