The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For February 7, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or Significant
Icing Forecast
=> USA Flood Report
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
=> USA Earthquake Report
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
=> Guest Column-
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats
=> Article Federal Disaster Aid Ordered For Florida Farm Freeze
=> Article EL SALVADOR - Earthquake Fact Sheet #10
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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Sponsored by the The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
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=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For February 7, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Tue...87 At Indio CA
Low Wed...16 Below Zero At International Falls MN
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Wednesday
Comment: MAJOR WARMING DEVELOPS WITHIN THE NEXT 5 DAYS,
WITH A STRONG ALEUTIAN HIGH CENTERED OVER NORTHERN
ALASKA AND AN ELONGATED POLAR VORTEX, CENTERED
SOUTH OF ICELAND AND OVER WEST SIBERIA, RESPECTIVELY,
AT THE 10-HPA LEVEL.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Wed Feb 7 12:07:21 2001
Non Precipitation
Arizona
WIND ADVISORY TODAY UNTIL 600 PM MST FOR THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER
VALLEY...WHITE MOUNTAINS...NORTHEAST PLATEAUS AND MESAS SOUTH OF
264...AND HOUSEROCK VALLEY...
New Mexico
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TODAY FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
AND FAR WEST TEXAS...
Texas
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR TODAY
FOR THE WESTERN THIRD OF NORTH TEXAS...AND FOR THIS AFTERNOON FOR
THE REMAINDER OF NORTH TEXAS.
Winter Storm
Arizona
SOUTH- CENTRAL ARIZONA TODAY. MOISTURE WILL BE INCREASING AS THIS
SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO NEAR 2500 FEET BY THURSDAY MORNING...WITH
ACCUMULATING SNOWS POSSIBLE ABOVE 3500 FEET.
California
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MANY MOUNTAIN AND HIGH DESERT AREAS
OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THROUGH THIS EVENING...
Colorado
A STORM SYSTEM OVER THE GREAT BASIN WILL CONTINUE BRINGING
ABUNDANT MOISTURE TO THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO MOUNTAINS TODAY
AND TONIGHT. THEREFORE SNOW WILL CONTINUE AND WILL BE HEAVY AT
TIMES.
Iowa
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY... SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT.
PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW ON THURSDAY MORNING AND
MAY BECOME HEAVY.
Michigan
WINTER STORM WATCH TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING FOR SNOW
SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND EARLY
THURSDAY MORNING...
Minnesota
HEAVY SNOW WAS FALLING THIS MORNING ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA...
Montana
A HEAVY SNOW WARNING CONTINUES TODAY...
North Dakota
LIGHT SNOW INTO SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA. THE HEAVIEST
SNOWFALL IS FORECAST TO BE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA...BUT COUNTIES IN FAR SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA ARE
EXPECTED TO RECEIVE 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.
Nebraska
SOME LIGHT SNOW WILL FALL AT TIMES TODAY...WITH THE BULK OF THE SNOW
STILL EXPECTED TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING
AND THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.
New Mexico
WINTER WEATHER RETURNING TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO
THE CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS BY LATE THURSDAY...
South Dakota
ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL AND NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. ACCUMULATIONS
WILL BE LESS THAN 3 INCHES THROUGH THE DAY
TODAY.A SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TO TAKE AIM ON THE AREA
LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.
Utah
SNOW ADVISORIES MOST OF UTAH TODAY AND THROUGH TONIGHT
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF STATE...
ACCUMULATIONS OF 2-4 INCHES...EXCEPT 4-8 INCHES POSSIBLE ALONG THE
I-15 CORRIDOR IN EASTERN MILLARD COUNTY.
Wisconsin
SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN THIS MORNING. ACCUMULATIONS FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL OCCUR LATER
TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING
ARE FORECAST TO RANGE FROM 6 TO 8 INCHES.
Wyoming
..HEAVY SNOW WARNING CONTINUES TODAY...
SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND TAPER OFF THIS EVENING. STORM TOTAL
ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 14 INCHES IS EXPECTED BY LATE TODAY.
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
The forecast probability of an event is by the stated percentage or greater
for the event, within 25 miles of any point for the area described.
Tornado Risk - Slight
There is less than a 2% probability of a tornado.
Hail Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger.
Wind Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots.
