The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For February 17, 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 Science/ Economics Used To Define Natural Hazards Risks
=> Article Disease Aftershocks - The Health Effects Of Natural Disasters
=> Article USGS Volcano News 02-16-01
=> Article Disaster Assistance Nears $34 Million For Arkansas
=> Article Over $6.9 Million In Federal Disaster Aid Spent In 16 Northeast
Kentucky
Counties
=> 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
http://www.disastercenter.com/Rothstein/
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The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For February 17, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Fri...87 At Orlando And Sanford FL
Low Sat...23 Below Zero At Brainerd MN
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Saturday
Comment: Major warming continues. An anticyclone extending from
the Canadian Arctic to Western Siberia and a split vortex
lead to net Easterly winds at latitude 60N throughout the
Stratosphere, although the temperature gradient between
60NB and the Pole is no longer reversed in the upper
Stratosphere.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Sat Feb 17 10:52:00 2001
Flood
Arkansas
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE
L'ANGUILLE RIVER...
Kentucky
FOR THE KENTUCKY RIVER...INCLUDING BOONEVILLE...AND THE CUMBERLAND
RIVER...INCLUDING FOURMILE AND WILLIAMSBURG...FLOODING IS
FORECASTED.
FOR THE SOUTH FORK OF THE KENTUCKY RIVER AT BOONEVILLE...THE LATEST
STAGE IS 23.1 FEET AT 03 AM SATURDAY. FLOODING IS FORECAST
FLOODING IS FORECASTED FOR THE CUMBERLAND RIVER AT FOURMILE.
Louisiana
Texas
FOR THE MUD CREEK AT JACKSONVILLE, THE FRIDAY EVENING ESTIMATED
STAGE WAS 8.2 FEET. FLOOD STAGE IS 9 FEET. THE CREEK IS EXPECTED TO
CREST AROUND 9.5 FEET DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY.
Tennessee
FOR THE POWELL RIVER NEAR ARTHUR, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 13.0 FEET AT 7
AM THIS MORNING. MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED
FOR THE SEQUATCHIE RIVER, INCLUDING WHITWELL, MINOR FLOODING IS
FORECASTED.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING FOR THE
L'ANGUILLE RIVER...
Non Precipitation
California
CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY-..WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TODAY...
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 30 MPH ABOUT DAYBREAK...AND LAST INTO
EARLY AFTERNOON. RIDGE TOPS WILL SEE GUSTS OVER 40 MPH...WITH THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS FROM THE GRAYSON HIGHLANDS OF VIRGINIA..
.SOUTHWARD INTO THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH
CAROLINA...GUSTING NEAR 50 MPH.
WIND ADVISORY TODAY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF THE CAROLINAS AND
NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
Massachusetts
EASTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-..WIND
ADVISORY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR BOSTON AND
WORCESTER...
BARNSTABLE MA-NANTUCKET MA-..WIND ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...
Winter Storm
California
ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM IS SLOWLY EDGING TOWARD NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA...
ANOTHER HEAVY SNOW EVENT FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL SISKIYOU
COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
SHASTA LAKE AREA/NORTHERN SHASTA COUNTY-.. SNOW ADVISORY FOR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA
NEVADA-WINTER STORM WATCH FOR TONIGHT...
Michigan
LAKE EFFECT SNOW DIMINISHING BUT STILL COLD AND WINDY...
.LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL DIMINISH LATER TODAY AS NORTHWEST WINDS
SHIFT WEST AND DRIER AIR MOVES IN.
New York
LAKE SNOWS WILL CONTINUE OFF LAKE ONTARIO...
Oregon
ANOTHER HEAVY SNOW EVENT FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL SISKIYOU
COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
EXPECT 6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ABOVE 4000 FEET OVER WESTERN SISKIYOU
COUNTY
=> 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 less than a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow.
=> 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 portions of northern
California.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for less than 1 inch of
precipitation.
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 12 inches or greater of
snow is low over north
northeast California
The moderate probability area is over central north northeast California
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
The USA Flood Report has not been updated.
