The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For March 2, 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 WA -- EOC-- Earthquake Preparedness Fact Sheet
=> Article FEMA Study Identifies High-Risk, High-Loss Areas For
Earthquakes,
Estimates Annualized U.S. Losses At $4.4 Billion
=> Article President Orders Disaster Aid For Seattle Earthquake
=> Article President Bush Increases Arkansas Winter Storm Debris Removal
To 100
Percent
=> Article News Release: No. 16 -- Federal Aid to Speed Earthquake
Recovery -- Phone
Numbers
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area - Seattle, Washington area media links:
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For March 2, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Thu...86 At Fort Pierce..Fort Lauderdale..Opa Locka...And St Lucie Co
Arpt FL
Low Fri...33 Below Zero At Presque Isle ME
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Friday
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.
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR
PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
COASTAL WATERS
EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 1130 AM UNTIL 500
PM CST.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Fri Mar 2 11:58:36 2001
Flash Flood
Arkansas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas
FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI - SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS - AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
FOR TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH LOUISIANA
AND FOR THE SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF NORTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHEAST PART OF
SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION
Flood
Louisiana
A FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE RED RIVER AT SHREVEPORT
LOUISIANA...
...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE RED RIVER FROM COUSHATTA
THROUGH GRAND ECORE AND COLFAX LOUISIANA...
FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE SABINE RIVER AT BURKVILLE...BON
WIER AND DEWEYVILLE...
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE CALCASIEU RIVER NEAR OAKDALE AND
OBERLIN...
Mississippi
FOR THE BUTTAHATCHIE RIVER, NEAR ABERDEEN, MINOR FLOODING IS
FORECASTED.
FOR THE STRONG RIVER...AT D'LO...FOR THE LOWER PEARL RIVER...AT
COLUMBIA...FOR TUSCOLAMETA CREEK AT WALNUT GROVE...FOR THE UPPER
LEAF RIVER...NEAR COLLINS...FOR THE LOWER LEAF RIVER...AT HATTIESBURG...
AND BOUIE CREEK NEAR HATTIESBURG...FOR THE TALLAHALA CREEK...AT
LAUREL...FOR THE CHICKASAWHAY RIVER...NEAR ENTERPRISE...AND AT
SHUBUTA...FLOODING IS FORECAST.
FOR THE YOCKANOOKANY RIVER...NEAR OFAHOMA...FLOODING IS FORECAST.
FOR THE HOMOCHITTO RIVER...INCLUDING ROSETTA...MINOR FLOODING IS
FORECAST.
FOR THE MIDDLE PEARL RIVER...INCLUDING JACKSON...MINOR FLOODING IS
FORECAST.
Tennessee
FOR THE BUTTAHATCHIE RIVER, NEAR ABERDEEN, MINOR FLOODING IS
FORECASTED.
Texas
FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE SABINE RIVER AT BURKVILLE...BON
WIER AND DEWEYVILLE...
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE CALCASIEU RIVER NEAR OAKDALE AND
OBERLIN...
Special Marine
Louisiana
* SPECIAL MARINE WARNING FOR...
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX OUT 60 NM OVER
GULF OF MEXICO WATERS
COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO CAMERON, LA OUT
60 NM OVER GULF OF MEXICO WATERS
* UNTIL 1115 AM CST
Winter Storm
California
MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING
ACROSS THE WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. THE SNOW
LEVEL
WILL BE AROUND 3000 FEET. AN ADDITIONAL 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW ARE
LIKELY THROUGH NOON ABOVE ABOUT 4000 FEET. MOTORISTS TRAVELLING
THROUGH THE I-80 AND US-50 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING ARE URGED TO CHECK
FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE DEPARTING BY CALLING
CALTRANS AT 1-800-427-7623.
Oregon
Washington
...SNOW OVER THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS 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 - Slightly Moderate
There is a 2% probability of a tornado over the southeast 1/3 of Louisiana,
the south southeast 1/3
of Mississippi, the southern 1/2 of Alabama, and the far west portion of
Florida's panhandle.
The 5 % probability area covers the southeast 1/4 of Louisiana, southwest
Mississippi, and west
southwest Alabama.