Tomorrow's Risk -
There is a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow the northeast 1/2
of Texas, the south
southeast 1/2 of Oklahoma, far southern Missouri except the southeast area,
Arkansas except the
far eastern areas, and northwest Louisiana
The 15% Probability area covers the northeast 1/3 of Texas
A couple of tornadoes could occur with supercells near the red river
Thursday evening...otherwise
damaging wind and large hail should be the main threats Thursday night.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for less than 1 inch of
precipitation.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for less than 2 inches of
precipitation from central
through north northwest Oklahoma, east southeast Kansas, and from north
central through west
southwest Missouri.
Over 1 inch of precipitation is forecast over a portion of north northeast
Texas, the southeast 3/4 of
Oklahoma, far northwest Arkansas, the southeast 1/4 of Kansas, the northwest
2/3 of Missouri, the
south southeast 1/3 of Iowa, northwest Illinois, south southwest Wisconsin,
and northern Michigan
not including the upper peninsula.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is not expected to exceed flash flood values.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low north
northeast South Dakota, extreme southeast North Dakota, central through
central west Minnesota,
extreme northeast Iowa, extreme southeast Minnesota, the southern 1/3 of
Wisconsin and central
west Michigan.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is low over
central through central east
Iowa, extreme southern Wisconsin and extreme northern Illinois.
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over a
portion of central south colorado, a portion of central north New Mexico,
central east Wisconsin,
northern Michigan,
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 12 inches or greater
of snow is low over
portion of central south colorado and a portion of central north New Mexico.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is low the
southeast 1/3 of Wisconsin,
Michigan except the northern and extreme southern areas, and west northwest
New York,
The moderate probability area far east southeast Wisconsin, and central
Michigan.
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
07:15 AM EST WED FEB 07 2001
FLOOD SUMMARY
RESIDUAL FLOODING
MINOR FLOODING CONTINUES ON A FEW RIVERS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA,
ARKANSAS AND ILLINOIS.
FLASH FLOODING:
FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORIES
WERE ISSUED DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS FOR LOCATIONS INCLUDING:
PUERTO RICO: MUNICIPALITY OF ARECIBO
RIVER FLOODING:
RIVERS AND STREAMS WITH LOCATIONS EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE OR
EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDE:
ARKANSAS: THE CACHE RIVER
ILLINOIS: THE ILLINOIS RIVER
LOUISIANA: THE RED CHUTE BAYOU, BAYOU DORCHEAT
TEXAS: THE NECHES RIVER
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
The USA Fire Report and Forecast has not been updated.
=> USA Earthquake Report
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER
GOLDEN, COLORADO
LISTS OF U.S. EARTHQUAKES IN THE LAST 30 HOURS
Prepared by USGS/NEIC 2001 FEB 07 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN STATE OF ALASKA
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 FEB 6 11:41:03.10 51.6 N 176.8 W 33 km 4.2
20 miles SSW of Adak, Alaska
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
No reports received
Hail Reports
No reports received
Wind Reports
Time Speed Location County State Lat Lon Comments
2350 62 CROWLEY MONO CA 3943 12339 (RNO)
Fields marked UNK are unknown
All Times UTC
Wind Gusts in MPH
Hail Sizes in 1/100 of an Inch (75 = 0.75")
=> Guest Column
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=> National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats
Valid Friday, February 9, 2001 - Tuesday, February 20, 2001.
Summary of Forecasts & Threats
SYNOPSIS: A broad trough in the western and central U.S. is host to wave
after wave during most of the period. The pattern brings cold, and possibly
arctic, air to the West and heavy precipitation to parts of the West and the
Mississippi Valley. Severe weather is possible in the South early in the
period. Heavy amounts of rain are possible for the Hawaiian Islands
beginning late Thursday and continuing through early at least Monday Feb 12
to Tuesday Feb 13.
THREATS
Heavy rain with local flooding is possible for the Hawaiian Islands Friday
Feb 9-Tue Feb 13.
Heavy snow with strong winds and blizzard-like conditions are possible for
eastern sections of Kansas and Nebraska, western Iowa and southern Minnesota
Friday Feb 9.
Heavy rain with local flooding is likely from Texas to Iowa Friday Feb 9.
Strong and severe thunderstorms are possible from Louisiana to Kentucky Fri
Feb 9.
Much below normal temperatures are possible for much of the Great Plains,
the Rockies and the West Fri Feb 9-Fri Feb 16.