=> 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 17 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 16 03:40:32.00 37.1 N 121.0 W 7 km 3.0
10 miles WNW of Los Banos, California
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
Time F-Scale Location County State Lat Lon Comments
0100 UNK BOWMAN ELBERT GA 3419 8303 SHERIFF DEPT DELAYED REPORT OF
SOME CHICKEN HOUSES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED (GSP)
Hail Reports
Time Size Location County State Lat Lon Comments
1937 100 HAZEL GREEN MADISON AL 3493 8658 (SPC)
2033 100 TUSCALOOSA COUNTY TUSCALOOSA AL 3330 8753 (BHM)
2048 75 LYNN WINSTON AL 3404 8755 DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE COUNTY ROAD
25/LYNN AREA (BHM)
2048 75 WINSTON COUNTY WINSTON AL 3413 8738 DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE
COUNTY ROAD 25/LYNN AREA (BHM)
2058 100 BESSEMER JEFFERSON AL 3341 8694 ALSO...TREES DOWN IN
IRONDALE...CARS BLOWN ACROSS ROAD AT HIGHWAY 69...59KTS AT
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT WITH DAMAGE TO A PLANE. (BHM)
2120 88 LAUDERDALE COUNTY LAUDERDALE MS 3240 8864 TREES DOWN SE
LAUDERDALE COUNTY...NICKEL SIZE HAIL...TREE ON A HOUSE REPORTED BY
LAUDERDALE EOC (JAN)
2301 125 DALLAS PAULDING GA 3391 8483 COOPERATIVE OBSERVER REPORT
THREE MINUTES OF 1 TO 1.25 HAIL. (ATL)
0020 175 MORROW CLAYTON GA 3358 8433 QUARTER TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
(SPC)
Wind Reports
Time Speed Location County State Lat Lon Comments
1558 UNK DE RIDDER BEAUREGARD LA 3085 9328 TREE DOWN. (SPC)
1715 UNK FOREST WEST CARROLL LA 3278 9141 TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN...MOBILE HOME DAMAGE (JAN)
1715 UNK TALLULAH MADISON LA 3241 9119 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
REPORTED BY S.O. (JAN)
1730 UNK YAZOO CITY YAZOO MS 3284 9041 NUMEROUS TREES DOWN (JAN)
1730 UNK VICKSBURG WARREN MS 3234 9088 SEVERAL TREES DOWN (JAN)
1815 UNK CANTON MADISON MS 3261 9003 TREES DOWN...WINDOWS BROKEN
(JAN)
1815 UNK 2 W DOVER YAZOO MS 3269 9035 TREES DOWN ON HWY 433 (JAN)
1824 UNK SALLIS ATTALA MS 3301 8976 TREES DOWN (JAN)
1830 UNK CARTHAGE LEAKE MS 3271 8951 NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ALONG
NATCHEZ TRACE (JAN)
1830 UNK DURANT HOLMES MS 3308 8986 POWER LINES AND TREES
DOWN...ROOF DAMAGE (JAN)
1845 UNK WINONA MONTGOMERY MS 3348 8973 TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN (JAN)
1845 UNK DURANT HOLMES MS 3308 8986 POWER LINES DOWN...TREES
UPROOTED...ROOF DAMAGE (JAN)
1915 UNK LONGVIEW OKTIBBEHA MS 3341 8885 BUILDINGS DAMAGED...TREES
DOWN (JAN)
1915 UNK STURGIS OKTIBBEHA MS 3334 8904 TREES DOWN...BUILDINGS
DAMAGED (JAN)
1919 UNK LIMESTONE COUNTY LIMESTONE AL 3475 8701 TREES AND
POWERLINES DOWN 2 MILES SOUTH OF TANNER MOBILE HOME DESTROYED ON
US 31. (BHM)
1920 UNK PHILADELPHIA NESHOBA MS 3276 8911 NUMEROUS TREES
DOWN...ROOF BLOWN OFF SHED (JAN)
1937 UNK MADISON COUNTY MADISON AL 3471 8653 TREES DOWN 1 INCH HAIL
IN HAZEL GREEN (BHM)
1940 UNK STARKVILLE OKTIBBEHA MS 3346 8883 WIDESPREAD POWER LINES
DOWN...TREES SNAPPED OFF...SEVERAL BUSINESS SIGNS BLOWN OFF.