Hail Risk - Slightly Moderate
There is a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger over the southeast 1/3
of Louisiana, the south
southeast 1/3 of Mississippi, the south southeast 3/4 of Alabama, central
west Georgia, and the
western portion of Florida's panhandle.
The 15% probability area covers far east northeast Louisiana, the southeast
1/3 of Mississippi
except the extreme southeast area, the south southeast 1/2 of Alabama except
the south southeast
area, and extreme central west Georgia.
Wind Risk - Slightly Moderate
There is a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots over the southeast
1/3 of Louisiana,
southeast Mississippi, central and southern Alabama, and central west
Georgia.
The 15% probability area covers extreme southeast Louisiana, far southeast
Mississippi, and the far
west portion of Florida's panhandle.
Tomorrow's Risk - Moderate
There is a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow over extreme
southeast Louisiana, far
southeast Mississippi, the southeast 1/2 of Alabama, Georgia except the far
northern area, south
Carolina except the far northern area, far southern North Carolina, and the
northwest 1/3 of Florida.
The 15% probability area covers the southeast 1/4 of Alabama, Georgia except
the northern area,
southwest South Carolina, and the northwest 1/4 of Florida.
The 25% probability area covers Florida's panhandle, southeast Alabama, and
the southwest 1/4 of
Georgia.
Damaging winds the main severe threat. However...there will also be a threat
of large hail and a
couple of tornadoes.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 3 inches of
precipitation over far east southeast
Texas, and Louisiana except the northern and southeast 1/2 of Louisiana,
Over 1 inch of precipitation is forecast over east southeast Texas,
Louisiana except the extreme
northwest and the southeast areas, extreme south southeast Arkansas,
Mississippi except the
northern and far southeastern areas, and far central west Georgia.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for 2 inches of
precipitation over a small portion
California east of Santa Barbara, the south southwest 1/4 of North Carolina,
far northeast Georgia,
and far northern South Carolina.
Over 1 inch of precipitation is forecast over central west and over central
east California, southeast
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee except the far northwest area, south
southeast Kentucky, far
southern Virginia, North and South Carolina, the northern 1/2 of Georgia
and Alabama except the
southeast area.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is expected to exceed flash flood values over southeast east Texas,
Louisiana except the far
northwestern and southeast areas, and the southwest 1/4 of Mississippi.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low
The moderate probability area is over
The high probability area is over
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 low over
The moderate probability area is over
The high probability area is over the
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
Not Available
=> 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 02 at 00:15 UTC
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 MAR 1 14:23:34.00 47.2 N 122.7 W 51 km 2.7
15 miles NE of OLYMPIA, Washington
2001 MAR 1 18:22:48.00 40.5 N 123.9 W 20 km 3.0
25 miles SE of Eureka, California
2001 MAR 1 09:10:21.00 47.2 N 122.7 W 52 km 3.4
15 miles WSW of Tacoma, Washington
2001 FEB 28 18:54:33.00 47.2 N 122.7 W 52 km 6.8
10 miles NE of OLYMPIA, Washington
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
No reports received
Hail Reports
Time Size Location County State Lat Lon Comments
2027 75 POINT BLUE EVANGELINE LA 3061 9230 REPORTED BY PUBLIC (LCH)
2115 88 LEBEAU ST LANDRY LA 3061 9201 REPORTED BY PUBLIC (LCH)
2220 75 WOODWORTH RAPIDES LA 3114 9250 REPORTED BY PUBLIC (LCH)
0105 100 MONTICELLO LAWRENCE MS 3154 9011 1" AND 3/4" HAIL REPORTED
SOUTH OF MONTICELLO BY MEMA (JAN)
0154 250 SUMRALL LAMAR MS 3141 8955 TENNIS BALL SIZED HAIL ALONG WITH
POWER LINES KNOCKED DOWN NEAR SUMRALL. REPORTED BY
LAMAR/FORREST CD (JAN)
0228 75 PETAL FORREST MS 3134 8926 DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED JUST NORTH
OF PETAL BY FORREST/LAMAR CD (JAN)
Wind Reports
Time Speed Location County State Lat Lon Comments
0140 UNK BASSFIELD JEFFERSON DAVIS MS 3149 8974 POWERLINE KNOCKED
DOWN WITH NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED BETWEEN BASSFIELD AND
COLUMBIA BY MARION CD (JAN)
0145 UNK SUMRALL LAMAR MS 3141 8955 POWER LINES DOWN ALONG (JAN)
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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**** ARTICLES ****
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=> WA -- EOC-- Earthquake Preparedness Fact Sheet
Earthquake Preparedness Fact Sheet
EARTHQUAKES: Before, During And After
Seventy million people in 39 states are at high risk from earthquakes.