Snow melt and river ice breakup may cause local flooding in sections of
eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southeastern New York and
southern New England Friday Feb 9-Sunday Feb 11.
DETAILED SUMMARY
For Friday February 9 through Sunday February 11: A strong short wave trough
lifts out of the Southwest while a surface low over Texas opens the Gulf of
Mexico injecting warm moist air into the Mississippi Valley. Heavy rains are
likely from Texas to Iowa, with strong to severe thunderstorms from
Louisiana to Kentucky, and heavy snow with blizzard-like conditions from
eastern Kansas to southern Minnesota, mainly Friday. Meanwhile, cold air
settles into the Rockies and the West, setting the stage for heavy mountain
snows from the Sierras to the Mogollon Rim starting Sunday. An upper air
trough is predicted to approach the Hawaiian Islands from the east and may
produce heavy rain, beginning Friday Feb 9 and continuing through the
weekend into the following week. Warm temperatures, high dew points and rain
showers may cause local flooding in eastern Pennsylvania, northern New
Jersey, southeastern New York and southern New England, Friday Feb 9-Sunday
Feb 11.
For Monday February 5 through Tuesday February 13: A series of troughs
brings cold temperatures and heavy mountain snows throughout the West. Snow
levels may reach near the valleys in the many areas of the interior West.
Moderate rain is expected for much of the West coast states. Current model
forecasts indicate continued cold conditions in the West, with cold air
possibly sinking into northern sections of the eastern U.S. late in the
period. Although the forecast is highly uncertain at this point, shallow
cold air along the southern margin of this airmass may foster ice storms
from Feb 15-20. It is also possible the model is overdoing the breakdown of
the eastern subtropical high.
=> Federal Disaster Aid Ordered For Florida Farm Freeze
Washington, February 6, 2001 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)
announced today that federal disaster aid has been authorized by President
Bush for people in
Florida communities left jobless because of the effects of recent winter
freezes on farm crops and
fisheries.
FEMA Acting Director John W. Magaw said the President's major disaster
declaration issued for
the state makes federal funding available specifically to supplement
unemployment benefits for farm
and fishing industry workers who lost jobs as a direct result of freezing
weather that struck much of
the state over the period of December 1 through January 25.
Immediately after the President's action, Magaw designated the following 49
counties eligible for
assistance to affected workers: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward,
Charlotte, Citrus,
Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades,
Hamilton, Hardee,
Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake,
Lee, Levy, Manatee,
Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola,
Palm Beach,
Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie,
Sumter, Suwannee, Union
and Volusia.
Additionally, Magaw said federal funding will be provided for the state on a
cost-shared basis for
approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He indicated that more
counties and additional
forms of assistance may be designated later if requested and warranted by
further evaluation of
existing needs.
Michael Bolch of FEMA was named by Magaw to coordinate the federal
assistance. Bolch said
procedures for requesting the aid will be announced locally within the next
few days.
=> EL SALVADOR - Earthquake Fact Sheet #10
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 February 6, 2001
Background
On January 13, 2001 at approximately 11:35 am local time, an earthquake with
a magnitude of 7.6
on the Richter Scale and a depth of 60 km occurred off the El Salvadoran
coastline some 65 miles
southwest of San Miguel at 12.8 degrees latitude and 88.8 degrees longitude.
Consistent with
expected seismic activity following an earthquake of this magnitude,
aftershocks continue to occur in
El Salvador. More than 1,950 have been
recorded to date.
Numbers Affected
As of February 2, El Salvador's National Emergency Committee (COEN) reported
827 deaths,
4,520 injuries, 1,160,316 people affected, 92,080 houses destroyed, and
130,005 houses
damaged.
Current Situation
Overview
- COEN is coordinating the overall response from its Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) (e.g.,
conducting damage and needs assessments, compiling assessment information,
and setting relief
priorities). COEN departmental committees are working in coordination with
COEN's main office in
relief efforts.
- President Flores named General Perdomo Chief of Operations for the
disaster. As such, the El
Salvadoran military is coordinating operational aspects of the response,
with COEN working in
parallel.
- The Government of El Salvador (GOES) named Minister of Economy Miguel
Lacayo as Chief of
Reconstruction Efforts. On January 17, the GOES established a $205 million
reconstruction fund.