REPORTED BY MS STATE UNIV. (JAN)
1945 UNK WEST PT CLAY MS 3359 8864 NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN...BUILDING DAMAGE (JAN)
1945 UNK COLUMBUS LOWNDES MS 3349 8843 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
(JAN)
1955 UNK MACON NOXUBEE MS 3311 8839 SEVERAL TREES DOWN...POWER
LINES DOWN...ROOFS OFF BULDINGS (JAN)
2008 UNK LAMAR COUNTY LAMAR AL 3381 8609 TREES DOWN AT HIGHWAY 17
AT THE LAMAR/PICKENS LINE. (BHM)
2030 UNK WINCHESTER FRANKLIN TN 3518 8611 FEW TREES DOWN OFF OF
SINKING COVE ROAD NEAR LITTLE CROW CREEK REPORTED BY PUBLIC (BNA)
2040 UNK TUSCALOOSA COUNTY TUSCALOOSA AL 3330 8753 STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE IN SR 69/FLAT WOODS COMMUNITY (BHM)
2045 UNK ROSE HILL JASPER MS 3203 8909 TREES DOWN REPORTED BY JASPER
CO. CD (JAN)
2045 UNK 10 N QUITMAN CLARKE MS 3221 8873 TREES DOWN REPORTED BY S.O.
(JAN)
2105 UNK CULLMAN COUNTY CULLMAN AL 3415 8686 TREES DOWN AT
COUNTY ROAD 222. (BHM)
2110 UNK JEFFERSON COUNTY JEFFERSON AL 3356 8788 *** 1 DEAD *** TREE
BLOWN ONTO CAR RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY (BHM)
2115 UNK ALABASTER SHELBY AL 3323 8681 TRRES DOWN (BHM)
2150 UNK MARSHALL COUNTY MARSHALL AL 3434 8634 TREES DOWN (BHM)
2152 UNK SAKS CALHOUN AL 3371 8583 TREES DOWN (BHM)
2155 UNK SAKS LAUDERDALE AL 3490 8768 TREES DOWN OVER A LARGE
PORTION OF THE COUNTY (BHM)
2200 UNK MARION COUNTY MARION MS 3121 8985 SEVERAL TREES DOWN OFF
HIGHWAY 44 REPORTED BY MARION EOC (JAN)
2200 UNK JASPER COUNTY JASPER MS 3203 8909 SEVERAL TREES/POWERLINES
DOWN. HOUSE/SHED DAMAGED. ALL ALONG HWY 18. (JAN)
2215 UNK HARALSON COUNTY HARALSON GA 3378 8521 TREES DOWN COUNTY
WIDE. (ATL)
2245 UNK POLK COUNTY POLK GA 3400 8516 TREES AND PHONE LINES DOWN.
POWER OUTAGES REPORTED ACRO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. (ATL)
2245 UNK CLARKE COUNTY CLARKE MS 3203 8866 TREES AND POWERLINES
DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. (JAN)
2250 UNK MOUNTAINBORO ETOWAH AL 3415 8613 68 MPH WINDS...TREES
DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN. (BHM)
2300 UNK DALLAS PAULDING GA 3391 8483 SEVERAL LARGE PINE TREES SN OFF.
(ATL)
2301 UNK WADLEY RANDOLPH AL 3311 8555 TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY (BHM)
2310 UNK DOUGLASVILLE DOUGLAS GA 3368 8471 SPOTTER REPORTED 70 MPH
WIN DAMAGE TO GAS STATION. (ATL)