People in all states, however,
are at some risk. Approximately 1,000 earthquakes occur in Washington State
every year. While
there is little we can do to avoid earthquakes, there is much we can do to
prepare for them. Here a
few things you can do before, during and after an earthquake.
Before :
(Download the document 33 Things To Do Before An Earthquake. It's in Adobe
PDF* format)
Get together with the members of your household and put together a disaster
plan.
Assemble disaster supplies and store them in an easy-to-get to location.
Identify safe spots and danger zones in each room.
Consider buying earthquake insurance.
Know how to shut off all utilities.
Ensure your house is firmly anchored to its foundation.
Anchor overhead lighting fixtures.
Store breakable items on low shelves or in cabinets that can fasten shut.
Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
Fasten shelves to walls. Brace high and top-heavy objects.
Repair defective electrical wiring, leaky gas and inflexible utility
connections.
Securely fasten water heaters and gas appliances.
Anchor wood burning stoves to the floor. Secure stove pipe to the flue exit
and securely fasten stove
pipe segments together.
During During During During :
If indoors -- take cover under sturdy furniture or against an inside wall,
and hold on, "Drop, Cover
and Hold". Stay away from the kitchen!
If outdoors -- stay there. Move away from buildings, street lights and
utility wires.
If outdoors near tall buildings -- step inside a doorway, drop down and
cover your head and
shoulders to protect yourself from falling glass and other debris.
In a high-rise building -- take cover under sturdy furniture away from
windows and outside walls.
Stay in the building on the same floor. An evacuation may not be necessary.
Wait for instructions
from safety personnel. Do not use elevators.
In a vehicle -- stop as quickly as safety permits, and stay in the vehicle.
Avoid stopping near or
under buildings, trees, overpasses or utility wires.
After After :
Check yourself and other for injuries.
Prepare for after shocks.
Wear study shoes to prevent injury.
Use flashlights or battery powered lanterns if the power is out.
If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound - open a window, leave the building
and shut off the main gas
valve outside.
If water pipes are damaged -- shut off the water supply at the main valve.
Check your home for structural damage to include the chimney.
Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, and flammable liquids.
Visually inspect utility lines and appliances for damage.
Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact.
Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
Use the phone only to report a life threatening emergency.
Listen to the radio for the latest emergency information.
Stay off the streets and avoid damaged areas, unless you have been asked to
help by proper
authority.
URL: http://www.wa.gov/wsem/3-peet/pubed/earthquake.htm
Title: Earthquake Preparedness Fact Sheet
=> FEMA Study Identifies High-Risk, High-Loss Areas For Earthquakes,
Estimates
Annualized U.S. Losses At $4.4 Billion
- Washington, California, Oregon Account for 84 percent of estimated
annualized earthquake losses.
-
Ranking of U.S. Metropolitan Areas with Future Estimated Earthquake Losses
of more than $10
Million per year
Seismic Hazard Level by State
Washington, March 1, 2001 - Earthquake losses in the United States add up to
about $4.4 billion
dollars a year when annualized over time, according to a study released
previously by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The study, which was based on a new
methodology to
estimate earthquake risk and future losses by geographic area, annualizes
estimated losses over time
to factor in historic patterns of frequent smaller earthquake events with
infrequent but larger events. It
was released by FEMA Sept. 20, 2000, at the National Earthquake Risk
Management Conference
in Seattle, Wash.
The $4.4 billion estimate is extremely conservative and includes only
capital losses such as repairing
or replacing buildings, contents and inventory ($3.49 billion), and income
losses - business
interruption, wage and rental income losses ($0.93 billion). It does not
cover damage and losses to
critical facilities, transportation and utility lifelines or indirect
economic losses.
