National Situation Update: Thursday, July 14, 2011 Severe Weather – Midwest- July 11 – 12, 2011 During the early morning hours of July 11, 2011, severe storms swept across the region causing widespread power outages and damages. Flood warnings remain in effect for several locations along the Minnesota River in Minnesota and the Illinois River in Illinois. No significant impacts have been reported and there are no rivers in major flood stage within the Region. There have been no unmet needs or requests for FEMA assistance.
Illinois As of 11:30 p.m. EDT, approximately 120,000 customers remain without power (from a high of 868,000). Full restoration is expected by Saturday, July 16, 2011. One shelter is open with 65 occupants. One unconfirmed fatality has been reported in Lake County.
Michigan As of 11:30 p.m. EDT, approximately 10,000 customers remain without power. One unconfirmed fatality has been reported in Cutlerville (Kent County).
Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary
Overview
U.S. Army Core of Engineers (USACE) continues to manage releases from the Fort Peck, Garrison, Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point reservoirs. All six reservoirs are expected to maintain or decrease their current release rates over the next few days; however, overtopping of levees continues. Four federal levees and 13 non-federal levees have breeched or overtopped across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. USACE continues to provide flood fight supplies and technical assistance to levee districts and communities across the Missouri River Basin. A major flood fighting effort is ongoing to control and mitigate the impacts of flooding and levee overtopping throughout the river basin.
Missouri River Basin Flooding Dam Releases:- Fort Peck: 45,000 cfs today, will be reduced to 40,000 cfs today.
- Garrison: 135,000 cfs today, will be reduced to 130,000 cfs on today.
- Oahe: 145,000 cfs today, the lake is few inches below the spillway gates, but is expected to continue to decline.
- Big Bend: 145,000 cfs as of Wednesday, July 13.
- Fort Randall: 155,000 cfs as of Wednesday, July 13.
- Gavins Point: 160,000 cfs, and will be held at that level until the end of this month before reducing to 150,000 cfs in August.
River levels continue to decline across the region. The main stem of the Missouri River remains at Moderate to Major Flood Stage in many locations.
Missouri Seventeen levees have overtopped or breached since the beginning of this current flooding event. There have been no new breaches/overtopping. Missouri DOT reports 55 flood related road closures.
Kansas Kansas City District has prepared the first public notice for levee rehabilitation. Over the next couple of days, the notice will be sent to all “Active” participants within the Kansas City’s District Rehabilitation an Inspection Program. The MRLS-R-500 agricultural levee along the Missouri River located northeast of Highland, KS is projected to have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days as the Missouri River continues to rise. This levee is being closely monitored for potential structural issues.
Iowa The MRLS-L-601 Watkins Ditch RB (Right Bank) agricultural levee along the Missouri River is located west of Tabor. USACE is projecting this levee will have less than 2 feet of freeboard in the coming days. This levee is also being closely monitored for potential structural issues.
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding – Minot, ND Current Situation As of 3:00 a.m. EDT on July 14, the Souris River at Minot was at 1,551.09 feet (Moderate Flood Stage) and is expected to continue to recede. The river is forecast to fall below Flood Stage on July 17. Water continues to recede as Lake Darling releases continue to be reduced. Secretary Napolitano participated in a press conference outside City Hall in Minot yesterday afternoon. The outflow for Lake Darling measured along the Souris River at Foxholm is 6,640 cfs and USACE will continue to cut flows by 1,000 to 2,000 cfs daily or every other day, until the conservation pool is reached or conditions warrant different action.
Minot and Sawyer (Ward County), and Velva (McHenry County), ND
Amendment #6 was approved for FEMA-1981-DR-ND, effective July 13, 2011. The Amendment adds Barnes, Ramsey, and Richland Counties and the Spirit Lake Nation for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance). Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for portions of Ward County; however, more residents are gradually being allowed to return to their homes as the waters continue to recede. Residents in designated areas are being allowed to return to their homes between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; residents were advised not to use their sinks, toilets and to continue to keep their sewers plugged. Half of the city’s 25 sewage lift stations are flooded and not operational; only 3 of the remaining lifts are operating at 100%. Potable water remains a limiting factor in Minot (Ward County) with boil water orders in effect. The Boil Order has been lifted for portions of the City; however, the Boil Order is still in effect for many other areas of Minot and the surrounding area previously on the Boil Order. The City is working on isolating and testing the other areas within Minot. People still need to conserve water in all areas of Minot and the surrounding areas.