2315 UNK VILLA RICA CARROLL GA 3373 8491 TREES DOWN IN GEORGIA HIGHW
166 FROM CARROLLTON TO VILLAWN ON POWER LINES AROU WOODSTOCK.
(ATL)
2325 UNK LITHIA SPRINGS DOUGLAS GA 3378 8464 ONE TREE DOWN AND PIECES
OF A TIN ROOF BLOWN OFF A BARN (ATL)
2335 UNK ROSWELL FULTON GA 3401 8436 SEVERAL TREES DOWN THROUGHO
(ATL)
2338 UNK GWINNETT COUNTY GWINNETT GA 3396 8404 TREES AND POWER
LINES DOWN. (ATL)
2343 UNK ZINGARA ROCKDALE GA 3366 8404 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 2
TREES ON HOUSES. (ATL)
2347 UNK HALL COUNTY HALL GA 3430 8381 TREES AND POWER LINES BLOWN
DOWN. (ATL)
2352 UNK JACKSON COUNTY JACKSON GA 3413 8358 TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN. (ATL)
2352 UNK ROME FLOYD GA 3425 8518 SEVERAL TREES DOWN. (ATL)
2355 UNK BANKS COUNTY BANKS GA 3434 8348 BARN DESTROYED. SEVERAL
TRE (ATL)
1955 71 COLUMBUS AFB LOWNDES MS 3364 8844 KCBM METAR 161955Z
3043G62KT 1/8SM +TSRA (SPC)
2015 60 HUNTLAND FRANKLIN TN 3504 8626 REPORTED BY SPOTTER (BNA)
2027 60 TUSCALOOSA ARPT TUSCALOOSA AL 3321 8761 KTCL METAR 162031Z
26029G52KT 1/4SM +TSRA (SPC)
2109 68 BIRMINGHAM ARPT JEFFERSON AL 3356 8674 KBHM METAR 162116Z
22029G59KT 1 1/2SM +TSGRRA PK WND 2409/2109 (SPC)
2203 60 ANNISTON CALHOUN ARPT CALHOUN AL 3358 8584 KANB METAR
162204Z 26041G52KT PK WND 27052/2203 (SPC)
2319 72 MARIETTA AFS COBB GA 3390 8459 KMGE METAR 162319Z 28038G63KT
1/2SM +TSRA (SPC)
2324 63 ATLANTA FULTON CO ARPT FULTON GA 3378 8451 KFTY METAR 162331Z
25022G55KT 1 1/2SM +TSRA PK WND 29055/2324 (SPC)
0000 UNK SNELLVILLE GWINNETT GA 3384 8401 TREES BLOWN DOWN. (ATL)
0000 UNK FAIRVIEW HENRY GA 3348 8414 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
(ATL)
0000 UNK COWETA COUNTY COWETA GA 3338 8473 SMALL PINE TREES DOWN.
(ATL)
0000 UNK DAWSON COUNTY DAWSON GA 3446 8414 LOTS OF TREES DOWN. GA
HWY AND GA 400. (ATL)
0000 UNK BARROW COUNTY BARROW GA 3401 8369 TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN. (ATL)
0000 UNK STARRSVILLE NEWTON GA 3353 8383 CHURCH DAMAGE. DESTROYED
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LI DOWN. (ATL)
0005 UNK ALTO WALTON GA 3446 8356 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
MAINLY WEST PART OF COUNTY. (ATL)
0015 UNK OGLETHORPE COUNTY OGLETHORPE GA 3386 8308 TREES AND POWER
LINES DOWN. (ATL)
0020 UNK MORROW CLAYTON GA 3358 8433 TREES BLOWN DOWN AND TRASH
DUMPSTERS BLOWN OVER ON MOU ZION ROAD. (ATL)
0020 UNK LAWRENCEVILLE GWINNETT GA 3394 8398 STEEL SHED BLOWN OFF
FOUNDA AND DROPPED ON FENCE. (ATL)
0020 UNK CLARKE COUNTY CLARKE GA 3393 8338 TREES AND POWER LINES
DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. POWER LINES. WIND DAMAGE TREES AND POWER
LINES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. (ATL)
0030 UNK HILLSBORO JASPER GA 3318 8364 THREE TREE DOWN. (ATL)
0030 UNK COLBERT MADISON GA 3403 8321 COLBERT AND HULL ARZCZC FTW
(ATL)
0110 UNK IVA ANDERSON SC 3429 8266 ROOF OF MOBILE HOME BLOWN OFF
(GSP)
0207 UNK LIBERTY PICKENS SC 3478 8268 COUNTY COMMS RELAYED REPORT
OF LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN. NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR INJURIES
KNOWN (GSP)
0210 UNK COLUMBIA COUNTY COLUMBIA GA 3351 8225 COUNTY SHERIFF
REPORTED TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN HARLEM-APPLING AREA. (CAE)
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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=> Science/ Economics Used To Define Natural Hazards Risks
Because community efforts to prevent catastrophic losses from natural
hazards have not included
systematic and quantitative means to prioritize locations for mitigation,
comprehensive approaches
that include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that can be communicated
as a series of
computer-generated maps are needed, according to U.S. Geological Survey
economic analyst,
Richard Bernknopf, of the USGS Center for Science Policy in Menlo Park, CA.
