Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)
Significant National Weather
West:
Rain and higher elevation snow showers over parts of Colorado and northern sections of New Mexico and Arizona. A warm front will produce rain across parts of coastal Washington and northwest Oregon.
High temperatures will range from the 30s in the Colorado Rockies to the 90s in the lower Colorado River Valley and far southwest Arizona.
Midwest:
A cold front will trigger showers across much of the Upper Midwest. Severe weather and heavy rain is likely across parts of Iowa and Missouri. High temperatures range from the 40s across northern sections of Minnesota to the 70s from the lower Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley.
South:
Thunderstorms will erupt over eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana as storm system emerges from the Rockies. Severe thunderstorms could include damaging winds, large hail and scattered tornadoes. High temperatures will range from the 70s from northern Arkansas to the Carolinas and the 90s across western Texas to 100s near the Rio Grand.
Northeast:
Dry across the Northeast. Winds will remain gusty from Maine to the Middle Atlantic States.
High temperatures ranging from the 60s to the 70s from Maine to Virginia. Parts of Cape Cod and the Islands of southeast Massachusetts may remain on the 50s. (NWS, Various Media Sources)
Severe Weather Outbreak:
Federal Actions
Region VI:
Preparing PDA teams in anticipation of a request
Region leadership in communication with State EM Directors
Coordinating with Arkansas and Oklahoma JFOs
Picher, OK is a superfund site; two EPA personnel deployed for cleanup assessment
Region VII:
State Liaison Officer deployed to MO SEOC
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Regions coordinated with affected states' health departments, with nothing negative to report.
National Guard Bureau (NGB)
Conducting security operations in the States of Missouri, and Oklahoma.
JET Team on standby.
25 personnel in Picher, OK.
52 personnel in Arkansas
5 personnel in Kentucky
National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC)
Will reach out to Department of Energy (DOE) concerning above-mentioned Missouri electrical transmission line down.
State Operations:
Georgia:
State EOC partially activated to Level II
The Governor has declared 6 counties for State of Emergency
One fatality reported in Laurens County
21 counties affected
1,039 businesses, homes and mobile homes affected; 7 homes/4 mobile homes/ 1 business destroyed, 28 homes/8 mobile homes major damage, 71 homes/14 mobile homes minor damage
Oklahoma:
EOC is activated to lowest level (Minimum activation) Ops personnel and County liaisons, as required
Town of Picher reports twenty block neighborhood impacted
Seven confirmed fatalities
150 reported injuries
122 homes, 1 business destroyed and 95 homes damaged
4800 customers without electric service; power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down
Power and communications out to entire town of Picher
Gas turned off as a precaution
American Red Cross opened a shelter; no shelter numbers
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) providing support
OK National Guard providing 25 soldiers
Tulsa's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team in Picher
State mobile command unit assisting
IA PDAs began at 12:00pm CDT May 12
No Federal assistance requested
Arkansas:
EOC activated Level I (Normal Operations)
Damage assessments in Stuttgart (Arkansas County) ongoing
Four people reported missing (Arkansas County)
25-30 homes destroyed; 25-30 homes major damage; 40-45 homes minor damage (Stuttgart)
15 businesses destroyed (Stuttgart)
Damage assessments began in Phillips County
Missouri:
The State of Missouri has deployed Missouri Task Force One to impacted area
The State EOC is at normal operations.
16 confirmed fatalities; 85 injuries
Reported damage: 30 homes destroyed, 21 homes major damage
RNA initial estimated damage: 117 homes destroyed, 59 homes major damage, 4 businesses destroyed
Joint PA PDAs began May 12 and Joint IA PDAs will begin on May 13
Two FEMA/State RNA teams deployed to affected area; hampered by road closures
Approximately 4,000-5,000 are without power, power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down (Region IV, Region VI, Region VII, Federal Agencies, Affected States, FEMA HQ)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
FEMA-2765-FM-FL was issued for the Brevard Complex Fire near Malabar and Palm Bay, FL. The fire has burned more than 3,300 acres and there have been 15,000 individuals evacuated, majority through a mandatory evacuation. There are 500 homes, 25 businesses, several schools and one airport threatened, 5 homes have been destroyed. The Fire is 0 percent contained. There is no estimated date for full containment. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
An earthquake occurred at 8:50 AM EDT on May 12, 2008. The magnitude 5.1 event occurred 51 miles south southeast of Old Harbor, Alaska, at a depth of 11.7 miles. There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated.(USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, May 12:
Initial attack activity: Light (85 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 8
Weather Discussion: Warm, dry and windy weather will create critical fire conditions over portions of the Southwest, southern Great Basin, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and west Texas. Windy and dry weather is also expected over Florida. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)
Texas
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for western Texas from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm MDT May 13.