While most of the estimated losses - 84 percent - are in California,
Washington and Oregon, the
distribution of earthquake risk is much broader. Relatively high earthquake
loss ratios exist
throughout the western U.S., the central U.S. states within the New Madrid
Seismic Zone and the
Charleston, S.C., area. The high risk and high projected losses for urban
areas in Washington,
California and Oregon are because of the combination of high seismic hazard
and relatively high
economic exposure, according to the study.
The study indicates that probable annual earthquakes losses in the United
States are almost equal to
the losses experienced from floods and hurricanes. Annual flood losses
totaled $5.2 billion during
1989 to 1998, according to the National Weather Service. The National
Climatic Data Center
estimates $5.4 billion in annual hurricane losses for the period.
In addition to California metropolitan areas, cities ranked among the top 40
high-loss potential urban
areas include Seattle, Portland, New York, Salt Lake City, St. Louis,
Tacoma, Las Vegas,
Anchorage, Boston, Reno, Memphis, Charleston, S.C., Albuquerque, Newark,
Honolulu and
Atlanta.
In terms of vulnerability, Hilo, Anchorage, Reno, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma,
Salt Lake City,
Charleston, S.C., Provo, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Memphis, St. Louis,
Honolulu, New York,
Newark, Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia are on the top 40 list. While
seismic hazard in the United
States has remained fairly constant over the years, seismic risk has been
increasing substantially
because of the increase of urban development in seismic hazard areas and the
vulnerability of older
buildings, some of which were not built to adequate seismic code."
To arrive at their findings, FEMA building scientists and seismologists used
an earthquake loss
estimation methodology called Hazards U.S. (HAZUS), developed by the agency
in cooperation
with the National Institute of Building Sciences. HAZUS technology uses an
integrated Geographic
Information System (GIS) platform that produces regional profiles and
estimates of earthquake loss
by geographic area, and addresses the built environment and categories of
losses in a comprehensive
manner.
The computer-based methodology incorporates probabilistic seismic hazard
data provided by the
U.S. Geological Survey as a set of 18 to 20 intensity-probability pairs for
each of approximately
150,000 grid points used to cover the entire United States. It uses
mathematical formulas as well as
information about local building inventories, geological conditions,
economic data, location and size
of potential earthquakes, and other data to estimate losses. The system can
specify areas of potential
or actual damage and degree of damage in areas as small as the census track
level based on the
magnitude of the seismic activity and information that has been input into
the system on building
inventory.
This new earthquake loss estimation system is the first of its kind in that
its methodology utilizes
probability factors rather than depending on actual historical data alone to
estimate future losses from
earthquakes. FEMA plans to expand the methodology and develop new models for
estimating
potential losses for other natural disasters as well, including high wind
events and coastal and riverine
flooding.
Two interrelated parameters were used in the study to characterize seismic
risk in the United States.
They include average annualized earthquake loss and annualized earthquake
loss ratio. The
annualized loss estimate addresses two key components of seismic risk - the
probability of ground
motion and the consequences of that motion on the area. To estimate risk or
vulnerability, FEMA
scientists used the ratio of estimated losses as a percentage of the
replacement value of the area's
total building inventory. Thus risk or vulnerability is calculated in terms
of estimated earthquake loss
in relation to the size of the community. For example, $10 billion in
earthquake damages in
Evansville, Ind., would represent a more significant impact on the area than
a comparable dollar loss
in Los Angeles.
FEMA conducted the study because of the importance understanding earthquake
risk and the scope
and complexity of potential earthquake damage in a community. This
information is basic to making
informed decisions on mitigation policies, priorities and strategies and it
provides the foundation for
planning, zoning, building codes and regulating development in a way to
reduce earthquake risk.
The study represents an important benchmark in a long-term FEMA effort to
analyze, rank and
compare seismic risk across regions in the United States. The information
from the study can provide
policy makers and planners with a nationally consistent approach that will
help them understand the
complexity and dynamics of risk, how levels of risk can be measured and
compared, and the
multitude of factors that influence risk.
"We hope that we can convince state and local policymakers to adopt and
enforce seismic building
codes in regions of the United States that experience infrequent but
damaging earthquakes," FEMA
officials said in releasing the report. "In addition, the information
provided in this study should
become an integral component of a national seismic risk baseline, aggregated
at the metropolitan,
state and regional level to support options and actions to reduce seismic
risk in the United States."