Speaking to fellow scientists at the annual meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS), Saturday (Feb. 17), Bernknopf described a quantitative
natural
science-economics regional approach to assess the impacts of natural hazards
on a community. "The
community is characterized as a portfolio of risky assets composed of
private and public land uses
that are subject to varying degrees of hazard vulnerability over time and
space," Bernkopf said,
noting that a series of computer-generated maps can display in detail the
community land-use
portfolio using the GIS approach.
"Because the portfolio model is communicated as a computer-generated map and
contains both local
and regional information, it can be used to evaluate both the payoffs of
individual loss-reduction
investments and the cost effectiveness of a regional loss-reduction
strategy." Bernkopf cited a study
area of Watsonville, Calif., as an example of using the multi-layered
computer-genrated maps,
wherein scientific information from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake has been
combined with
economic information to assess the benefits of self-protection from
earthquake-triggered liquefaction
in the area.
=> Disease Aftershocks - The Health Effects Of Natural Disasters
The good news is, you're not killed or injured in a natural disaster. The
bad news is, you might die a
few days or weeks later from some terrible disease. That is the scenario
that plays out around the
world several times each year, according to Dr. Stephen Guptill, a research
scientist with the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science
(AAAS) in San Francisco, Saturday, February 17, Guptill said that while the
initial activity of a
natural disaster event may directly injure or kill a number of people, it is
possible that many more
individuals will be affected by disease outbreaks that occur after the
initial shocks of the disaster
have passed. "Many of these disease outbreaks, such as cholera or typhoid,
are caused by
contaminated water supplies, which may be the direct result of the event, or
which can result from
the relocation of a large number of people to areas without a viable supply
of potable water," Guptill
said. "In addition, the relocation of displaced persons into highly
concentrated refuge camps often
creates conditions that make the population highly susceptible to outbreaks
of infectious diseases. If
the camps are located in areas where diseases such as Rift Valley fever,
hanta virus, or hemorrhagic
fever are endemic, large numbers of people may become ill."
Guptill said remotely sensed imagery, either from aircraft or spacecraft,
can enable a rapid
assessment of an area that has been impacted by a natural disaster, and
combining this data with
other geospatial data in a geographic information system can provide
disaster relief specialists with
the information they need to find sites that minimize the risks of exposing
the population to disease.
He advised that emergency response teams and relocation experts should
consider not only the
facilities infrastructure of a site, but also its geographic setting, with
respect to risks of infectious
disease outbreaks. "Even a moderate amount of geographic awareness in
natural disaster relief
planning could help to prevent additional victims from disease aftershocks,"
Guptill concluded.
