US Dept of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Daily Update - Wednesday July 6, 2011

Severe Weather Outbreak
Current Situation

A series of strong to severe storms over the Holiday weekend caused numerous scattered power outages and wind damage from the Upper Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes. Power restoration efforts are ongoing in the affected states; power is expected to be restored within the next 24 to 36 hours. There have been no requests for Federal assistance.

Wisconsin

Northern Wisconsin counties continue to cleanup damages. Local damage assessments are ongoing and some areas remain without power. Two fatalities and 39 injuries have been reported.

Michigan

Approximately 22,000 customers remain without power.

Minnesota

The National Weather System (NWS) confirmed 2 tornadoes in Pipestone and Lincoln counties on Friday. An unknown number of minor injuries have been reported.

Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary

Overview

Releases across the Missouri River Basin continue to decrease at Nebraska City and Rulo, NE; however, widespread overtopping of levees continues. Four federal levees and 11 non-federal levees have breeched or overtopped across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. USACE will incrementally cut flows by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily or every other day, until the conservation pool is reached next week or unless conditions warrant different action. USACE continues to provide technical assistance and levee repairs in support of local levee sponsors responsible for the Souris and Missouri River basins. A major flood fighting effort is ongoing to control and mitigate the impacts of flooding and levee overtopping throughout both river basins. In North Dakota along the Souris River, the USACE is beginning to pick up some of the potential mission assignments (Temporary Housing, Critical Public Facilities, Debris, Water/Wastewater) in support of the recovery of Minot Burlington, Sawyer, and Velva. The USACE continues to observe and monitor temporary flood protection projects along the entire Missouri River Basin.

Souris (Mouse) River Flooding – Minot, ND

Current Situation
The river is below the 1,558 feet historical record stage (set in 1881). As of 3:00 a.m. EDT, July 6, the Souris at Minot was at 1557.3 feet (flood stage is 1549 feet). The outflow for Lake Darling measured along the Souris River at Foxholm was 10,200 cfs at 2:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2011. Flows at Lake Darling will continue to be incrementally cut by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily or every other day, until the conservation pool is reached. Flood waters are expected to recede to within channel banks over the next two weeks. All locations along the Souris River continue to recede. Reconstruction of the levees/recovery will begin in mid-July, when the flow will drop to 3,000-5,000 cfs.

Minot and Sawyer (Ward County), and Velva (McHenry County), ND

All residents in the valley outside of the evacuation zone have been advised to use discretion and take precautions. The mandatory evacuation order for Velda (McHenry County) was rescinded by the Governor on June 30, 2011. Residents of Minot from the outer fringe areas in the northwest Evacuation Zones that have no river water on their lawns were allowed back to their homes beginning on July 2, 2011. The Broadway Bridge in Minot will be open daily from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. EDT.

Trinity Hospital is operating a walk-in clinic at the Lewis & Clark School. Due to the boil water order, extra precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Zones 1-9 (approximately 12,000 residents). Residents in the Evacuation Zones in NE Minot protected by the secondary dike will be allowed to return when the reading at the Broadway Bridge reaches 1555 feet. Voluntary evacuations remain in effect for portions of Morton (182) residents) and Burleigh (694 residents). Three shelters are supporting 318 occupants in Ward and Mountrail counties.

North Dakota

The North Dakota SEOC is activated to Level III. The Garrison Dam reservoir is expected to remain nearly level for the next several days and then begin to recede. Releases have been reduced to 140,000 cfs. The State is beginning demobilization of Federal and local assets as soon as they are no longer needed.

Significant National Weather

Northeast

Scattered thunderstorms may develop from Maine to Upstate New York and northernmost Pennsylvania. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are also expected through Friday across the Virginias. The main threat will be very heavy rain, although gusty winds are also possible. On Thursday, scattered thunderstorms are possible from southernmost New England and southeast New York to the Mid-Atlantic.

South

Scattered thunderstorms will be possible again today from the Lower Mississippi Valley eastward. Some storms may become severe, with damaging wind gusts and rainfall accumulations of over 1 inch, especially in the Southeast. Temperatures will remain near average in the Southeast but up to 10 degrees above average in the Southern Plains. Highs will range from the 80s and 90s in the Southeast to over 100 degrees in much of the Southern Plains.

Midwest

The next cold front will extend from the southern Great Lakes to the Central Plains Wednesday. Thunderstorms will be possible again today across the western Dakotas and Central Plains. Some storms could become severe, with total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches possible in some areas. Another thunderstorm complex may develop in the Central Plains and Missouri Thursday with only scattered thunderstorms eastward into the Ohio Valley and northward into the Dakotas, Upper Mississippi Valley and northwest Great Lakes.

West

Monsoon moisture continues to infiltrate the region midweek, with thunderstorms likely to redevelop across the Sierra, interior Southern California and the Desert Southwest to the northern and central high Plains. Some of the thunderstorms may turn severe, mainly in southern Arizona and eastern Colorado, and produce damaging wind gusts (possibly hail in the Plains). High temperatures will range from the 80s and 90s in the Northwest to between 100 and 116 degrees in the Desert Southwest.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
No Activity expected within the next 48 hours.

Eastern / Central Pacific
Area 1

Shower and thunderstorm activity has become a little more concentrated in association with an area of low pressure located about 200 miles south-southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.

Environmental conditions appear favorable for continued gradual development and there is a medium chance (30%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves westward or west-northwestward at around 10 mph.

Western / South Pacific:
No activity expected within the next 48 hours.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Fire Activity

Tuesday, July 5, 2011:

• National Preparedness Level: 3
• Initial attack activity: LIGHT (203 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 5
• Large Fires Contained: 3
• Uncontained Large Fires: 19
• Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
• Type 2 IMT Committed: 9
• States affected: NM, AZ, NC, GA, FL, TX, AL, CO, & KS

Wildfires

North Carolina
The State EOC is at Level V (Normal Operations). An FMAG-2936-FM-NC was approved on July 4, 2011.

Simmons Road Wildfire – FEMA-2936-FM-NC

The fire has consumed 5,400 acres and is 50 percent contained. Mandatory evacuations have taken place for 10 homes (40 residents). The fire has destroyed 3 homes and 11 outbuildings. There have been no fatalities or injuries reported.

New Mexico
The State EOC remains activated at Level III.
Las Conchas Fire – FEMA-2933-FM-NM
The fire has consumed 127,821 acres and is 30% contained.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Bandelier National Monument, Conchiti Mesa and Las Conchas. Voluntary evacuations remain in effect for the town of White Rock and Cochiti. The USACE facilities at Cochiti Lake are closed through July11, 2011. Three Type I IMTs are responding.
Four injuries and no fatalities have been reported.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Jul-2011 08:16:08 EDT