Arizona
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the south western and central Arizona from 8:00 am - 6 pm MDT May 13.
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)
Significant National Weather
West: A cold front will produce showers and isolated thunderstorms in the northern Plains and northern Rockies. Thunderstorms in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming could become severe producing damaging wind gusts and some hail. The activity should diminish fairly quickly after sunset this evening. The higher elevations in the central Rockies could see up to a foot of new snow. The southern High Plains, New Mexico, Arizona, the lower Colorado River Valley and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles will be a critical fire weather area due to gusty winds of 20-30 mph and afternoon relative humidity below 20%. High temperatures will range from 30s in the mountains upper 90s along the border with Mexico.
Midwest: Most of the Region will be under high pressure with sunny to partly cloudy skies. However, there will be a few showers in the eastern Ohio Valley on the backside of the Northeast storm and a few showers in the northern Plains this afternoon from the system moving out of the Rockies. Temperatures should remain below average with highs mostly in the 60s to lower 70s, with 50s in the eastern Ohio Valley.
South: Most of the Region will be under high pressure with sunny to partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds to 25 mph are forecast in the Carolinas. Gusty winds and dry conditions behind the front will result in critical fire conditions across southern Georgia and most of Florida. High temperatures are forecast to reach the 80s east of the Mississippi, 90s to the west and the lower 100s in the Rio Grande Valley. The next storm system will move out of the Rocky Mountains tonight and move into the southern Plains, eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley tomorrow producing scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours.
Northeast: The deep low pressure system, just off the Mid Atlantic, will produce a cold rainy day over much of the Region. Rainfall accumulations of one to three inches are expected from northern Virginia, southern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Lighter rain from New York City to Boston could result in a half inch of additional accumulation. Localized flooding is likely; see www.nws.noaa.gov/ for the latest watches, warnings or advisories. Winds will gust to 25 mph or more. Highs will reach into the middle 40s to middle 50s(NWS, Various Media Sources)
Florida Fires:
Red Flag Warning is in effect for the majority of the State of Florida (Lake Okeechobee to southern Georgia) from 12:00pm-7:00pm EDT May 12.
- Brevard County
- Two fires currently burning.
- One fire jumped I-95 resulting in the road being closed from Melbourne to Vero Beach.
- Evacuations have been ordered; unknown number of people evacuated.
- Red Cross called by county.
- Size of fires unknown.
- Volusia County
- One fire, between 500 and 600 acres, is currently burning in Daytona Beach.
- Volusia County Emergency Management and Daytona Beach Fire have both requested Strike Teams from ESF 4/9.
- Road closure west of I-95 in West Daytona Beach.
- Evacuations in West Daytona Beach.
- One shelter open; population unknown.
Severe Weather Outbreak:
Federal Actions
Region VI:
- Preparing PDA teams in anticipation of a request
- Region leadership in communication with State EM Directors
- Coordinating with Arkansas and Oklahoma JFOs
- Picher, OK is a superfund site; two EPA personnel deployed for cleanup assessment
Region VII:
- State Liaison Officer deployed to MO SEOC
Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Regions coordinated with affected states health departments, with nothing negative to report.
National Guard Bureau (NGB)
- Conducting security operations in the States of Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
- JET Team on standby.
- 50 personnel in Stuttgart, AR.
- 16 personnel in Newton County, MO.
- 25 personnel in Picher, OK.
- 3 personnel and 1 UH-60 for helicopter over flight operations for Governor of Oklahoma and TAG May 11, 2008.
- 4 personnel in Kentucky, as well as 1 in State EOC, with 1 helicopter on standby.
National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC)
- Will reach out to Department of Energy (DOE) concerning above-mentioned Missouri electrical transmission line down.
