The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For March 1, 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 -- Bush Calls For Cutting FIRE Act Grants & Project Impact
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article Federal Emergency Management Agency Highlights of 2002 Funding
=> Article National Drought Summary -- February 27, 2001
=> Article National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats Valid Friday,
March 2, 2001 -
Tuesday, March 13, 2001.
=> Article USGS - 10 historical earthquakes nearest to Yesterday's
Earthqauke in
Washington
=> Article Washington EOC -- Earthquake Update as of 5 a.m., March 1
=> 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 March 1, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Wed...89 At Vero Beach FL
Low Thu...27 Below Zero At Presque Isle ME
=> Special Notes
See the Disaster Center Washington Message Board for yesterday and today's
earthquake related
reports
http://www.disastercenter.com/washingt/bboard.mv
California's ISO declared STAGE 2 Electrical Emergency for 03/01/2001 06:50
through
03/01/2001 23:59
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Thursday
Comment: As a result of the major warming, the circulation in the lower
Stratosphere remains
disturbed, but in the upper Stratosphere, a re-established cold polar vortex
exists.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Thu Mar 1 11:42:20 2001
Flood
Louisiana
Mississippi
FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER PEARL AT BOGALUSA AND
PEARL RIVER.
Texas
FOR THE TRINITY RIVER INCLUDING BLUE RIDGE...MODERATE FLOODING
FOR THE SISTER GROVE CREEK NEAR BLUE RIDGE...THE LATEST STAGE IS 23.7
FEET AT 11 PM WEDNESDAY. MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST
Winter Storm
Kansas
OCCASIONAL FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL MOVE ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND
NORTHEAST KANSAS THROUGH NOON TODAY.
New York
...LAKE EFFECT SNOW TO CONTINUE SOUTHEAST OF LAKE ONTARIO 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 a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger over the central east
1/3 of Texas, the south
southwest 3/4 of Louisiana, south southwest Mississippi and extreme
southwest Alabama.
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 over the southeast
2/3 of Louisiana, the
south southeast 2/3 of Mississippi, the southern 2/3 of Alabama, the central
and western of Florida's
panhandle, and far central west through far far southwest Georgia.
Expect thunderstorms to be concentrated along the surface front through the
period... With isolated
damaging gusts and large hail the main severe threats.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over central east and far
southeast Texas, the north northwest 1/2 of Louisiana and the southern 1/2
of Mississippi except the
far southern area.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 2 inches of
precipitation over far central
east Texas.
Over 1 inch of precipitation forecast is over central east and far southeast
Texas, Louisiana except
the southeast 1/4 and the far north northwest portions of the state,
Mississippi except the north
northwest 1/4 and the southeast corner, and over north central through
central west Alabama
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is expected to exceed flash flood values over the south central,
central through the eastern
1/2 of Texas, far southern Arkansas, the northern 1/3 of Louisiana, central
and south-central
Mississippi, and extreme western Alabama.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is less than 20%
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is less than
20%
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
0300 PM EST WED FEB 28 2001
CORRECTION TO INDICATE ICE JAM FLOODING IS ALONG THE ROCK RIVER,
NOT THE ILLINOIS RIVER
FLOOD SUMMARY
ICE JAM FLOODING IN ILLINOIS
MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUES BEHIND AN ICE JAM ON THE
ROCK RIVER IN THE JOSLIN, ILLINOIS AREA
THE JAM FORMED AT RAILROAD BRIDGE IN BARSTOW -- EXTENDS
5-6 MILES UPSTREAM
EVACUATIONS IN BARSTOW, CLEVELAND, OSBORN AND RIDGEVIEW
AREAS
A LEVEE IN SOUTH OF BARSTOW WAS OVERTOPPED
FLASH FLOODING IN SOUTH
ABOUT A DOZEN HOMES WERE EVACUATED IN THE WAKE VILLAGE AREA OF
BOWIE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN TEXAS.
RIVER FLOODING CONTINUES IN CENTRAL U.S.
RUNOFF CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH RIVER SYSTEMS, WITH SOME RIVERS
FALLING BELOW FLOOD STAGE.