=> USGS Volcano News 02-16-01
Latest Volcano Updates from the USGS Hawaiian and the Alaskan Volcano
Observatory
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Volcano Watch - February 15, 2001
Earthquake Information for the World
Whenever a large, destructive earthquake occurs anywhere in the world, such
as those in Sumatera and El Salvador on January 13, there is an agency
within the U.S. Geological Survey responsible for disseminating information
about its location and magnitude on a rapid basis 24 hours a day--the
National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC). The center is located in
Golden, Colorado, and is staffed by eight to ten seismologists who rotate
on-call responsibilities on a weekly basis.
Locating earthquakes anywhere in the world is made possible by transmission
of over 150 seismic signals in real time from every continent. Some of
these signals are relayed via the internet, while others are brought in by
satellite, similar to the way television broadcasts of sporting events can
be seen in our living rooms.
An alarm is triggered whenever the signal on a preset number of seismic
stations exceeds a threshold. Using a combination of the information given
by a pager system and viewing seismic traces from the center via laptop
computer, the duty seismologist can determine whether a trip into the
office is necessary.
In the event of a large or damaging earthquake, a news release is issued
and information about the earthquake is passed on to disaster relief
agencies and the U.S. State Department. Information about the earthquake is
also posted to NEIC's "Near Real Time Earthquake List":
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin. When a particularly newsworthy
earthquake occurs, news crews from all the major television networks may
appear at the office. NEIC staff members may also be requested to provide
on-camera interviews at the local affiliates' studios for live or
tape-delayed broadcasts.
In addition to serving in this rapid response role, the NEIC is a
clearinghouse for earthquake data. Nearly 3,000 seismograph stations around
the world report earthquake arrival time data to the NEIC for inclusion in
their daily, weekly, and monthly bulletins. The Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory currently submits data to NEIC on earthquakes with a magnitude
of 4.0 and above. These data allow the NEIC to refine existing earthquake
locations and find previously undetected earthquakes.
Locations for over 20,000 earthquakes annually are now published in the
monthly bulletin. This number has generally increased over the years due to
increases in the number of reporting seismograph stations, faster methods
of analyzing the data, and better computers. There are still many parts of
the world with relatively few seismometers, making precise locations of
smaller earthquakes in these regions difficult.
In cooperation with the International Seismological Centre (ISC) in the
United Kingdom, the NEIC maintains a global list of seismograph station
codes and coordinates so that every reporting station has a unique code and
a traceable history.
The historical earthquake database at the NEIC (
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/epic/epic.html) is searchable, making it a
valuable resource for scientists, government agencies, insurance companies,
and even the trivia buff.
It is important to keep in mind that, as a global reporting agency, the
NEIC will not have data on the very small earthquakes that may occur in
Hawai'i or other seismically active parts of the United States. Catalogs
containing these data are maintained by the local seismic networks, such as
that run by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Nevertheless, for the most
important of the millions of earthquakes which undoubtedly occur around the
world each year, the NEIC should be the first place to look for
information.
Eruption Update
Eruptive activity of Kilauea Volcano continued unabated at the Pu`u `O`o
vent during the past week. Active `a`a and pahoehoe flows are descending
Pulama pali, and budding and inflating pahoehoe straddles the eastern
boundary of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park adjacent to the Royal Gardens
subdivision. Lava is pooling on the coastal flats and advancing slowly
seaward, but none is entering the ocean at this time. The closest active
flow is 1.3 km (1 mi) away from the sea coast.
No earthquakes were reported felt in Hawai`i during the week ending on
February 15.
This article was written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Alaskan Volcano Observatory
Kamchatkan Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 07-01
Friday, February 16, 2001, 10:00 KST (2200 UTC)
The following Release was received by the Alaska Volcano Observatory via
e-mail from KVERT (Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team). All times
are in Kamchatkan Standard Time, 21 hours ahead of Anchorage.
KLYUCHEVSKAYA GROUP OF VOLCANOES
KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO; 56o03'N, 160o39'E; Elevation 4,750 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS GREEN.
During the past week (February 9-15, 2001), seismic activity was at
background levels. On February 9 and 8, a gas and steam plume rose 300 -
1200 m above the volcano and extended 5-10 km in the main to the northeast
and southwest.
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO; 55o58'N, 160o36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS GREEN.