- At the request of the GOES, the Salvadoran Red Cross (comprised of 200
relief workers and
over 1,000 volunteers) has assumed responsibility for the coordination of
relief assistance to all
collective centers. Priority needs in collective centers include basic
health care, water and sanitation,
psychological services, and food assistance. The GOES continues to be
responsible for the
administration of these sites, including registration.
- The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports
that a total of 4,028
emergency shelters are operating in the departments of La Libertad, San
Salvador, Santa Ana, San
Miguel, Usulutan, Sonsonate, and San Vicente.
- According to the El Diario de Hoy, over the past week more than 1,300
people have left the
shelter at El Cafetalon. Most people have returned to their homes or are
living with family members.
Damages/Assessments
- There are pockets of damage throughout the country that range from 0% to
60% affected. The
southern and eastern portions of the country are most-affected, while little
damage is in the north.
Usulutan Department suffered the most damage, although all of El Salvador's
14 departments
incurred some loss. La Libertad, La Paz, San Vicente, San Miguel, and
Sonsonate departments also
are significantly affected. Structures with adobe walls and clay-tiled roofs
experienced the most
damage.
- COEN reports that 574 landslides have occurred, resulting in road
blockages and the destruction
of houses, particularly in Santa Tecla. Additional landslides may occur as
aftershocks continue and
as the rainy season begins in May. Slopes at-risk of landslides will need to
be reinforced or repaired
in advance of the upcoming rains to prevent further damage.
- According to COEN, total loss is estimated at $1 billion. This figure is
likely to increase as damage
assessments continue and as mitigative measures to prevent further
landslides are undertaken.
- The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that the earthquake will cause a
loss of at least $100 million in agricultural revenue.
- As of January 22, COEN reports damage to only 11 hospitals and 28 health
clinics. Temporary
clinics have been established in several areas, including Usulutan, to
accommodate medical needs.
- According to preliminary assessments of educational facilities in Santa
Ana, San Salvador, La
Libertad, and Usulutan departments, the GOES reports that 1,696 schools (of
4,820) are damaged.
Schools resumed classes on January 22 in the least affected departments and
some municipalities in
San Salvador and Santa Ana, however, most of the schools in San Salvador,
Santa Ana, La
Libertad, La Paz, and Usulutan have postponed classes. The Ministry of
Education estimates that
149,961 students have been affected by the earthquake.
- USAID/OFDA conducted an assessment of La Paz Department on January 28.
Overall the
damage did not appear as significant as that which can be seen in Usulutan.
In the municipality of San
Pedro Nonualco, the majority of damage was wall collapses in older adobe
structures. The brick
and concrete structures in the city appeared to suffer minor to no damage.
- As of February 1, the Emergency Committee of Usulutan reported 56,446
affected families, 21
dead, 767 injured, 23,327 homes destroyed, 26,592 homes damaged, 38 public
building damaged,
281 schools damaged and 10 health facilities damaged.
Multilateral Organization Response
- Based on a thorough assessment of health sector damages and needs, the Pan
American Health
Organization (PAHO) has revised its initial appeal from $770,000 to
$1,750,000. PAHO's
assessment reveals the need for immunizations, restoration of the cold
chain, and emergency
rehabilitation measures in health facilities. PAHO also is recording
incoming relief supplies and
distribution of assistance in its humanitarian relief supply management
system (SUMA).
- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is providing $50,000 for
emergency
transportation and logistics, PAHO is providing medicines to hospitals and
relief centers, and OCHA
is providing $30,000 for emergency relief supplies. UNDP has also
established a website,
www.terremotoelsalvador.org.sv, which has information on the current
situation in El Salvador and
information on donor activities.
- The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) released
$100,000 from its disaster relief emergency fund. IFRC funding is supporting
relief interventions
(e.g., distribution of blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene items, and plastic
sheeting) and disaster
preparedness. The American Red Cross and the Spanish Red Cross released
immediate financial
assistance and provided pre-positioned relief supplies such as blankets,
plastic sheeting, family kits,
and water containers.
- The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) began distributing food to earthquake
victims on January
14. Since that date, WFP has provided 900 metric tons (MT) of family rations
(rice, beans, maize,
and vegetable oil) from its in-country development-related stocks to
approximately 40,000 affected
families in La Libertad, La Paz, Sonsonate, Usulutan, San Vicente, Santa
Ana, San Salvador, and
Ahuachapan departments. WFP has approved an emergency operations appeal for
$9,940,857 in
support of 200,000 earthquake-affected people.
