Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for South Dakota.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Craig Fugate today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for South Dakota to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm during the period of January 20-26, 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel and members of FEMA-trained Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from California, Florida, New York, and Virginia today joined other personnel and teams involved in the United States response to Haiti for a Rose Garden ceremony with President Obama. The President thanked all who participated in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-led effort.

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) today announced nearly $24.5 million in additional federal grants to the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control for Katrina-related recovery work at Jackson Barracks.

DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to communities and unincorporated areas in Hopkins County, Texas. The FIRMs will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of South Dakota to supplement recovery efforts in the areas struck by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of December 23-27, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Kansas to supplement recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms and snowstorm during the period of December 22, 2009, to January 8, 2010.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for South Dakota

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Kansas.

Major Disaster Declaration number 1886 declared on Mar 09, 2010

Major Disaster Declaration number 1885 declared on Mar 09, 2010

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Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) Significant National Weather

South:
Thunderstorms will continue through portions of Texas, Oklahoma and the lower Mississippi Valley and spread into the central Gulf Coast throughout the day increasing the chance for tornados throughout the region.
Heavy rain across the South will begin to move into the southern Appalachians by Thursday.
Critical fire weather conditions are possible in portions of the Southern Plains through Thursday.
An increased chance of flooding and flash flooding exists across the South from Mississippi through Florida as heavy rain continues throughout the week.
Midwest:
Rain and snow will continue across the Plains through Thursday; up to a foot of snow is possible in higher elevations. Along the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys heavy rain and severe thunderstorms could spawn tornados before the storm exits on Thursday. Widespread flooding continues to increase as rain and warmer temperatures begin to impact the region. Significant flooding is focused in Iowa where moderate flooding is expected in several locations over the next few days.  A large ice jam on the White River in South Dakota has broken up; flooding is occurring downstream toward the Missouri River Basin where moderate flooding is expected to continue through Friday.
West:
Another round of rain and mountain snow will impact portions of the Great Basin, and Northern/Central Rockies, where up to a foot of snow expected at higher elevations.
Northeast:
Rain is expected throughout the Mid-Atlantic Corridor from Virginia northward into Pennsylvania and New Jersey through Friday. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Hydro Meteorological Prediction Center, and various media sources) 

Hammon, OK Tornado Marks Start of 2010 Tornado Season in Tornado Alley

 Late on Monday afternoon, March 8, 2010, an EF-2 tornado touched down near Hammon, OK damaging several homes and downing power lines. The tornado developed as an early season round of thunderstorms passed over Oklahoma and western North Texas.  A few of these storms were severe and produced some sporadic wind damage in Baylor and Wichita Counties in north Texas.  Later in the day scattered thunderstorms developed near the western Oklahoma border with the Texas Panhandle.  Some of these storms produced severe weather, including several tornadoes. These tornadoes mark the beginning of the 2010 tornado season in Tornado Alley. 

On average, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide each year, resulting in approximately 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. Last year, 1,156 tornadoes were reported nationwide and 21 people were killed by tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service’ Storm Prediction Center (SPC). The record for most tornadoes in any month was set in May 2003, with 543 confirmed tornadoes. 

Tornado Alley is the nickname for a broad area in the country’s midsection that consistently experiences a high frequency of tornadoes each year. The area that has the strongest and most violent tornadoes includes eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado. The relatively flat land in the Great Plains allows cold dry polar air from Canada to meet warm moist tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico.

A large number of tornadoes form when these two air masses meet. Tornado season for Tornado Alley typically begins during May and lasts into early June. On the Gulf Coast, it is earlier during the spring; and in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest,
tornado season runs through June or July.

The U.S. experienced 41 tornadoes during January 2010, according to preliminary SPC reports. Forty of the 41 tornadoes were reported over the course of five days between the 18th and the 22nd, with all tornadoes occurring in the southeastern and western regions of the country. According to data from the Storm Prediction Center, this January ties as the seventh busiest January in terms of tornadoes since 1950. January 1967 also had 41 tornado reports. There were no fatalities for the month of January that were directly related to a tornado. Only one tornado was reported in February 2010.

Tornadoes in the winter and early spring are often associated with strong frontal systems that form in the central States and move east. Occasionally, large outbreaks of tornadoes occur with this type of weather pattern affecting several states.
Prediction of tornado activity has improved over the past decade through improved radar, improved watches and warnings and the establishment of the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in 1995. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is one of seven National Centers for Environmental Prediction whose mission is to provide timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. Additional information about tornadoes can be found at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/  (NOAA, SPC) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.7 M earthquake occurred at 9:06 a.m. EST March 9, 2010 in the Aleutian Islands 49 miles SE of Atka, Alaska at a depth of 31.7 miles, and was followed by four aftershocks of magnitude 4.6 and 4.9. Moderate shaking was felt in Adak; however, no damage or injuries were reported. A tsunami was not generated. (USGS) 

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1885-DR for the State of Kansas on March 9, 2010 as a result of severe winter storms and snowstorm that occurred Dec 22, 2009 to Jan 8, 2010. The declaration provides Public Assistance for 45 counties, and for assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow removal assistance, for a period of 48 hours, for Osage County. All counties in the State of Kansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The FCO is Michael R. Scott of the National FCO Program.

The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1886-DR for the State of South Dakota on March 9, 2010 for severe winter storm and snowstorm that occurred December 23-27, 2009.  The declaration provides for Public Assistance for 12 counties and the portions of the Pine Ridge Reservation and Rosebud Reservation that lie within the designated counties; and for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow assistance (for a period of 48 hours) for 9 counties and the portions of the Pine Ridge Reservation and Rosebud Reservation that lie within the designated counties. All counties and Tribal Reservations in the State of South Dakota are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The FCO is Nancy M. Casper of the National FCO Program. (FEMA HQ) 

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DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting draft flood risk maps to communities in Caddo County, Okla. The maps will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions.

DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting draft flood risk maps to communities in Grady County, Okla. The maps will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions.

Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.