FLASH FLOODING:
FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORIES WERE ISSUED OVER THE LAST DAY FOR:
ARKANSAS: COLUMBIA, LAFAYETTE, MILLER AND UNION COUNTIES
CALIFORNIA: SAN DIEGO COUNTY
LOUISIANA: BOSSIER, EAST FELICIANA, MOREHOUSE, OUACHITA,
RICHLAND AND ST. HELENA PARISHES
MISSISSIPPI: AMITE, HINDS, MADISON, AND RANKIN COUNTIES
NEVADA: CLARK COUNTY
TEXAS: BOWIE, CAMP, CASS, DALLAS, FANNIN, MORRIS, PARKER,
TITUS AND TARRANT COUNTIES
RIVER FLOODING:
OHIO RIVER: MINOR FLOODING WILL AFFECT LOCATIONS ON THE LOWER
OHIO, FROM BROOKPORT DAM TO THE CONFLUENCE WITH THE MISSISSIPPI.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER: LOCATIONS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
INCLUDING GRAFTON, ALTON, CHESTER, CAPE GIRARDEAU, THEBES,
VICKSBURG AND NATCHEZ, WILL SEE GENERALLY MINOR E FLOODING. ON
THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI AT RED RIVER LANDING, RIVER ISLANDS WILL BE
EVACUATED AS THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CUT OFF ACCESS ROADS.
OTHER RIVERS AND STREAMS WITH LOCATIONS EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE
OR EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDE:
ARKANSAS: THE BLACK, CACHE, OUACHITA, ST. FRANCIS AND
WHITE RIVERS
ILLINOIS: THE BIG MUDDY, DES PLAINES, EMBARRAS, FOX,
ILLINOIS, IROQUOIS, KANKAKEE, KASKASKIA, LA MOINE, ROCK,
SANGAMON, SPOON, WABASH AND LITTLE WABASH RIVERS
INDIANA: THE KANKAKEE, ST. JOSEPH, TIPPECANOE AND
WABASH RIVERS
IOWA: THE SKUNK AND WAPSIPINICON RIVERS
KANSAS: THE NEOSHO RIVER
LOUISIANA: THE ATCHAFALAYA, BOEUF, CALCASIEU AND
LITTLE RIVERS, RED CHUTE BAYOU AND BAYOU DORCHEAT
MICHIGAN: THE GRAND AND ST. JOSEPH RIVERS
MISSISSIPPI: THE BIG BLACK, BIG SUNFLOWER, PEARL,
TALLAHATCHIE AND YALOBUSHA RIVERS
MISSOURI: THE BLACKWATER, GRAND, MARMATON. MERAMEC,
MISSOURI, OSAGE AND LITTLE OASGE, AND PLATTE RIVERS
OHIO: THE ST. JOSEPH AND TIFFIN RIVERS
OKLAHOMA: THE DEEP FORK RIVER
TEXAS: THE ANGELINA, NECHES, SABINE AND SOUTH FORK OF THE
SABINE, SULPHUR AND SOUTH SULPHUR, TRINITY, COWLEECH FORK OF
THE TRINITY AND WEST FORK OF THE TRINITY RIVERS; ATTOYAC AND
BLACK CYPRESS BAYOUS; CHAMBERS, LITTLE CYPRESS AND WHITE OAK
CREEKS
WISCONSIN: THE FOX RIVER
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
Not Available
=> 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 MAR 01 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN WEST CENTRAL UNITED STATES
(35.8 TO 40.3 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 FEB 28 04:09:46.44 38.7 N 112.6 W 5 km 3.5
25 miles W of Richfield, Utah
EARTHQUAKES IN NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
(40.3 TO 50.0 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 FEB 28 18:54:33.00 47.2 N 122.7 W 52 km 6.8
10 miles NE of OLYMPIA, Washington
01/02/28 18:50:12.95
EL SALVADOR
Epicenter: 13.170 -88.950
Mag. 6.1
=> 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
1230 UNK JEFFERSON PARISH JEFFERSON LA 2968 9006 TREES DOWN AND ROOF
DAMAGE NOME...RPT BY FIRE DEPT. (LCH)
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 -- Bush Calls For Cutting FIRE Act Grants & Project
Impact
WRITTEN BY : Pat West / FireFighting.com Content Director
President George W. Bush wants to cut the FIRE Act grant program in 2002,
calling the just-funded new federal program to deliver grants to the nation'
s 32,000 fire departments "unneeded."
The proposal is among several fiscal blows Bush's federal budget for 2002,
delivered to Congress Wednesday, makes to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). His budget also calls for cutting funds for disaster relief
and the National Flood Insurance Program, and ending Project Impact, FEMA's
initiative to make more communities disaster-resistant.
