FEMA: National Situation Update

National Situation Update: Monday, January 12, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Some rain and mountain snow showers are forecast from western Washington and northwest Oregon southeastward into Colorado today. No heavy precipitation is expected. Flood Warnings have been issued in Washington for the Cedar River near Landsburg (affecting King County) and the Chehalis River at Porter (affecting Grays Harbor County). Santa Ana winds are forecast for Southern California through Tuesday. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until 10:00 p.m. PST today due to gusty northeast winds and low humidity. A High Wind Warning has been issued for the Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains and remains in effect until 4:00 a.m. PST Tuesday for northeast winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts to around 60 mph.
Midwest:
An Alberta Clipper is forecast to move into the northern Plains today. Strong winds gusting to 60 mph, and moderate snow up to six inches are expected. Wind chills could reach dangerous levels (to 30 below zero) and the clipper, bearing snow and icy winds, will continue to move southeastward through the Upper Midwest today. Blizzard Warnings are posted for most of North Dakota, northern South Dakota and extreme western Minnesota. Blizzard watches extend southeastward into Iowa; Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the same areas. Wind Advisories are in effect for portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa for winds gusting to 50 mph. Flood Warnings continue for several points along the Illinois River.
South:
The South will be dry today except for possible showers in central Florida and northeast Oklahoma.
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. EST today for the eastern and western Florida Panhandle and most of the Florida Big Bend due to expected long durations of relative humidity below 35 percent. Flood Warnings continue for rivers in Mississippi, South Carolina and Alabama.
Northeast:
Weather in the Northeast will be fairly calm with a few snow showers from the mountains of West Virginia through western Pennsylvania into Upstate New York and northern New England. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for a small portion of south-central Pennsylvania for snow accumulation up to 3 inches through 10:00 a.m. EST today. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Pacific Northwest Flooding:

As of 12:00 a.m. EST, the NWS and Northwest River Forecast Center reported three river gauges that are above Flood Stage in Washington State; one river gauge is at Moderate Flood stage, and two gauges are at Minor Flood stage. All rivers have crested and are falling and should fall below flood stage within the next day or two. (NWS)

FEMA RRCC Actions:

• Region X RRCC activated at Level II (24/7) due to widespread flooding, excessive runoff from heavy rainfall and melting snow in the State of Washington
• ESF's 3, 6, and 12 still activated, all other ESFs demobilized
• FEMA LNO demobilized
• DCO/DCE, US Coast Guard and US Geological Survey activated in support of Region X RRCC
• Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams from FEMA, WA State Emergency Management Division and affected counties assembling to assess damage, scheduled to begin January 13
• WA State EOC remains at Full Activation (24/7)
• Washington State Proclamation from December 24 was amended to include counties with ongoing January flooding occurring in eastern and western Washington; a total of twenty-three counties and fourteen cities declared emergencies related to flooding and seven counties declared emergencies for snow
• No fatalities or injuries have been reported
• Five shelters were occupied overnight with a total population of 69 (down from 97) (NSS Report as of Midnight, January 11, 2009)
• Most boil water advisories have been lifted
• Two Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) requested by the State are expected to arrive Wednesday, January 15
• All Amtrak routes are operational as of Sunday, January 11, 2009
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood fight teams continue to demobilize from the Olympic Peninsula. Currently USACE has 57 people in 5 river basin areas
• WA National Guard has concluded Winter Storm response missions. Two continuing missions to support flood response will conclude today
• I-90 and I-5 are open to all vehicles with some lane and exit restrictions. Portions of US-12 (White Pass) are closed
• No unmet needs

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 12-Jan-2009 08:15:14 EST