- In coordination with WFP and the National Secretariat for the Family, CARE
has distributed more
than 10,000 family food rations, benefiting more than 50,000 people, to 17
municipalities in Usulutan
Department.
- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) convened a Special Consultative
Group in support
of reconstruction and development in El Salvador, and approved a $50,000
non-reimbursable
humanitarian assistance grant in response to the earthquake.
- On January 16, the World Bank announced that it will divert $200 million
for previously approved development projects to reconstruction activities.
U.S. Government (USG) Assistance
- U.S. Ambassador Rose Likins declared an earthquake disaster on January 14.
This disaster
declaration opened the door for the provision of USG assistance, outlined
below.
USAID/DART Personnel
- Three USAID/OFDA personnel were in San Salvador at the time of the
earthquake. They
immediately began liaising with the El Salvadoran Red Cross, the Government
of El Salvador
(GOES), the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, and the USAID Mission to ascertain
the extent of
damage and humanitarian needs and coordinate assistance.
- On January 13, USAID/OFDA activated its Washington-based Response
Management Team (RMT) and began preparations to augment its personnel in
El Salvador and to transport relief supplies to affected areas.
- On January 14, 11 additional USAID/OFDA personnel arrived in San Salvador,
bringing to 14 the
total number of the USAID/DART. The initial Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Department (MDFRD)
component of the USAID/DART (five people total) departed El Salvador on
January 17. The
MDFRD personnel assisted the GOES in developing site strategies for search
and rescue activities,
safety measures for rescue workers, and security plans for search sites.
- On January 19, a MDFRD shelter specialist arrived in El Salvador followed
by two others on
January 21. From January 21-23, the MDFRD shelter specialists conducted
training on the
construction of temporary emergency shelters for Save the Children and Peace
Corps Volunteers in
El Cafetalon, for CARE in Usulutan, and for CHF in Santiago de Maria. The
MDFRD shelter
specialists departed El Salvador on January 26.
- USAID/OFDA is coordinating with the Fund for Social Investment and Local
Development
(FISDL), the organization charged by the GOES to manage reconstruction, to
ensure that
USAID/OFDA's shelter programs fit into the overall reconstruction effort.
- The Washington-based RMT and the USAID/DART were deactivated on January
26.
USAID/OFDA has established a program office in Usulutan to monitor
USAID/OFDA's shelter
programs.
USAID/OFDA Grant Programming
- USAID/San Salvador is serving as the focal point for documentation of NGO
assessment
information and activities. USAID/OFDA and USAID/San Salvador are
coordinating with NGOs to
share program plans and delineate areas of responsibility.
- On January 19, USAID/DART met with various donors to reach agreement on
information-sharing about program plans and priorities in El Salvador.
- In accordance with a request by the GOES, the United States is
concentrating its assistance,
primarily shelter- related, in Usulutan Department.
- The USAID/DART established a base-of-operations for its emergency shelter
operations program
in Usulutan on January 19, and began conducting a thorough housing needs
assessment, in
cooperation with the COEN departmental committee. On January 16, USAID/OFDA
provided
$25,000 to USAID/San Salvador for administrative and support costs
associated with the
establishment of the base.
- On January 24, USAID/OFDA provided $4,650,000 to USAID/San Salvador in
support of
shelter programs, including one to be undertaken by CARE and another to be
undertaken by the
Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF). The programs will benefit 12,000 of
the most vulnerable
families in Usulutan (10,500), Ahuachapan (1,000), and La Libertad
departments (500). Ciudad
Arce and Tacuba will be targeted in La Libertad and Ahuachapan departments,
respectively, while
Usulutan, Santiago de Maria, Ozatlan, Puerto el Triunfo, Santa Elena,
Ereguayquin, Berlin, San
Augustin, Jiquilisco, San Francisco, Juacuapa, and Concepcion will be
targeted in Usulutan
Department.
- As of January 25, CHF had constructed 12 temporary shelters at the
emergency shelter at
Santiago de Maria as part of a USAID/OFDA-funded program. USAID/OFDA plastic
sheeting
was used in the construction of the shelters. CHF also constructed two
latrines on the site.