After working for so long in unison to convince Congress of the need to
approve the FIRE Act., leadership of the nation's leading fire service
organizations reacted with disappointment--and no small amount of outrage.
"It's a real shame that we have to start out with this Administration
appearing to take direct aim at the America's first responders," said Harold
A. Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire
Fighters (IAFF), in a phone call from Indianapolis, Ind., where he was
preparing to make a speech at the Fire Department Instructors Conference
(FDIC) Thursday.
"We're disappointed, to say the least--and that's an understatement,"
Schaitberger said, noting that, "Last night in his state of the union
speech, (Bush) seemed to make a point of pointing to the importance of
police protection, and the very next morning we're looking at him going
right at the heart of the federal government's efforts to help the nation's
fire service, so we're very concerned."
Bush calls his budget outline to Congress, "A Blueprint for New Beginnings."
Posted at the White House Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov, the plan
outlines Bush's vision for federal spending in 2002. The plan would not
touch the $100 million already appropriated to the FIRE Act in 2001, for
which the U.S. Fire Administration is still setting up the application
process. But it calls for "phasing out" the Fire Act Grants in 2002, "saving
$100 million." $300 million is authorized by Congress for the FIRE Act Grant
program in 2002, but no money has yet been appropriated.
In Section 32 of the "Highlights of Federal Funding 2002," Bush's budget for
FEMA is spelled out:
· Fully Funds Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) core operations
at $2 billion in 2002.
· Reforms disaster relief programs by implementing a public building
insurance requirement and reducing the Federal share for hazard mitigation
grants, saving $166 million.
· Maintains funding at $140 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter
Program, administered by a board of charitable, non-profit, and faith-based
organizations.
· Terminates the Project Impact disaster preparedness campaign, which has
not proven effective, saving $25 million.
· Phases out an unneeded fire grant program, saving $100 million.
· Reforms the National Flood Insurance Program, saving $12 million.
Members of Congress who had worked for passage of the FIRE Act grant
programs issued a flurry of outraged press releases Wednesday. In a press
release from his office, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D.-N.J.), who originally
introduced the measure in the House of Representatives, called Bush's
proposed cuts to public safety programs "totally unacceptable."
"The President is calling his budget 'A Blueprint for New Beginnings,' but I
call it a recipe for disaster," said Pascrell's statement, in which he vowed
"the President is going to have a fight on his hands.We fought like hell to
get the FIRE Program established and funded, and he is going to have to
answer to the hundreds of thousands of firefighters across the nation for
his decision to kill this most worthy program."
"Every firefighter in America should be deeply concerned by the Bush
administration's decision to eliminate much needed funding to our domestic
emergency responders in fire departments across this nation," said an IAFF
statement. "The IAFF is already reaching out to its many republican and
democratic supporters in the House and Senate to gain their help in pushing
for the 2002 Fire Act appropriation."
The IAFF had endorsed Vice President Al Gore in the presidential elections,
but once the elections were over, the union was prepared to work with the
president to find common ground, said Schaitberger. "It looks like (the Bush
administration") is not willing to even give us that an honest start," he
said.
But Schaitberger, who was chief political adviser to three IAFF presidents
before assuming the position of general president last summer, sounded ready
to go to the mat. "We've been here before," he said. "I'm long enough in the
tooth that I've been on the scene during the Ford years, the Carter years,
the Bush years and the Clinton years--and this international union has
always found a way to move our agenda forward. We will continue to do so.
" I would have liked for the administration to at least provide an
opportunity for us to see if we could find some common ground, but if they
are choosing to draw a line in the sand.then you know, if they want to set
the rules, we're fully capable of playing by them and we'll work to secure
the funding the fire service needs."
Chief John Buckman, vice president of ICHIEFS (formerly the International
Association of Fire Chiefs), also contacted in Indianapolis at FDIC, worried
that if the president's proposed budget cuts come to pass, the firefighters
serving the nation's smallest communities would suffer most. "If this is an
example of President Bush's vision, it's short-sighted on his part," said
Buckman. " The fire service has demonstrated to Congress our needs, and that
this money provided by the federal government through direct grants will
improve firefighter safety throughout America."
