STATE OF ALASKA
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT 04-358 (as of 11:00 AM December 23, 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
Flood WarningThe National Weather Service in Juneau has issued a flood warning through tonight for the Situk River. Heavy rainfall and a very warm airmass over the region is causing a rise in the Situk River and other small streams in the Yakutat area. The Situk River is currently at 72.3 feet and will continue to rise into tonight. Flood stage for this river is 73 feet and is expected to reach this level this afternoon. The river will continue to rise into tonight and could possibly reach moderate flood stage of 74.5 feet. Small stream flooding will also continue to cause flooding problems through tonight. Winter Storm Warnings The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued the following: Southeastern Brooks Range including, Arctic Village, Wiseman, Coldfoot, Chandalar, D.O.T. Camp and Iniakuk Lake. Winter storm warning is in effect through 4pm today. Snow will diminish today with another two inches accumulation. This will make a total of 8 to 16 inches for this storm that began early Wednesday. Northeast winds of 15 to 30 mph will cause low visibility in blowing snow in passes. At 9 am Thursday the Chandalar Highway Camp on the Dalton Highway just south of the crest of the Brooks Range reported high winds, poor visibility, heavy snow and avalanche conditions.
The warned area includes the Dalton Highway from north of Prospect Creek to the southern approaches to Atigun Pass.
Upper Koyukuk Valley including Allakaket, Hughes, Bettles, Caribou Mountain and Gobblers Knob. Winter storm warning remains in effect until 4 pm today. Snow north of Bettles will diminish today with up to one inch accumulation. This will make a storm total of 6 to 10 inches starting Wednesday morning. West winds 30 mph will cause areas of blowing snow with low visibility. 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 is in effect until 4 pm today. Snow will continue through this afternoon with another two inches accumulation. This will make a storm total of seven inches west of Fort Yukon since Wednesday. West winds increasing to 25 mph in the afternoon will cause reduced visibility in blowing snow and wind chill to 47 below. Denali including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna. Winter storm warning is in effect until 11pm Thursday. Snow will continue through tonight with total accumulation of six inches. Local blizzard conditions will occur in passes with north winds 25 to 35 mph. Wind chills will fall to 45 below tonight. The snow will diminish after midnight tonight, but the local blizzard conditions could last into Friday morning. Eastern Alaska Range including Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, Trims Camp, Eagle Trail and Mineral Lake. Winter storm warning is in effect until 5am Friday. South winds gusting to 45 mph and areas of freezing rain fell this morning. The winds are turning north and heavy snow will develop this afternoon. Up to seven inches of new snow is expected through tonight. In passes north winds will increase to 30 mph tonight with local blizzard conditions and wind chills to 45 below. The snow will diminish by Friday morning, but the local blizzard conditions could last through Friday. Travel Advisory The department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Maintenance and Operations has issued the following travel advisory: Alaska/Richardson HIGHWAYS at/or near Tok Cutoff. Use extreme caution while traveling the Alaska Highway and Tok Cutoff due to freezing rain. Travel is not advised on the Richardson Highway between Donnelly Dome and Paxson. The Richardson Highway will be closed intermittently for avalanche control work from 9:30 am until approximately 6:00 pm today, December 23, 2004. The avalanche control work will be taking place between Milepost 27 and Milepost 42. Minimum delays of 30 minutes can be expected. Updates will be issued as more information becomes available. Oil Spill, Unalaska Island - M/V Selendang Ayu On 7 December 2004, the Coast Guard notified the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) that the M/V Selendang Ayu had lost engine power and was adrift. The vessel grounded on December 8 and broke into two pieces. The vessel had 424,000 gallons of bunker C (IFO380 Intermediate fuel oil) and 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. The amount of product spilled is unknown. The M/V Selendang Ayu remains grounded in two pieces approximately 1800 yards offshore of Cape Spray. For additional information contact AK Department of Environmental Conservation’s Public Information Marti Early 907-465-5206, Bob Flint, 907-269-7681, cell 240-2517 in Anchorage 907-269-3063. United States Coast Guard (USCG) Chief Darrell Wilson 271-2660. Photographs, press releases and other spill information are available for viewing at: http://www.state.ak.us/dec/selendang National Situation
A suspected terrorist was killed Thursday when roadside bomb he was planting detonated prematurely northeast of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. More...A California woman reveals to ABC News that she unknowingly married a Muslim extremist who helped set up what authorities say was one of the first al Qaeda sleeper cells out of their Orange County apartment complex. More... International Situation Authorities have arrested six suspects, including a citizen of a former Soviet republic, on suspicion of involvement in the weekend's deadly explosion in this holy Shiite city which killed 13 people, a police official said Thursday. More... An alleged leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group in the Philippines has been officially designated a terrorist by the US Treasury Department for his suspected involvement in the kidnapping and beheading of US nationals. More... Calendar of Significant Events December 23, 2000 – ELN frees 42 hostages captured in 1998; 700 remain captive. December 23, 1975 – Greece: US diplomat Richard Welch killed by gunmen in Athens; 17 November responsible. The Next Situation Report: will be published as of 11:00 AM, December 24, 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 |