- CARE and CHF are working with local authorities to identify beneficiaries,
provide building
materials and tools to the recipients, coordinate removal of debris from
lots with assistance from
municipality officials, and provide technical assistance on construction of
houses. In part, this
technical assistance is provided by local construction workers, thereby
generating income for these
laborers and their families.
- USAID/OFDA visited a site in Cuscatlan Department on February 1 where
Peace Corps
volunteers are working with Save the Children (SCF) to provide temporary
shelter and home repairs
for 110 families using USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting. To date, SCF has
received a total of 110 rolls
of USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting.
- On February 2, USAID/OFDA provided a grant to Samaritan's Purse for
$202,069 for the
construction of 1,061 temporary shelters in the department of La Paz. In
addition, USAID/OFDA is
providing Samaritan's Purse with $25,000 for the local purchase and
distribution of emergency relief
commodities.
- USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting is being used to construct the houses that
CARE, CHF, and
Samaritan's Purse are building. In total, USAID/OFDA will provide up to
3,000 rolls of plastic
sheeting from its stockpiles in support of the housing programs, 1,200 rolls
have already been
provided. In addition, USAID/OFDA is funding CHF to distribute 1,500
USAID/OFDA-provided
hygiene kits to its beneficiary population, as well as blankets, mattresses,
and water containers
funded by other donors.
USAID/OFDA Commodities Provided
- On January 14, a USAID/OFDA-chartered aircraft arrived in El Salvador
carrying a
pre-packaged Ground Operations (GO) kit, containing medical supplies to
treat 1,000 people for a
week; 1,002 hygiene kits, each with supplies sufficient for a family of five
for two weeks; 40 rolls of
plastic sheeting (enough to temporarily shelter 400 families); 1,000
five-gallon water jugs; and 1,000
wool blankets. The cost of the GO kit is valued at $21,619. In addition to
the GO kit, the charter
aircraft transported 500 water jugs and 60 rolls of plastic sheeting, valued
at $750 and $13,200,
respectively. The cost of the commodity airlift is valued at $37,700. All
USAID/OFDA commodities
are being consigned to COEN, except medical supplies, which are being
provided directly to the
MOH.
- On January 15, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 to USAID/San Salvador for the
purchase of
SAR tools and equipment. On January 16, USAID/OFDA provided $150,000 to
USAID/San
Salvador for the local purchase of rice, beans, and water tanks/jugs and
transportation of these
commodities to Usulutan.
- On January 17, USAID/OFDA provided $40,000 to USAID/San Salvador for the
local purchase
of 11,000 blankets. One thousand blankets were transported to Usulutan on
January 18, where they
were consigned to CARE. 9,000 blankets were provided to the Santa Tecla
departmental
headquarters of the Red Cross on January 19 for distribution in El Cafetalon
and other nearby areas.
1,000 additional blankets were provided to Peace Corps volunteers for
distribution in Juacuapa.
- On January 19, a USAID/OFDA charter aircraft arrived in El Salvador
carrying 5,004 hygiene kits
and 250 rolls of plastic sheeting. The hygiene kits and plastic sheeting are
valued at $77,568 and the
transport cost of the commodities totals $40,950. Thirty rolls of the
plastic sheeting were consigned
to Save the Children for distribution in Cuscatlan. The remaining supplies
were trucked to Usulutan
for distribution by NGOs involved in USAID/OFDA's shelter program.
- On January 23 and 26, USAID/OFDA dispatched 250 and 300 rolls of plastic
sheeting
respectively for consignment to NGOs involved in USAID/OFDA's shelter
program in Usulutan.
Total value of the plastic sheeting and transport is $135,670. The 250 rolls
of plastic sheeting were
transported at no expense via Taca Airlines.
Other USG Assistance
- USAID/OFDA funded three Blackhawk and two Chinook helicopters provided by
the U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD) in support of the humanitarian missions from
January 14-19.
USAID/OFDA also funded the deployment of 46 DOD personnel, including flight
crews, structural
engineers, and medics from January 14-19. The total operational cost
incurred by USAID/OFDA in
support of DOD's assistance is $450,000. The aircraft conducted
approximately 35
USAID/OFDA-funded missions, during which they provided transport for
overflight and
on-the-ground assessments, relief supplies, search and rescue personnel, a
medivac patient (relief
worker), and members of the press.