Project Impact is a four-year-old program designed to lessen the impact of
both natural and man-made disasters on lives and properties. It represents a
combined effort at all levels of a community's society, with the active
participation of each state and FEMA, to plan for and effect changes that
mitigate or lessen future damage. Since it's inception, nearly 250
communities and 2,500 business partners have embraced the project.
The National Flood Insurance Program offers homeowners across the nation the
option of buying flood insurance, which is not covered by commercial
homeowner's insurance policies.
Related Links:
White House Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov
The International Association of Fire Fighters: http://www.iaff.org
The National Volunteer Fire Council: http://www.nvfc.org
The Congressional Fire Service Institute: http://www.cfsi.org
ICHIEFS: http://www.ichiefs.org
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**** ARTICLES ****
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=> Federal Emergency Management Agency Highlights of 2002 Funding
· Fully funds Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) core operations
at $2 billion in 2002.
· Reforms the disaster relief program by implementing a public building
insurance requirement and reducing the Federal share for hazard mitigation
grants, saving $166 million.
· Maintains funding at $140 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter
Program, administered by a board of charitable, non-profit, and faith-based
orga-nizations.
· Terminates the Project Impact disaster preparedness campaign, which has
not
proven effective, saving $25 million.
· Phases out an unneeded fire grant program, saving $100 million.
· Reforms the National Flood Insurance Program, saving $12 million.
Initiatives
Disaster Relief: Proposed resources allow full funding of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) disaster relief op-erations,
including $1.4 billion in funds to be appropriated to FEMA for obligations
from prior year disasters and base disaster support operations. An
additional $1.2 billion has been allocated to the National Emergency Reserve
to finance costs associated with significant new disasters.
Redirected Resources
Disaster Relief: The budget achieves sav-ings associated with two disaster
relief reforms. First, $83 million in savings are achieved by requiring that
public buildings carry disaster insurance (assumes a three-year phase in of
policy). Second, an additional $83 million in savings is obtained by
reducing the Federal share of funding for hazard mitigation grants from 75
percent to 50 percent, the pre-1993 practice for this program. These changes
will help to ensure that States and localities make a significant commitment
to preparing for disasters before they happen.
Cerro Grande Fire Claims and Hurricane Floyd Buyout: Estimated savings of
$208 million in excess appropriations are taken in the Cerro Grande Fire
Claims Fund (-$150 million) and the Hurricane Floyd buyout program (-$58
million). If these esti-mates are correct and these appropriations are not
needed for these claims, the funds will be returned to the Treasury
Department.
Project Impact: $25 million in savings are achieved by canceling the Project
Impact disaster
preparedness campaign, which has not proven effective.
Fire Grant Program: An additional $100 million in savings are achieved by
the non-renewal of a new fire grant program, which was authorized for only
two years and which does not represent an appropriate responsi-bility of the
Federal Government.
National Flood Insurance Program: Fur- ther, two cost saving reforms end
preferential treatment of certain properties in the National Flood Insurance
Program. First, flood insur- ance coverage would no longer be available for
several thousand ''repetitive loss'' properties. These properties are
located in the flood plain and are flooded regularly, but are not required
to pay risk-based premiums. As a result, they have been rebuilt multiple
times with the sub- sidized support of other flood insurance policy holders
and U.S. taxpayers. The budget seeks to begin removing the worst offending
repet- itive loss properties from the program in 2002. Policyholders whom
FEMA has identified as repetitive loss claimants will be allowed to make one
more claim before having their poli- cies terminated. Second, subsidized
premium rates for vacation homes, rental properties, and other non-primary
residences and busi- nesses would be phased out. FEMA charges many of these
policyholders less than actuarial rates, which undermines the financial
stability of the insurance program. Savings from these proposals are
estimated at $12 million in 2002.
Opportunities for Reform
Disaster Assistance Criteria: Neither the States nor the Federal Government
currently have a clear definition of when and under what circumstances a
Federal disaster declaration should be made. FEMA plans to develop improved
guidelines for disaster assistance that provide States with meaningful
criteria that must be met in order to become eligible for Federal disaster
assistance. Without clear and consistent rules for Federal intervention and
assistance following disasters, FEMA runs the risk of rewarding some States
that do not need assistance while ignoring the legitimate needs of others.
This reform effort will help to clarify the disaster declaration process,
enabling both the States and the Federal Government to better delineate
their respective roles in disaster recovery.