One small earthquake was registered under the volcano. On February 9 and
14, a gas and steam plume rose 300-800m above the volcano and extended
10-25 km to the south and northeast. On February 12 and 15, weak fumarolic
activity was observed. On other days, the volcano was obscured by clouds.
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO; 56o38'N, 161o19'E; Elevation 2,447 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
Seismicity was at background levels. On February 9-10, a gas and steam
plume rose 1000-1200m above the volcano. On February 12-15, a gas and steam
plume rose 300-500m above the volcano and extended 3 km to the east on
February 13. On February 11, the volcano was obscured by clouds
KARYMSKY VOLCANO; 54o03'N, 159o27'E; Elevation 1,486 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS GREEN.
Seismic activity was at background levels. There were several periods of
the data outages due to seismic station trouble.
AVACHINSKAYA GROUP OF VOLCANOES; 53o15'N, 158o51'E;
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS GREEN.
Seismicity at Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes was at background levels.
MUTNOVSKAYA GROUP OF VOLCANOES:
GORELY VOLCANO; 52o33'N, 158o02'E, Elevation 1,828 m;
MUTNOVSKY VOLCANO; 52o27'N, 158o12'E, Elevation 2,324 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE FOR BOTH VOLCANOES IS GREEN.
During the past week seismic activity was at background levels. Weak
spasmodic volcanic tremor was registered the entire week. On February
10-15, Gorely was quiet, Mutnovsky volcano was quiet or weak fumarolic
activity was observed. On February 9, both volcanoes were obscured by
clouds.
Alaskan Volcano Observatory: Weekly Report 02-16-01
Seismic activity is monitored in real time at 22 volcanoes in Alaska.
Satellite images of all Alaskan volcanoes are analyzed daily for evidence
of ash plumes and elevated surface temperatures. Some volcanoes may
currently display anomalous behavior without being considered to be at a
dangerous level of unrest.
Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, Augustine, Snowy, Griggs, Katmai, Novarupta,
Trident, Mageik, Martin, Aniakchak, Pavlof, Dutton, Isanotski, Shishaldin,
Fisher, Westdahl, Akutan, Makushin, Great Sitkin, and Kanaga volcanoes are
all at or near normal levels of background seismicity. AVO did not detect
ash plumes or significant elevated surface temperatures in the vicinity of
any volcano.
Note: We have added references to AVO's use of satellite images to our
standard update statement. This does not reflect a new program by AVO, but
only our conservative approach to the update statement. In fact, AVO has
been using satellite data routinely for many years to monitor volcanoes and
ash plumes in the North Pacific. Further information can be found at
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/aboutus/remote.htm
=> Disaster Assistance Nears $34 Million For Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-February 16, 2001 Disaster recovery agencies have
committed $33.9 million
to date to help Arkansas recover from December's ice storms. The Federal
Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated $22.4 million in disaster assistance
to Arkansas as part
of the Public Assistance Program. The program gets financial help quickly to
local and county
governments and certain non-profit agencies covered under a Presidential
disaster declaration. The
funds are distributed by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
(ADEM). Other
totals, effective as of the close of business February 15, 2001:
FEMA has issued $7,134,367 million in disaster housing assistance checks to
8,063 residents. The
program provides grants to individuals and families whose primary residences
were damaged or
destroyed by the December ice storms.
State disaster relief officials have approved payment of 1,195 checks
totaling $1,037,846 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 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 474 loans for
homeowners, renters
and businesses totaling $3,138,500.
The Arkansas Department of Employment Security has approved disaster
unemployment claims
totaling $138,552 to 483 applicants.
FEMA has received 37,681 individual applications for disaster assistance.
Individuals, families and businesses in the declared counties who suffered
damage from the
December ice storms should call FEMA at the toll-free number, 800-462-9029,
to register before
the February 27 deadline.
Once registered, residents can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-525-0321 if
they have questions
about their applications. For the speech and hearing impaired, the number
both for registration and
for questions about applications is 800-462-7585. These lines are open from
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday.