State Operations:
Mississippi:
- EOC normal operations
- 12 counties reporting:
- 3 homes destroyed, 6 homes major damage, 34 homes minor damage
- 9 mobile homes major damage, 4 mobile homes minor damage
- 2 businesses destroyed, 1 business minor damage
- 2 minor injuries
Georgia:
- State EOC partially activated to Level II
- The Governor has declared 6 counties for State of Emergency
- One fatality reported in Laurens County
- 21 counties affected
- 1,039 businesses, homes and mobile homes affected; 7 homes/4 mobile homes/ 1 business destroyed, 28 homes/8 mobile homes major damage, 71 homes/14 mobile homes minor damage
- Three shelters open; population estimated at 62
Oklahoma:
- EOC is activated to lowest level (Minimum activation)
- Ops personnel and County liaisons, as required
- Town of Picher reports twenty block neighborhood impacted
- Six (corrected number) confirmed fatalities
- 150 reported injuries
- Over 100 homes damaged or destroyed
- 6300 customers without electric service; power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down
- Power and communications out to entire town of Picher
- Gas turned off as a precaution
- American Red Cross opened a shelter; no shelter numbers
- Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) providing support
- OK National Guard providing 25 soldiers
- Tulsa⤙s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team in Picher
- State mobile command unit assisting
- Overflight of impacted area occurred May 11
- IA PDAs will begin at 12:00pm CDT May 12
- No Federal assistance requested
Arkansas:
- EOC activated Level I (Normal Operations)
- Damage assessments in Stuttgart (Arkansas County) ongoing
- Four people reported missing (Arkansas County)
- 25-30 homes destroyed; 25-30 homes major damage; 40-45 homes minor damage (Stuttgart)
- 15 businesses destroyed (Stuttgart)
- Damage assessments began in Phillips County
Missouri:
- The State of Missouri has deployed Missouri Task Force One to impacted area
- The State EOC will reopen at 8:00am CDT May 12
- 15 confirmed fatalities; 85 injuries
- Reported damage: 30 homes destroyed, 21 homes major damage
- RNA initial estimated damage: 117 homes destroyed, 59 homes major damage, 4 businesses destroyed
- Joint PA PDAs will begin May 12 and Joint IA PDAs will begin on May 13
- Two FEMA/State RNA teams deployed to affected area; hampered by road closures
- Approximately 4,000-5,000 are without power, power restoration could take 3-5 days; 36 transmission poles down (Region IV, Region VI, Region VII, Federal Agencies, Affected States, FEMA HQ)
Hurricane Preparedness Week
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1st and the Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th.
History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2008 will be held May 25th through May 31st. For additional information see www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, FEMA)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
There was no significant earthquake activity in the United States or its territories during the last 24 hours.
A major earthquake occurred at 2:28 am EDT on Monday, May 12, 2008. The magnitude 7.8 event occurred 960 miles southwest of Beijing China, at a depth of 6.2 miles. There have been a number of aftershocks. There are preliminary reports of damage to buildings and roads and injuries in the open press.(USGS, FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Saturday, May 11:
Initial attack activity: Light (67 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 8. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)
National Weather Forecast
South:
The cold front which produced yesterday's severe weather over the Central Plains, Mississippi and Tennessee valleys has moved over the Southeast. Severe thunderstorms are possible from the Florida Gulf Coast to the Mid Atlantic. These storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. There is a tornado watch for portions of northern and central Alabama, of northern and central Georgia, and parts of southern and western South Carolina coastal waters until 10:00 am EDT. See www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ for the latest watches. Highs will range from the 80s across the northern part of the Region to 100 near the Mexican Border.
Midwest:
Strong thunderstorms and areas of heavy rainfall are expected this morning near the deepening surface low across much of the Midwest, Plains States and Lower Mississippi Valley. The heaviest rainfall and thunderstorms will shift eastward into the Appalachians and mid Atlantic states tonight and Monday morning. The heavy rain will move eastward to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley today. One to three inches of rain is forecast from South Dakota to Ohio. Localized flooding is possible due to the saturated ground; the additional water will contribute to ongoing flooding on the upper Mississippi. Highs will range from the 40s near the Great Lakes and in the Ohio Valley to 70s over the Plains.
