STATE OF ALASKA
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT 04-357 (as of 11:00 AM December 22, 2004) Homeland Security Advisory System – Alaska Level: Yellow-Elevated State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management State Emergency Coordination Center Preparedness Level: 2-An Event Has Occurred State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Military installations in Alaska are at FPCON A. State of Alaska Cyber Security Alert Level: Guarded State of Alaska Cyber Security State of Alaska Situation
The National Weather Service Fairbanks has issued the following:Winter Storm Warnings A major winter storm is in progress over northern Alaska. A strong low pressure system was moving northeast through Bristol Bay early Wednesday morning and it is expected to move through Fairbanks this evening on its way to the north Yukon Territory Thursday morning. There is extensive heavy snow ahead of this weather system over the central interior. Over the southeast interior, especially over the Alaska Range, some freezing rain and high winds have been reported. At Jim River Camp, in the eastern Koyukuk Valley, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities reported that seven inches of new snow had fallen as of 9am this morning. Also, high winds, drifting and blowing snow with poor visibility were reported on the Dalton Highway from mile 90 to mile 112. Upper Koyukuk Valley including Allakaket, Hughes, Bettles, Caribou Mountain and Gobblers Knob. Winter storm warning for heavy snow remains in effect until 5am Thursday. Heavy snow will continue through early Thursday. Total snow accumulation of four to nine inches is expected. Wind chills to 42 below are expected. Winds to 20 mph and areas of blowing snow are expected. This area includes portions of the Dalton Highway. Yukon Flats and surrounding uplands including Fort Yukon, Venetie, Central, Circle, Stevens Village, Beaver, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, Circle Hot Springs, Eagle Summit, and Twelvemile Summit. Winter storm warning west of Fort Yukon for heavy snow remains in effect until 9am Thursday. West of Fort Yukon, heavy snow will continue through Thursday morning. A storm total of seven inches is expected. Over hills, there will be east winds gusting to 25 mph with blowing snow today. This includes portions of the Dalton Highway. Central Interior including Nenana, Anderson, Tanana, Minto, Manley Hot Springs, Rampart, Lake Minchumina and Livengood. Winter storm warning remains in effect until 11am Thursday. Heavy snow will continue through Thursday morning. A storm total of eight inches is expected. There is also a chance of freezing rain through this evening. Deltana and Tanana Flats including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake and Healy Lake. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 11 pm this evening. South winds gusting to 60 mph will continue through this evening and then diminish to 20 mph after midnight. Freezing rain is possible through this evening as well. Denali including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna. Winter storm warning remains in effect through 3 pm Thursday. South winds gusting to 55 mph will continue through this afternoon and then decrease rapidly this evening. There will be areas of freezing rain through this evening. Snow will become heavier this evening when the winds decrease, with storm total snow accumulation of six inches by Thursday afternoon. On Thursday, winds will become north 25 mph in passes and cause low visibility in blowing snow. Eastern Alaska Range including Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, Trims Camp, Eagle Trail and Mineral Lake. Winter storm warning is in effect until 3pm Thursday. South winds gusting to 60 mph in passes will continue through 9pm tonight and then slowly decrease. Snow will become heavier tonight when the winds decrease, with a storm total snow accumulation of nine inches by Thursday afternoon. The heaviest snow will be on the south sides of passes. There will also be areas of freezing rain through this evening. On Thursday winds will become north 25 mph in passes and cause low visibility in blowing snow. People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. All travel should be done with extreme caution. Travel is becoming hazardous. Heavy snow accumulations may cause damage to property if snow is not periodically removed. Blizzard Warnings Lower Yukon Valley including Marshall, Russian Mission, Holy Cross, Grayling, Shageluk, Anvik and Flat. Winter storm warning for heavy snow remains in effect until 11pm this evening. Heavy snow will diminish late tonight. Total snow accumulation of 9 inches is expected. Northwest winds of 15 to 30 mph are producing areas of blowing snow. Wind chills will drop to 43 below tonight after the snow ends. Lower Koyukuk and Middle Yukon Valley including, Galena, Nulato, Huslia, Kaltag, Ruby and Koyukuk. Winter storm warning for heavy snow is in effect until 5am Thursday. Heavy snow will diminish after midnight tonight. Total snow accumulation of 10 inches is expected. Wind chills will drop to 44 below late tonight after the snow ends. The National Weather Service Anchorage issued the following: Kuskokwim Delta including, Bethel, Hooper Bay and Nunivak Island. Blizzard warning continues into this evening for the Kuskokwim Delta. Winds gusting 40 to 55 mph will cause blowing snow and reduced visibilities at times to less than a quarter mile. High Wind Warnings Anchorage including Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian and Eklutna. Continue high wind warning for Turnagain Arm and higher elevations through this evening with southeast winds gusting 70 to 90 mph along Turnagain Arm and higher elevations through the morning. Winds at Glen Alps are currently gusting to 81 mph and are expected to remain near this level through this evening. Winds through west end of Turnagain Arm are gusting to 75 mph and will continue through this evening. Susitna Valley including, Talkeetna, Willow and Cantwell. Continue heavy snow warning through tonight for the Susitna Valley. Heavy snow is expected to fall mainly north of Talkeetna and along the Alaska Range through tonight. The snow will taper off from the south through the day on Thursday. Additional snow accumulation north of Talkeetna of 15 to 30 inches is expected through tonight. Snowfall accumulations through tonight of 4 to 8 inches are expected elsewhere. National Situation
Three Moroccans suspected of links with international Islamic terrorism have been arrested in Spain for allegedly trying to obtain explosives. More...Terrorist attacks on tankers carrying liquefied natural gas into a U.S. port could trigger a fire that could burn the skin of people a mile away and cause major injuries and significant structural damage within about a third of a mile, according to a government study released yesterday. More... International Situation Britain on Wednesday backed a U.S. call to the United Nations to freeze the assets of a London-based Saudi dissident who Washington says has provided support for al Qaeda. More... The US military has imposed a curfew on the Iraqi city of Mosul, a day after the deadliest attack on Americans since the invasion last year. More... Calendar of Significant Events December 22, 2000 – West Bank: HAMAS suicide bombing at restaurant near Mehola kills 1 and wounds 3 Israeli soldiers. The Next Situation Report: will be published as of 11:00 AM, December 23, 2004. A significant change in the situation or the threat level will prompt an interim report. Direct questions regarding this report to Wayne Rush at 907-428-7032 or wayne_rush@ak-prepared.com. How to reach the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Phone the State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) by dialing (907) 428-7100 or 1-888-462-7100, 24 hours per day. Information on emergency topics is available on the Division's web site at http://www.ak-prepared.com. Homeland Security information may be found at http://www.ak-prepared.com/homelandsecurity/. How to reach the Division of Administration –State Cyber Security Program: If you have questions you may contact Darrell Davis, State Computer Security Officer, at darrel_davis@admin.state.ak.us. For further information: Being prepared: Ready.gov Countries: U.S. State Department Background Notes. Maps: United Nations Cartographic Section Terrorist Groups: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/20119.pdf Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups. Hyperlink: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/20120.pdf |