FEMA:
Phase out subsidized premiums for nonprimary residences in the flood
insurance program 2002- 2011 Total Reduction: -2,851 million
Reform flood insurance program for repetitive loss properties that
experience chronic flooding 2002- 2011 Total Reduction: -617 million
=> National Drought Summary -- February 27, 2001
The Southeast: During the week ending February 26, more than 2 inches of
rain fell at many
locations in an area centered on the southern Appalachians, temporarily
boosting streamflows and
providing slight relief from long-term drought. Central Tennessee was
removed from abnormally dry
(D0) status, while western Tennessee retained a pocket of abnormal dryness
and moderate drought
(D0 and D1), despite year-to-date precipitation totals that increased to
10.05 inches (130 percent
of normal) in Memphis and 9.25 inches (115 percent) in Jackson. Farther
east, serious long-term
precipitation deficits persisted in the southern Appalachians and adjacent
piedmont areas, despite
recent showers. For example, Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina,
received 5.32 inches (65
percent of normal) during the first 57 days of 2001, leaving its May 1,
1998 - February 26, 2001,
precipitation at 101.11 inches (70 percent of normal), a deficit of 43.11
inches in less than 34
months. An area of severe to extreme drought (D2 to D3) continued to affect
areas from northern
Georgia, northeastward through the western Carolinas, into southwestern
Virginia.
Meanwhile, Florida's drought situation grew increasingly serious due to
persistent dryness and
record warmth, resulting in diminishing freshwater supplies, heavy citrus
and vegetable irrigation
requirements, and the threat of additional wildfires. Year-to-date rainfall
through February 26
remained as low as 0.08 inch (2 percent of normal) in Ft. Myers, where a
daily-record high
temperature of 88°F was reported on February 24, and 1.33 inches (25
percent) in West Palm
Beach. In the South Florida Water Management District, which includes Lake
Okeechobee, rainfall
for the period from October 8, 2000, to February 27, 2001, totaled 2.35
inches (20 percent of
normal). Okeechobee itself fell to record-low levels for this time of year.
As of February 27, the
average elevation of the lake's surface stood at 10.56 feet, down from 12.50
feet as recently as
early October 2000. Wildfires continued to burn a large amount of Florida
underbrush that was
initially stressed by drought, then further browned by repeated freezes in
late December and early
January. During the 30 days ending February 26, more than 1000 Florida
wildfires consumed nearly
100,000 acres, boosting the state's year-to-date total to 104,191 acres.
The Central Appalachians: An area of abnormal hydrological dryness (D0)
continued to affect
southern West Virginia, where only light snow fell during the week. Little
precipitation fell from
western and central Pennsylvania northeastward into New York's Finger Lakes
region, leaving an
area of abnormal dryness intact.
The Plains: In western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, a mostly dry week
brought little change
in the long-term hydrological drought situation. A pocket of severe drought
(D2) continued to affect
areas in and near Midland, Texas, where staggering precipitation deficits
have accumulated over a
7-year period. Midland's precipitation from January 1, 1994, to February 26,
2001, totaled 70.92
inches (67 percent of normal), or 34.78 inches below normal. Farther south,
early-season heat
aggravated the effects of abnormal dryness (D0) in southernmost Texas, where
February 24 high
temperatures soared to 92°F in McAllen and 91°F in Cotulla. Meanwhile on the
northern Plains, a
cold, dry week produced few changes to a drought that remained severe (D2)
in central Montana.
Elsewhere, a major winter storm tracked northeastward across the
east-central Plains, providing
additional long-term drought relief. Although some hydrological drought
concerns linger across
southern and western Nebraska, the remainder of the state is drought-free.
As much as 1 to 2 inches
of rain left only a pocket of abnormal dryness in northeastern Kansas. A
pocket of moderate
drought (D1) persisted in west-central Iowa due to long-term precipitation
deficits.
The West: According to the California Department of Water Resources, the
average water
equivalent of the Sierra Nevada snow pack increased to 18 inches (75 percent
of the late-February
normal) on February 26, up from about 9 inches (approximately 50 percent of
normal) at the
beginning of the month and only 5 inches in early January. Despite six
consecutive years (1994-95 to
1999-2000) with a near- to above-normal Sierra Nevada snow pack and
near-normal cumulative
holdings in California's 156 major reservoirs, summer water-supply concerns
remain sufficient to
warrant an abnormally dry (D0) tag in key watershed areas. Farther north,
more serious concerns
exist with respect to spring runoff prospects and summer water supplies.