North Dakota Two shelters are open supporting 250 occupants.
Significant National Weather Midwest Rain and thunderstorms are forecast across the Northern and Central Plains. Storms could become severe with large hail and strong winds. Flooding remains a problem for the Northern and Central Plains with the continuing rain. Temperatures are forecast to reach 100 degrees or more over much of Oklahoma and parts of Kansas. The extreme heat will continue for most of the Region. Expect temperatures to remain above normal through to next week.
South Most of the Region is expected to be extremely hot and humid. Triple digit temperatures with heat index values topping 120 degrees. Numerous heat advisories are in effect from Texas to Alabama. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Arkansas and Louisiana stretching to the Southeast, storms may become severe.
Northeast The potential exists for isolated thunderstorms for portions of the New England area. The remainder of the Region will experience sunny and clear conditions.
West Rain and thundershowers are possible over Idaho and Montana. Isolated thunderstorms are forecast in portions of Colorado and New Mexico.
Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico: No tropical cyclones at this time.
Eastern Pacific:
No tropical cyclones at this time.
Central Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday evening.
Western / South Pacific: Typhoon O8W (Ma-On) is located approximately 480 miles north-northeast of Guam, is moving west at 17 mph. A decrease in forward speed is expected in the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 105 mph and typhoon force winds extend outward 30 miles from the center, while tropical storm force winds extend to 135 miles. Typhoon 08W is expected to intensify further during the next 24 hours.
Earthquake Activity No new activity
(FEMA HQ) Fire Activity Wednesday, July 13, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (164 new fires)
New Large Fires: 7
Large Fires Contained: 9
Uncontained Large Fires: 20
Type 1 IMT Committed: 2
Type 2 IMT Committed: 3
States affected: NM, NC, GA, TX, LA, OK, MS, AZ, CA, and CO.
Wildfires
Texas Nolan County Complex Fire – FEMA-2937-FM-TX
(approved July 11, 2011) The fire has consumed 3,880 acres and is 50% contained. The fire is located in the south city limits of the town of Sweetwater. Approximately 200 homes are threatened. Thirty homes have been evacuated; however, no residences have been destroyed.
New Mexico Las Conchas Fire – FEMA-2933-FM-NM
(approved June 26, 2011) The fire has consumed 149,250 acres and is 57% contained. The fire is located twelve miles southwest of Los Alamos, NM. Eight injuries and no fatalities have been reported. The fire has destroyed 63 residences and 49 outbuildings. Approximately 565 residences, outbuildings and commercial buildings remain threatened. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast through the week. Flash flooding and debris flow threats exist in burn areas across New Mexico. Two Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams arrived on the scene soon after the fire broke out to evaluate the after effects of the fire. Their primary mission is to assess potential threats to life, property and critical culture and natural resources on reservation, National Park, and USDA Forest Service Lands as a result of the fire. The Valles Caldera National Preserve reopened the staging area effective July 13. The staging area was closed since June 26 due to evacuations. The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted airspace in the Los Alamos area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities at Cochiti Lake are closed through July 19. One Type 1 IMT committed to this fire.
Disaster Declaration Activity Pennsylvania On July 13, 2011, a Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-4003-DR, was declared for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Severe Storms and Flooding occurring Aril 25 – 28, 2011. The Declaration provides Public Assistance for Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties for emergency work and repair or replacement of disaster damaged facilities. All counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Ohio On July 13, 2011, a Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-4002-DR, was declared for the State of Ohio for Severe Storms and Flooding occurring April 4 to May 15, 2011. The Declaration provides Public Assistance for Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Clermont, Gallia, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties for emergency work and repair or replacement of disaster damaged facilities. All counties in the State of Ohio are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Kentucky On July 13, 2011, the Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a result of a severe storms, strong winds, and tornadoes beginning June 19, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for five counties and Public Assistance for six counties and Hazard Mitigation for the entire Commonwealth. The Governor further requested Public Assistance (Categories C-G) at 100 percent Federal funding.
North Dakota FEMA-1981-DR-ND; Amendment # 6, effective July 13, 2011, adds Barnes, Ramsey, and Richland Counties and the Spirit Lake Nation for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).