=> Over $6.9 Million In Federal Disaster Aid Spent In 16 Northeast
Kentucky Counties
Frankfort, KY, February 16, 2001 -- Drenching rains and flooding that
inundated portions of 16
northeastern Kentucky counties a year ago this week opened the way for
federal assistance that has
reached more than $6.9 million.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provided $4,532,112 of
the $6.9
million aid total, enabled 506 commonwealth individuals and families, both
homeowners and renters,
to be assured of safe shelters. Administering the programs was the Kentucky
Division of Emergency
Management (KyEM).
FEMA also authorized dozens of state, local governmental agencies and
eligible private nonprofit
applicants to recoup 75 percent of the cost of damage to infrastructure,
including debris removal,
overtime costs for emergency services, and other disaster-related matters.
The 10 counties eligible for FEMA's Disaster Housing and Individual and
Family Grant programs
were Bath, Boyd, Carter, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson
and Rowan.
Thirteen counties were eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance program,
including Boyd, Bourbon,
Carter, Fleming, Greenup, Harrison, Johnson, Lawrence, Lewis, Nicholas,
Oldham, Pendleton and
Rowan.
The one-year disaster assistance tally shows:
FEMA's disaster housing program approved $942,660-an average of $3,071
each-to provide
emergency repairs or rents for 307 flood victims.
An additional $754,522 was granted 159 families for permanent repairs to
flood-damaged
dwellings, or to replace essential personal items. The grants averaged
$4,745 each.
30 applicants-local governments, other public agencies, and some private
non-profit
groups--received $2,834,930 to remove debris, shore up damaged facilities,
and meet emergency
costs such as overtime payments to workers.
FEMA's total of $1,595,700 in assistance was enhanced by 94 low-interest
loans (starting at
31/2%) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to homeowners,
renters and businesses
that totaled $2,457,600.
Total federal aid in the stricken area to date amounts to $6,989,712
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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
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=> Links Area
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION NEAR AUSTRALIA
Australia
This GMS image shows two tropical disturbances (indicated by the yellow
arrows) affecting
Australia. The expanse of clouds to the lower left of the image consists
partly of the remains of
Tropical Cyclone Vincent. The other disturbance in the Gulf of Carpentaria
was centered at 15.6S
and 137.7E at 03:00 UTC, and is expected to intensify. The disturbance was
moving towards the
west at 06 knots, and had an estimated maximum sustained wind speed between
20 and 30 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/S_Pacific/TRCwtps21047_GM.jpg
STORM MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST US
Southeast US This GOES-8 image shows a low pressure system over the lower
Mississippi Valley
that brought strong storms to parts Texas during the overnight. Flooding
rains, high winds, and
softball size hail were reported by somecommunites in east Texas. The
possibility of severe weather
exists from Louisiana to Georgia today as the system moves east.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/US_Southeast/STMusSE047_G8.jpg
FIRES IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/C_America/FSMHScam047_N2.jpg
FIRES IN MEXICO
Mexico
Heat signatures (red) and long smoke trails (light blue lines denoted by the
yellow arrow) are visible
from fires produced by offshore drilling operations in the Bay of Campeche.
Several small
heat signatures are also visible from fires burning in Mexico.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Mexico/FSMHSmex047_N2.jpg
ASH CLOUD FROM POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO IN MEXICO
Mexico Popocatepetl Volcano, southeast of Mexico City, erupted at about
21:45 UTC (4:45 PM
EST), sending a column of ash and steam to a height of 26,000 ft. above sea
level on Thursdey
evening, February 15, 2001. This movie loop, made from images taken by the
GOES-East satellite
every 30 minutes, shows the ash plume appearing and drifting northeast over
a period of 12 hours.
The images were produced using the "split window" technique, wherein thermal
infrared channel 5
(12 microns) is subtracted from channel 4 (11 microns), a technique which
often will enhance ash
signatures, and discriminate them from meteorological clouds. The yellow
arrow indicates the rough
position of the volcano.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Mexico/VSHpopo047_G8.avi
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