Most river basins from the
Cascades to the northern Rockies received October to late-February
precipitation totaling just 45 to
70 percent of normal. As a result, much of the region retains a moderate
drought (D1) label.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico: Generally quiet weather returned to Hawaii,
following significant,
drought-easing rainfall during the first half of February. Recent storms
produced enough rainfall on
Kauai to warrant eliminating the area of abnormal dryness (D0 for
agricultural and wildfire
concerns). In contrast, most of the storms' moisture bypassed western
Molokai, necessitating an
increase to extreme drought (D3) for agricultural interests and the threat
of wildfires. Meanwhile,
only light showers dampened Puerto Rico, leaving an area of abnormal dryness
(D0) along the
southwestern coast.
Looking Ahead: Weather features to watch in the next 10-day period that may
affect areas
experiencing dryness or drought include: 1) a vigorous storm system is
forecast to slowly cross the
southern U.S. during the next several days, resulting in the likelihood of
heavy rain in much of the
Southeast. Lighter amounts of precipitation are expected in southern
Florida, western Texas, and
southeastern New Mexico; 2) the storm may turn northward along the East
Coast early next week,
bringing a chance of snow to the central Appalachians; 3) Storm systems will
continue to approach
the West Coast, providing additional moisture to the Sierra Nevada but only
light precipitation from
the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies; 4); only light precipitation
is forecast across the
northern half of the Plains; and 5) the National Weather Service 6- to
10-day outlook for March
6-10 calls for a continuation of wet weather in the southwestern and
south-central United States,
including the southern Sierra Nevada, southeastern New Mexico, and western
Texas. Below-normal
precipitation is forecast across the Pacific Northwest, while near-normal
amounts are expected in
most other drought areas. Cool conditions are forecast to return to the
Southeast, following a
month-long period of unusually warm weather.
Author: Brad Rippey
=> National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats Valid Friday, March 2,
2001 -
Tuesday, March 13, 2001.
Summary of Forecasts & Threats
SYNOPSIS: The models are indicating an unsettled and potentially stormy
period for the next week
or two. However, the circulation patterns are very complex and there is no
consensus among models
nor agreement within ensemble runs on just how the circulation will evolve
beyond 3-4 days. The
most notable potential threat, should a number of very plausible "if, thens"
occur, is that of a major
east coast storm bringing heavy rain and/or snow from Georgia to New
England. Stay alert for later
updates and local advisories. As the incipient storm, tracks across the
south, heavy rains and the
possibility of flash flooding are possible.
THREATS
Heavy rains with the possibility of flash flooding across much of the south,
March 4-6. 4-6.
Potential for major east coast storm with heavy rain and/or snow, March 4-6.
Very stormy with strong onshore winds along most of coastal Alaska, March
4-6.
Long-term drought continues over most of Florida, and over western portions
of the Carolinas,
eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia. Some relief is likely.
Low mountain snowpack conditions have developed over much of the West, with
time before the
end of the winter season growing short.
DETAILED SUMMARY
For Friday March 2 through Sunday March 4: Heavy rains are likely along the
Gulf Coast into
Georgia and possibly Northern Florida. Very stormy conditions are expected
to return to Alaska,
with srong onshore winds.
For Monday March 5 through Tuesday March 13: At this time range conditions
are uncertain, but
the potential exists for significant east coastal storm by heavy rain and/or
snow from Georgia to New
England, March 4-6, and storminess along the west coast later in the period.
=> USGS - 10 historical earthquakes nearest to Yesterday's Earthqauke in
Washington
The 10 historical earthquakes nearest to reference event 01022818543p
located at 47.1525 122.7197 that occurred prior to 01022818543p.
The list includes events with magnitude (Mag) > 3.5 and gives distance
and azimuth from the reference event to each historical earthquake.
Date is given in Universal Time (UT). Subtract 8 hours to get Pacific
Standard time (PST) or 7 hours for PDT. Azimuth is the compass
direction (measured clockwise from North, 0-360 degrees) of the
earthquake from the location of the reference event. Usually, depths
listed as 0.0 km are either unknown or very unreliable.