The full report, HAZUS 99: Average Annual Earthquake Losses for the United
States, is available
on FEMA's Web site at www.fema.gov/hazus. Hard copies of the study can be
obtained by calling
FEMA publications at 1-800-480-2520.
=> President Orders Disaster Aid For Seattle Earthquake
Washington, March 1, 2001 -- The head of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
announced today that President Bush has declared Washington State a major
disaster area,
triggering the release of federal funds to supplement recovery efforts in
the Seattle area jolted
yesterday by a powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude.
FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said the President took the action this
evening immediately after
receiving the agency analysis of the state's request for federal assistance
submitted this afternoon.
"The President is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of people in
the earthquake area,"
Allbaugh said. "He has pledged the support of the federal government and
made resources available
as may be required to help meet immediate needs and assist in the rebuilding
process."
Allbaugh, who toured the earthquake area earlier today, said stricken
residents and business owners
in the counties of King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Thurston are
eligible to apply for federal
aid under the President's major disaster declaration.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay
for temporary housing,
minor home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest
loans from the U.S.
Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential
and business losses not fully
compensated by insurance.
Additionally, federal funds will be provided to the state and affected local
governments in the
designated counties to pay 75 percent of the costs for debris removal,
emergency services related to
the earthquake, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such
as roads, buildings and
utilities. The declaration also makes funding available to the state on a
cost-shared basis for
approved projects that reduce future disaster risks.
Allbaugh, who designated the counties eligible for federal aid following the
declaration, said more
jurisdictions may be added for assistance as soon as damage can be assessed
throughout the
stricken area.
William Lokey of FEMA was named by Allbaugh to coordinate the federal relief
effort. Lokey said
that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated
counties can begin the
disaster application process by calling 1-800-462-9029, or 1-800-462-7585
(TTY) for the hearing
and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days
a week until further notice.
Lokey advised that those who sustained damage should first contact their
insurance agent and make
an assessment of the degree of damage before calling the toll-free telephone
service.
"While we encourage everyone to apply for aid, our immediate priority is to
assist people most in
need," Lokey said. "We would greatly appreciate those with minor damage
delaying their calls for a
few days to keep the lines open for taking applications from others who may
have been left homeless
or suffered significant losses."
Lokey also noted that it normally takes seven to ten days after applications
are made to have
damage verified by FEMA housing inspectors and another week or more before
qualified applicants
receive assistance checks.
"We ask that people exercise a little patience and assure them that we will
be available for as long as
it takes to deliver all the assistance they are entitled to receive."
=> President Bush Increases Arkansas Winter Storm Debris Removal To 100
Percent
Little Rock, AR, March 1, 2001 -- President George W. Bush today announced
that he has given
approval to increasing the federal share of public assistance for debris
removal from 75 to 100
percent. The increase relieves the state of Arkansas of about $20 million in
debris removal expenses.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as of February 28, has
obligated $35.8
million in disaster assistance to Arkansas under the Public Assistance
Program. The program gets
financial help quickly to local and county governments and some non-profit
agencies covered under
a Presidential disaster declaration. The funds are distributed by the
Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management (ADEM).
Other totals, as of the close of business February 28, 2001:
* FEMA has issued $8,763,623 in disaster housing assistance checks to 9,858
residents. These are
grants to assist individuals and families whose primary residences were
damaged or destroyed by the
December ice storms.
* The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 730 loans for
homeowners, renters
and businesses totaling $4,733,200.
* State disaster relief officials have approved payment of 1,543 checks
totaling $1,473,467 to help
people meet serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not
covered by other disaster
assistance programs or insurance. This program is funded 75 percent by FEMA
and 25 percent by
the state.
* The Arkansas Department of Employment Security has approved disaster
unemployment claims
totaling $240,936 to 705 applicants.
* FEMA has received 39,900 individual applications for disaster assistance.
Individuals, families and businesses can call the FEMA Helpline at
800-525-0321 if they have
questions about their applications. For the speech and hearing impaired, the
number is
800-462-7585. The Helpline is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through
Saturday.
