STATE OF ALASKA
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT 03-360 (as of 11:00 AM December 26, 2003) Homeland Security Advisory System – National Level: Orange-High U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security Advisory System – Alaska Level: Orange-High Alaska Division of Homeland Security
State Emergency Coordination Center Preparedness Level: 2-Heightened Sense of Awareness Alaska Division of Emergency Services
Military installations in Alaska are at FPCON B.
Current Internet Threat Level: 1-Regular Vigilance Internet Security Systems
State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) Operations: To reach the SECC dial (907) 428-7100 or 1-888-462-7100, 24 hours per day. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has a web site available for information on emergency topics at http://www.ak-prepared.com and Homeland Security information at http://www.ak-prepared.com/homelandsecurity/. For further information: Countries: U.S. State Department Background Notes. Maps: United Nations Cartographic Section Terrorist Groups: Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups. State of Alaska Situation Blizzard Warning The National Weather Service Fairbanks has issued a blizzard warning for St Lawrence Island and the Bering Strait Coast and the Yukon Delta including Gambell, Savoonga, Brevig Mission, Teller, Wales, Diomede, Emmonak, Alakanuk, Kotlik, Pilot Station, St Marys, Scammon Bay, Nunam Iqua and Pitkas Point. A very strong low pressure system is now moving northward across the Western Bering Sea. This low will push a strong front over St Lawrence Island, the Bering Strait Coast and the Yukon Delta today and tonight. Strongest winds and lowest visibilities will be over St Lawrence Island, along the Bering Strait Coast, and near Cape Romanzof today and tonight. Diminishing winds and rising temperatures on Saturday should end the blizzard conditions. A warning means a serious threat to life and property is occurring or imminent. Any travel or outdoor activity late tonight and Friday is strongly discouraged. Visibilities will be reduced to near zero in blowing snow. Port Heiden Erosion United States Air Force's (USAF) Major Hewett said that grave exposure due to erosion and tidal surge has been eliminated for now. Approximately ten grave sites have been located, none in imminent threat. The ground penetrating radar (GPR) has worked well in assisting in locating grave sites. Of the grave sites identified, all appear to be in caskets. The USAF team will return to Port Heiden on January 2, 2004. National Situation U.S. investigators are searching for a small number of people who failed to show up at the Paris airport to board flights to Los Angeles that fell under close scrutiny in a possible terrorist plot, a U.S. official said Friday. One of those people was receiving pilot training, but was not yet certified, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Investigators remain interested in talking with those people to ease concerns some passengers aboard those flights might have intended to use them to launch terror attacks against the United States, the official said. Discussions between U.S. and French officials led to the cancellation of six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday. U.S. officials also were talking to officials in other countries. Significant Dates Dec 26, 1893 China (People's Republic of): Birthday of Mao Ze Dong. The birthday of Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong has been marked by the Sendero Luminoso (SL) guerrilla organization by terrorist attacks. Dec 26, 1968 Philippines: Founding of the CPP; Founding of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by Jose Maria Sison. The next Situation Report will be published as of 11:00 AM, December 27, 2003. If there is significant change in the situation or the threat level, a report will be published when the change occurs. Direct questions regarding this report to Jerry J. Koenig at 907-428-7049 or jerry_koenig@ak-prepared.com. |