Northeast:
The weather system moving out of the Midwest will bring showery precipitation and thunderstorms to the Mid-Atlantic by midday and will move into New York state and Southern New England tonight
Rainfall amounts of two to four inches are possible by Monday. Given the already saturated ground localized flash flooding is likely. High temperatures will be range from the 60s in the mid Atlantic to the upper 40s.
West:
A frontal system will produce showers over the Pacific Northwest and rain (snow in higher elevations) across parts of Montana to northern Utah on Sunday. Temperatures across the Northwest will be relatively cool. However, melting snow may cause some localized flooding across the Northwest and northern Rockies. The Southwest will be hot, dry and windy. Fire danger remains high from southeast California to West Texas. (NWS, Storm prediction Center, Various Media Sources)
Severe weather Outbreak:
A deep surface low pressure system and associated frontal system moved across the Central Plains last night and into the mid Mississippi and Tennessee valleys this morning. This system combined with warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico produced a significant severe weather outbreak across the Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
Region IV
State Actions Mississippi
- EOC Level IV (Normal)
- The counties of Desoto, Marshell, and Panila are reporting trees and power lines down, road closures and possible homes damaged.
State Actions Alabama
- EOC Level IV (Normal), monitoring situation.
- No reports of fatalities, but possible injuries.
- Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, and Morgan Counties reported damage including downed trees and possible structure damage.
- No requests for assistance at this time.
Region VI
State Actions Oklahoma
- The Town of Picher reports twenty neighborhood block reported impacted.
- 6 unconfirmed fatalities in Ottawa and Pittsburg counties.
- Oklahoma EOC watch officer is monitoring the situation.
- Unknown number of injuries.
- 3,000 customers without electric service.
- Damage assessments underway.
- No additional requests for assistance at this time.
- OK DPS dispatched Mobile Command Center to Picher; will provide communications support and act as command vehicle.
- Scheduling over flight of impacted area tomorrow, the Governor may be onboard.
- American Red Cross is setting up a shelter; no shelter numbers.
- Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) providing 18 troopers.
- As of 7:00am on May 11, OK National Guard will provide 25 soldiers to assist in Picher
State Actions Arkansas
- Unknown number of injuries.
- Four people reported missing (Arkansas County).
- Damage assessments underway.
- Reports of Tornado damage in Arkansas County.
- Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is activated to Level 3 (limited activation).
- An ADEM liaison has been dispatched to Stuttgart in Arkansas County.
- No additional requests for assistance at this time.
Region VII
State Actions Missouri
- The State of Missouri has deployed Missouri Task Force One (Boone County/Columbia state asset) to the impacted area.
- The State EOC is activated at a level 2.
- 12 confirmed fatalities.
- Unknown number of injuries.
- 3 shelters open, no shelter numbers at this time.
- Power outages are scattered.
- Numerous tornadoes have touched down and damages are being reported in four communities (Newton County and Jasper County).
- No additional requests for assistance at this time
State Actions Kansas
- The State EOC is at level 2
- Reports of damage in Cherokee and Labette County.
- No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
- The State has not received any requests for assistance. .(FEMA Regions VI, VII, National Weather Service (NWS), Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM), Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Missouri State EOC)
Mississippi Valley Flooding
Currently, no river gauges along the Mississippi River are reporting Major Flood Levels; however, Moderate Flood Levels continue at many gauges. (Region IV, Region V, Region VI RRCC, National Weather Service, FEMA HQ)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
Five earthquakes ranging from 2.0 to 4.4 magnitudes have occurred South of Atka, Alaska between 4:48 a.m. to 10:22 a.m. EDT May 10, at a depth of 20 to 62 miles. No injuries or damage have been reported. No tsunami advisory, watch or warning is in effect for these areas.
An earthquake of 4.7 magnitude occurred 12:03 a.m. 63 miles south southeast of Cordova, Alaska, at a depth of 9.9 miles. No injuries or damage have been reported. No tsunami advisory, watch or warning is in effect for these areas. (USGS, FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Saturday, May 10:
Initial attack activity: Light (148 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 8
Weather Discussion: Dry and windy conditions continue for New Mexico and west Texas today. The Southeast will begin to see some light precipitation today ahead of a stronger storm system. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