______________________________________________________________________
NEAREST HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKES SORTED BY DISTANCE FROM REFERENCE
EVENT
Year MoDy Hr:Mn Depth Mag Distance Azimuth Event Location
(UT) (km) (km) (Deg)
1949 0413 19:55 54.0 7.1 6.3 201.4 12.3 km ENE of Olympia,
WA
1975 0423 01:03 45.5 4.2 9.2 151.2 17.8 km ENE of Olympia,
WA
1973 0222 04:47 21.6 3.8 16.7 321.7 25.2 km N of Olympia,
WA
1968 0619 05:51 0.0 4.6 17.5 72.3 6.5 km SW of Tacoma,
WA
1946 0223 08:54 0.0 5.0 17.6 227.2 0.0 km SE of Olympia,
WA
1972 0113 22:06 45.8 3.6 19.8 27.2 15.1 km WNW of Tacoma,
WA
1946 0215 03:17 25.0 5.8 21.3 320.3 28.4 km N of Olympia,
WA
1985 0318 17:15 53.3 3.5 22.1 20.0 18.1 km NW of Tacoma,
WA
1969 1128 09:51 33.0 3.5 27.6 3.1 19.3 km SSW of
Bremerton, WA
1980 0427 06:00 20.2 3.7 27.6 26.5 18.0 km NNW of Tacoma,
WA
_____________________________________________________
NEAREST HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKES SORTED CHRONOLOGICALLY
Year MoDy Hr:Mn Depth Mag Distance Azimuth Event Location
(UT) (km) (km) (Deg)
1946 0215 03:17 25.0 5.8 21.3 320.3 28.4 km N of Olympia,
WA
1946 0223 08:54 0.0 5.0 17.6 227.2 0.0 km SE of Olympia,
WA
1949 0413 19:55 54.0 7.1 6.3 201.4 12.3 km ENE of Olympia,
WA
1968 0619 05:51 0.0 4.6 17.5 72.3 6.5 km SW of Tacoma,
WA
1969 1128 09:51 33.0 3.5 27.6 3.1 19.3 km SSW of
Bremerton, WA
1972 0113 22:06 45.8 3.6 19.8 27.2 15.1 km WNW of Tacoma,
WA
1973 0222 04:47 21.6 3.8 16.7 321.7 25.2 km N of Olympia,
WA
1975 0423 01:03 45.5 4.2 9.2 151.2 17.8 km ENE of Olympia,
WA
1980 0427 06:00 20.2 3.7 27.6 26.5 18.0 km NNW of Tacoma,
WA
1985 0318 17:15 53.3 3.5 22.1 20.0 18.1 km NW of Tacoma,
WA
=> Washington EOC -- Earthquake Update as of 5 a.m., March 1
CAMP MURRAY, Wash -- Local and state emergency management officials are
continuing to
assess damages from the 6.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Anderson
Island in Pierce County
and felt strongly throughout Western Washington.
An after shock of a magnitude 3.4 was also felt at about 1:10 a.m. this
morning. The secondary
quake was centered under McNeal Island within two miles of the initial
epicenter. Operations at the
McNeil Island Correctional Center were not affected.
Official Visits
FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh arrived in Washington State as of 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 28.
He is scheduled to meet with state officials at the Washington State
Emergency Operations Center at
8:00 a.m., March 1.
Cities and Counties under emergency declaration
Elected officials in Kitsap, King, Grays Harbor, Pierce, Southwest Snohomish
and Thurston
Counties have declared a state of emergency in their jurisdictions. The
Cities of Seattle, Snoqualmie,
and Mountlake Terrace have also declared a state of emergency.
Governor's Activities
Proclamation of emergency by Governor - Gov. Gary Locke proclaimed a State
of Emergency Feb.
28 at 1:30 p.m. as a result of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake. The Governor
toured several locations
around the area that suffered significant damage. Transportation by
helicopter was provided by the
Washington State Military Department.
Press Conference - The Governor will give a press conference this morning at
11:00 AM at the Sun
Dial between the O'Brien and Cherberg buildings on the Capitol Campus.
Deaths and injuries
Currently, one death - a heart attack victim -- has been attributed to the
earthquake. There are 272
reported injuries: Pierce County, 51 injuries, 3 critical; King County, 165
injuries, 1 critical; Thurston
County, 56 injuries.
Health Advisories
The City of Snoqualmie is currently under a health advisory to boil drinking
water through Friday due
to damage to the municipal water system.
Evacuation Shelters
Number of Shelters Open: 5
Red Cross: Grays Harbor County at St. Mary's Church; Seattle-King County at
Garfield
Community Center and Auburn; Thurston County at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
and Lewis County
First Baptist Church.
