Torrance County, NM, 05/06/2008 — Two members of a firefighting Hotshot team stand back as a third member (center) finishes cutting down a pine tree still smoldering four days after fire devastated the Sherwood Forest subdivision in Torrance County. A team of representatives from fema, the U.S. Small business Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State of New Mexico and Torrance County conducted a Preliminary Damage Assessment of the area on May 6th. fema photo by Win Henderson

Photograph by Michael Raphael taken on 05/11/2008 in Missouri (ID: 35124)
Seneca, Missouri, May 11, 2008 — Wreckage of a bridal shop and feed store, destroyed by a tornado May 10 that damaged other structures in the area. Michael Raphael/fema

Photograph by Win Henderson taken on 05/06/2008 in New Mexico (ID: 35107)
Torrance Couinty, NM, 05/06/2008 — Don Scott, Bureau Chief of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, State of New Mexico (left) goes over the site map of the Sherwood Forest subdivision that was burned by the Trigo Fire five days previously with Danny Hogsett, a construction analyst with the U.S. Small business Administration. A Preliminary Damage Assessment team made up of representatives from Federal, State and County governments surveyed the fire damages on May 6th. fema photo by Win Henderson

Photograph by Michael Raphael taken on 05/11/2008 in Missouri (ID: 35139)
Racine, Missouri, May 11, 2008 — A powerful late afternoon tornado turned a home in Racine into wreckage May 10. Michael Raphael/fema

A blown over tree in Missouri (ID: 35153)
Granby, Missouri, May 12, 2008 — A powerful tornado cut a swath 75 miles long May 10, from Oklahoma to Purdy, Missouri, uprooting trees, tossing cars, flattening houses including this home in Granby. Michael Raphael/fema

Small business owner looking at debris in Missouri (ID: 35149)
Newtonia, Missouri, May 12, 2008 — The owner of this repair shop near his home looks for recoverable items. The structure and his home were destroyed by the powerful tornado that ripped through southwest Missouri May 10. Michael Raphael/fema

Photograph by Michael Raphael taken on 05/11/2008 in Missouri (ID: 35140)
Racine, Missouri, May 11, 2008 — A powerful late afternoon tornado destroyed homes in Racine on May 10. Michael Raphael/fema

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) National Weather Forecast South: Moderate rain and thunderstorms are forecast over the Carolinas, northern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and sections of Arkansas.  Thunderstorms could be severe in western South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia, most of Alabama and eastern and southern Mississippi.  A Red Flag Warning will be in effect 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT for northeast Florida due to low relative humidity and warm temperatures.  High temperatures in Texas will be above average; however, the rest of the south will be seasonal. Midwest: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for southern Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, eastern Missouri and the Great Plains.  Flash Flood Warnings are in effect until early this morning for southeastern Kansas, and western Missouri. Northeast:  Southern New England will see some early morning rain.  A slow-moving front will bring moderate rain and isolated thunderstorms throughout the day to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northwest Virginia.  High temperatures will range from the 50s in northern Maine to the 80s in southeast Virginia. West:  Rain and some thunderstorms will extend from Washington State to Colorado.  High temperatures are forecast to range from the 40s in the northern and central Rockies to the 90s in the Sonora and Mojave Deserts.  The Pacific Northwest will peak in the 50s and 60s.  (NWS) Maine Flood Recovery Recovery operatons continue from severe storms and flooding on April 28, 2008, and continuing.  Maine identified 22 flooded homes in Penobscot County and has asked fema to expand Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) to include this county.  fema is sending teams that include the Small business Administration to meet with county officials this week and conduct the PDA.  IA PDAs for Aroostook County have already been completed.  (Region II) Toxic Spill Update - Contra Costa County, CA The California Office of Emergency Services (CA OES) Coastal Duty Officer advised that approximately 3,000 gallons of the chemical Toluene and water mixture have been recovered by the cleanup contractor since the spill into San Pablo Bay was discovered Monday.  Cleanup operations will be completed today May 8.  (CA OES) Mississippi Valley Flooding fema Regional Offices, State EOCs, and the NRCC continue to monitor Flood Warnings and Watches in the Mississippi River Valley.  (Region IV, Region V, Region VI RRCC, National Weather Service, fema HQ) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Nothing significant activity reported.  (fema HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook No new activity (fema HQ) Earthquake Activity A magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred offshore near the Alaska Peninsula at 5:45 p.m. EDT on May 7. The quake was located 47 miles SSW from Sand Point, Alaska, and 610 miles SW of Anchorage, Alaska, at a depth of 34 miles.  There are no reports of damages or injuries, and no tsunami watches or warnings were issued.  (USGS, fema HQ) Preliminary Damage Assessments No new activity (fema HQ) Wildfire Update National Preparedness Level: 2 States reporting large fires: California (1), Florida (4), New Mexico (2), Texas (2). National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, May 7: Initial attack activity: Light (128 new fires) New large fires: 3 Large fires contained: 2 Uncontained large fires: 9 Weather Discussion:  Dry and windy conditions are expected to continue in southeast New Mexico and west Texas today. Another weak storm system will produce gusty winds for the southern Great Basin, northwest Arizona, and southeast California. Relative humidity (RH) will begin to improve over the Southeast; however, RH levels will still remain rather low. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB) New Mexico Trigo Fire (Torrance County) has burned 13,680 acres and is 60% contained.  Eighty nine structures are reported destroyed.  (National Interagency Coordination Center, Inciweb) disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (fema HQ)

Residents looking through debris in Missouri (ID: 35145)
Newtonia, Missouri, May 12, 2008 — Sifting through the wreckage of their home, this couple came across treasures. The house was one of many that were badly damaged or destroyed by a powerful tornado May 10. Michael Raphael/fema