- A representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), who conducts field
epidemiological training in El Salvador as part of a USAID/San
Salvador-funded post-Hurricane
Mitch program, is working with the MOH to conduct shelter assessments in
Apaneca, Juayua,
Comasagua, and El Cafetalon. In addition, CDC dispatched a specialist from
January 18-27 to
work with CDC field staff, PAHO, and the MOH on emergency health
issues.
Mitigation Assistance
- At the request of the GOES, three USGS personnel arrived in El Salvador on
January 16, and
undertook an overflight assessment of Santa Ana Volcano and areas in danger
of landslides on
January 17, via DOD air support. The USGS personnel report that an eruption
is not imminent. The
USGS team debriefed President Flores on January 16 and 17; and, at his
request, held a press
conference to explain its findings.
- On January 26, two volcanologists from the USGS Volcano Disaster
Assistance Program (VDAP)
traveled to El Salvador to install two telemetered seismic monitoring
stations and repeaters and to
train local volcanologists from the Center for Geotechnical Investigations
(CIG) on the use of the
equipment. The total cost of this assistance is $50,000.
- For more than 10 years, OFDA has provided extensive training in El
Salvador and neighboring
Central American countries to increase their capacity to prepare for and
respond to disasters.
Courses include Damage and Needs Assessment, Advanced First Aid, and Rescue
from Collapsed
Structures.
- USAID/OFDA also contributes funds to GeoHazards International (GHI) to
reduce seismic hazards in San Salvador as part of a larger grant
supporting similar work in 12 other earthquake-prone cities along the
Pacific Rim.
USAID/OFDA
Action
Funding
Transport of USAID/DART members
$22,384
MDFRD support costs
$100,000*
Value of GO kits
$21,619
Value of 500 water jugs
$735
Commodity airlifts for GO Kit and Miami Dade personnel
$47,500
Disaster Assistance Authority for purchase of protective gear
$25,000
Funding to DOD for air operations
$450,000
Local purchase and transport of rice, beans, water tanks, and water jugs
$150,000
Value of 5,004 hygiene kits
$22,586
USAID/DART administrative and support costs
$25,000
Local purchase of 11,000 blankets
$40,000
Value of 1,160 rolls of plastic sheeting
$255,200
Transport of plastic sheeting and commodities
$69,335
Value of USGS technical specialists and equipment
$50,000
Funding to USAID/San Salvador for CARE, CHF and Samaritan's Purse
shelter programs
$4,787,000
Total USAID/OFDA Assistance
$6,066,359
Note: An asterisk denotes approximations.
Public Donation Information
- In the interest of effective coordination of public response, USAID
encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary
organizations (PVOs) currently working in the region to provide monetary
donations.
- A list of the PVOs may be obtained from the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/. Those interested in providing specific technical
relief services or commodities should contact Volunteers in Technical
Assistance's (VITA's) Disaster Information Center for information and
guidelines at 703-276-1914.
- USAID will not deviate from standard Denton Program procedures for
transporting privately donated relief supplies. USAID will prioritize
delivery of essential relief commodities. For more information on the
Denton Program, please refer to the USAID website at
http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/pvc/denton.html.
- For additional information about the relief effort in El Salvador,
please refer to the Natural Disasters section of ReliefWeb at
http://www.reliefweb.int/.
- The American Red Cross donations hotline is 1-800-HELP NOW.
- El Salvador's National Commission for Solidarity, charged with receiving
and distributing contributions from the international community, provides
official guidance for cash donations at http://www.rree.gob.sv/.
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=> Links Area
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER IRELAND
Ireland
This Meteosat-7 movie loop shows a low pressure system that is one in a
series of storms that has
moved through the United Kingdom
dumping a mixture of heavy snow and rain on Ireland and Scotland. (Click
anywhere in the image to
start the loop.)
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/Europe/STMeurope037_MT.avi
FIRES IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Honduras, El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/C_America/FSMHScam037_N4.jpg
DUST IN AFRICA
Chad and Niger
Dust storms are visible in both the TOMS and the Meteosat-7 images over
Niger, Chad, and
Nigeria.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Dust/Africa_E/DSTafr037_MT.jpg
FIRES IN SOUTHEAST US
Southeast US
Heat signatures (red) and smoke plumes (light blue) are visible from fires
burning in Southeast US.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/US_Southeast/FSMHSusSE037_N2.jpg
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