Total Registered at Shelters: None Reported
Total Persons Sheltered Last Night: 28: King, 12, Thurston, 12; Grays
Harbor, 4.
Cumulative Sheltered Population: 28
Washington National Guard
Eight members of the Washington National Guard have been activated to
support the state's
emergency operations center and the Washington Military Department's
emergency operations
center. Both centers are at Camp Murray, north of Ft. Lewis.
Structural Damage
City of Mountlake Terrace reports significant damage to the community City
Hall. A number of
buildings were damaged in the City of Olympia including several buildings on
the State Capitol
Campus. The State Capitol Dome is reported to have sustained damage.
Power
More than 200,000 customers were left without power as a result of the
quake. Power has been
restored to 80 % of those customers to date.
Road and Bridge Status
Interstate 5 (I-5) Closures
Two overpasses crossing I-5 in Cowlitz County may have sustained structural
damage and are listed
as being closed by the Washington State Department of Transportation. One
crosses I-5 at milepost
48 and the second at milepost 49.5. I-5 is unaffected and remains open
through the area.
State Route 2
The Skykomish River Bridge, at milepost 30.28, is reopened but at a reduced
speed limit of 35
miles per hour.
Interstate 90 (I-90)
The Fourth Avenue South on-ramp to eastbound I-90 in downtown Seattle will
remain closed
through the morning commute.
State Route 99
Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed from the Battery Street Tunnel to South
Spokane Street.
State Route 202
The bridge to Fall City at milepost 2.5 will remain closed.
The road at milepost 24.5-25.5 is closed indefinitely due to slide danger.
There is a large slide
blocking parts of the roadway eastbound at Fall Hill Road.
State Route 302
At milepost 4.7 to Right Bliss Road (Victor fill vicinity), dropped two feet
and is closed.
The road at milepost 5 is closed due to a landslide. A detour is being made.
State Route 507
the Skookumchuck River Bridge at mile post 2.36 is closed.
State Route 512
overpass at State Route 410 is closed.
Other roads and bridge closures
First Avenue Bridge in Seattle is open for vehicles but closed to marine
traffic.
The 4th Avenue Bridge in Olympia is closed.
Hartstene Island Road in Mason County is closed.
Manette Bridge in Bremerton is closed.
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FREE 30 days of StormWarn by Email, Pager, PCS/GSM Phone, Business Fax at no
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=> Links Area
President's budget blueprint is available at:
http://www.gpo.gov/usbudget/index.html
Washington residents react to sudden earthquake
http://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,500458625-500697881-50378284
2-0,00.html
March 2, 2001/Vol. 50/No. 8 (file size 172,124 bytes)
* Influenza B Virus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship --- Northern
Europe, 2000
* Blood and Hair Mercury Levels in Young Children and Women
of Childbearing Age --- United States, 1999
* Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication --- Afghanistan,
1999--2000
* Outbreak of Poliomyelitis --- Dominican Republic and Haiti,
2000--2001
* Notices to Readers --- International Course in Applied
Epidemiology
* Notices to Readers --- Introduction to Public Health
Surveillance Course
* Erratum: Vol. 50, No. 7
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5008.pdf
STORM SYSTEM OVER PLAINS STATES
Plains States
This GOES-8 image shows a storm system across the Plains that spread wintry
precipitation
across parts New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Wednesday.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/US_Plains/STMusPL059_G8.jpg
TROPICAL CYCLONE 13P (PAULA)
Coral Sea
Tropical Cyclone 13P (Paula) was located in the over Vanuato near 17.2S and
168.8E at 12:00
UTC.
Paula has been moving east-southeastward at 12 knots with maximum sustained
winds estimated at
85 knots, gusts to 105 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/S_Pacific/TRCpaula059_GM.jpg
FIRES IN SOUTHEAST US
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue haze) are visible from fires
burning in Georgia, South
Carolina, and Florida.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/US_Southeast/FSMHSusSE059_N4.jpg
ASH PLUME FROM MONTSERRAT
This GOES-8 image shows a plume of ash extending south-southwest from
Soufriere Hills volcano
on Montserrat. According to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, this ash
plume is the result of
continuous rockfalls and pyroclastic flows.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Montserrat/VSHsouf059_G8.jpg
FIRES IN CUBA
Cuba
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue haze) are visible from fires
burning in Cuba.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Cuba/FSMHScuba059_N4.jpg
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