=> News Release: No. 16 -- Federal Aid to Speed Earthquake Recovery
EMERGENCY NEWS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
State Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray, Washington
Emergency Management Division, Washington Military Department
March 02, 2001, 6:00 a.m.
CAMP MURRAY, Wash -- Recovery activities will begin to pick up speed around
Western
Washington today in the wake of Wednesday's 6.8 magnitude earthquake.
A key step in the recovery process took place Thursday afternoon, March 1,
when Gov. Gary
Locke requested federal disaster relief following a tour of damage sites in
Thurston, Pierce and King
counties with members of Washington's congressional delegation and Joe
Allbaugh, director of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
President George W. Bush moved promptly to meet the state's needs by signing
a major disaster
declaration yesterday evening. The declaration means King, Kitsap, Lewis,
Mason, Pierce and
Thurston counties will be eligible for disaster assistance programs.
Depending on how much damage
is tallied during preliminary assessments in the days ahead, more counties
and cities could be added
for assistance.
Public assistance may pay 75 percent of the cost of emergency services
during and immediately
following the earthquake. It also may cover removing debris, and replacing
and repairing public
facilities such as roads, bridges and utilities. Individual assistance can
include grants to help pay for
temporary housing, minor home repairs, loss of personal property and other
disaster-related
expenses.
The need for individual assistance will be based, in part, on the amount of
damages home- and
business-owners report to their local emergency management office. To report
damages, call the
appropriate number below:
City of Bellevue 425-452-4570
City of Olympia 360-753-8314
City of Puyallup 253-845-6666
City of Seattle, Emergency Response Team 206-684-8950
City of Snoqualmie 425-888-5435/425-888-3333
City of Tumwater 360-754-4170
Grays Harbor County 360-249-3911
King County 206-296-3830
Kitsap County 360-337-7038
Lewis County 360-740-1151
Mason County * 360-427-7535
Mountlake Terrace 425-776-3722
Pierce County 253-798-7470
Snohomish County 425-423-7635
Thurston County 360-754-3360
Residents and business owners who sustained uninsured losses in the affected
counties (and who
have already reported that information to their local emergency management
office) may begin the
application process for federal disaster aid by calling FEMA's toll-free
phone number at
1-800-462-9029, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., seven days a week. Hearing and
speech-impaired callers may
dial 1-800-462-7585 (TYY).
=> Classified Ads
Door-to-Door CoPilot Version 2.0 GPS TravRoute
List Price:
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$250.99
Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT
Media: CD-ROM
Availability: This item usually ships within 2-3 days.
Features:
Enter the street address of your destination, and CoPilot computes the exact
route
CoPilot speaks instructions telling you where to turn--every step of the way
Gives you new directions if you miss a turn, encounter traffic, or choose
another route
Complete nationwide information on one CD that features more than 96 million
addresses
GPS receiver picks up satellite signals and uses them to pinpoint your
location on earth
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J495/thedisastercenteA/
FREE 30 days of StormWarn by Email, Pager, PCS/GSM Phone, Business Fax at no
cost*
Sign up today and you'll receive no obligation, no commitment StormWarn . If
you find it helpful, you can then decide to continue service at very low
rates. Your account is held in strictest confidence and you won't keep
hearing from us if you decide not to keep the service. We believe in the
value of StormWarn, and we think you will too.
*Direct pages and faxes are limited to 50 bulletins during the trial period.
http://www.stormwarn.com/index.asp?a=10296
=> Links Area
Seattle, Washington area media links:
http://www.komotv.com/news/
KOMO 4 News
http://www.king5.com/
KING 5 News
http://www.seattleinsider.com/
Seattle Insider
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/
Seattle Post Intelligencer
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Seattle Times
http://www.heraldnet.com/
Everett Herald
http://www.tribnet.com/
News Tribune
http://www.southcountyjournal.com/
South County Journal
TROPICAL CYCLONE 13P (PAULA)
S. Pacific Ocean
Tropical Cyclone 13P (Paula) was located west-southwest of Fiji near 19.8S
and 175.2E. Paula
has
been moving east-southeastward at 21 knots with maximum sustained winds
estimated at 90 knots,
gusts to 110 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/S_Pacific/TRCpaula060_GM.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/FSMHScuba060_N4.jpg
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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