February 2007

Homicide/Suicide Attack At Bagram Air Base During Cheney Visit

Last Updated: 08:57am GMT 27/02/2007

Afghan suicide blast kills 19, Cheney escapes unhurt

BAGRAM AFB, AFGHANISTAN: A suicide bomber killed as many as 19 people outside the main US military base in Afghanistan during a visit by Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, the US and Afghan officials said. Initial reports say that one US soldier and an estimated 18 Afghans died in the blast. At least 20 others are believed to be wounded.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing and said Mr. Cheney was the target. Maj. William Mitchell denied this claim, however, and said the American vice-president was safely within the base at the time of the explosion. "The vice president is fine," Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, told reporters.

Mr. Cheney, who spent the night at the Bagram Air Base, left about 90 minutes after the 10:00 am (local time) blast to head for Kabul, 47 Kilometers (27 miles) south of the base, to meet with Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president....

Article continues at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/27/wafghan527.xml

U.K. - Terror Threat Worst Since 09/11/2001

Last Updated: 12:30am GMT 25/02/2007

Secret report: Terror threat worst since 9/11

By Sean Rayment, Security Correspondent, Sunday Telegraph

ENGLAND: The terrorist threat facing Britain from home-grown al-Qaeda agents is higher than at any time since the September 11 attacks in 2001, secret intelligence documents reveal. Eliza Manningham-Buller warned there are over 1,600 'identified individuals' engaged in terror plots

The number of British-based Islamic terrorists plotting suicide attacks against "soft" targets in this country is far greater than the Security Services had previously believed, the government paperwork discloses. It is thought the plotters could number more than 2,000.

Under the heading "International Terrorism in the UK", the document - seen by The Sunday Telegraph - states: "The scale of al-Qaeda's ambitions towards attacking the UK and the number of UK extremists prepared to participate in attacks are even greater than we had previously judged." Article continues at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/25/nterr25.xml

IED Drill Underway At White House

February 23, 2007 5:22:00 PM

White House Rehearses for a Domestic Terror Attack

"table-top exercise", aimed at testing responses to multiple IED attacks...

Original URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17302994/site/newsweek/

Islamophobia and Personal Islamic Jihad on the streets of America

Personal Islamic Jihad on the streets of America

Submitted by admin on Fri, 2007-02-16 17:34. U.S. News

By Douglas J. Hagmann, Director

16 February 2007: For well over a decade, federal officials, politicians, and members of the major media have gone to absurd lengths to avoid disclosing that Islam has been a motivating factor and a major component in numerous murders, murderous sprees and other acts of violence and sabotage by "lone individuals." It is an undeniable fact that there are Muslims ? perhaps not the majority but a significant number ? who advocate personal "jihad" in its most literal sense, citing passages in the Qu?ran and Sunnah. It is also undeniable that Arabic language Islamic religious forums, message boards on the Internet actually encourage Muslims to engage in such activities against the infidels, and especially the "Great Satan" and the Jews.

If you dare mention, however, any possible religious motivation when the perpetrator is a Muslim, you are immediately labeled "Islamophobic," the politically correct buzzword that is applied to anyone who conducts a reasonable examination of the evidence and dares to ask whether the crime was rooted in religious ideology.... ( Article continues at: http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/PersonalIslamicJihad )

The Truth, Islamophobia, and Individual Radicalization

CHICAGO, IL: On several previous occasions, it has been alleged that ERRI and EmergencyNet News have engaged in Islamophobia or displaying a bias against members of the Muslim religion. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. We have been scrupulous in attempting to present an honest and truthful depiction of "radical Islam" and not to brand the entire religion as violent or evil. Our position has been made clear and is a matter of public record. In part, we said:

"Contrary to popular belief, terrorism isn't just about the color of a person's skin, their religious beliefs, or their political ideology. It's about fanaticism...extremists who take any reasonable belief to an absurd conclusion and then justify abnormal, and often dangerous, behavior in the furtherance of their convoluted beliefs. For example, most members of the Islamic faith aren't fanatics, nor violent, nor uncaring, nor do they resemble any of the other negative connotations that have been attributed to them. The real problem of Islamic Fundamentalism involves only a very small percentage of zealots, who have chosen to undertake violent acts, allegedly in the furtherance of their religion, when in fact, they commit these acts in contradiction of their faith.

Terrorism isn't about power in the conventional sense...rather, it may be about perceived powerlessness. It is a seemingly illogical response by individuals, groups, and even nation-states who feel minimized and relegated to a meaningless or inconsequential position in society. It would appear to be their dysfunctional way of responding to events and circumstances dictated by more conventional, mainstream, or majority events and thinking. It can be described as a small minority "raging against the machine" of organized religion, politics, government, or general societal norms. Terrorism is often spawned in overt repression, a lack of individual freedoms, or in an environment that lacks respect for minority viewpoints and individuals." (1) That said, for the past 20 years (since 1987), we have also always tried to present and explain the truth about terrorism, as best we can ascertain it.

Our two-decade study would suggest that there was a time when Islamic zealots were largely radicalized by the somewhat isolated teachings of local (and militant) Imams and Madrassa schools. Now, they can be radicalized by the internet, audio/video tapes, television, and through the use of other new technologies and methods. Our assessment would suggest that this "morphing of Jihad" is an attempt to make violent Jihad a larger ideology that doesn't require deep religious indoctrination...rather, this newest effort plays on the alienation, frustration and isolationism that might be naturally common to immigrants and others who are moving from a very simple and mostly impoverished society into a very complex, rich, and multicultural one.

Bottom line...we can expect attacks like those described in the report noted above by the Northeast Intelligence Network. It then becomes incumbent on both our media and government to keep us advised of the facts and implications about attacks on our society.

Reference:

Testimony of Clark L. Staten, Executive Director and Senior Analyst, Emergency Response & Research Institute, Chicago, IL , Before the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, February 24, 1998, "Foreign Terrorism in the United States: Five years After the World Trade Center," Can be found at: http://www.emergency.com/senate98.htm

Indian Firebombs Cause Concerns For Other Transit Systems

February 23, 2007 1:48 PM

Firebombs Used in India Rail Attack Have U.S. Officials Worried

Richard Esposito, ABCNews, Reports:

The kerosene bombs that killed nearly 70 aboard a highly symbolic India-Pakistan train Feb. 18 have sparked new worry among U.S. law enforcement authorities, who noted the success of the cheap, lethal, easy-to-make-and-deploy terror device, ABC News has learned.

Two suitcases packed with plastic kerosene bottles, planted by exits and triggered by a low-explosive, timed black powder fuse sent tongues of intense flame licking through one rail car aboard the Friendship Express in that militant attack.

Only the fact that two others placed in another car failed to ignite prevented further casualties aboard the train put into service between India and Pakistan in 2004.

U.S. authorities and private intelligence firms have expressed concern that the devices could supplant more complex improvised high explosive devices as a terrorist bomb of choice and that they could be used on U.S. subway and commuter rail lines, according to law enforcement sources and written reports....

Continues at: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/02/firebombs_used_.html

Name Confusion; Emergency.com NOT Associated with "NewsEmergency.com"

16 Feb 2007

ERRI/EMERGENCYNET NEWS HOUSEKEEPING

Name Confusion; Emergency.com NOT Associated with "NewsEmergency.com"

To: All readers

Please be advised that ERRI, Inc, EmergencyNet News, and Emergency.com are in no way associated or affiliated with "<http://www.emergencyemail.org/>", "<the Emergency E-Mail and Wireless Network>," nor "<NewsEmergency.com>"

The Emergency Email Network, Inc. appears to be using the name "NewsEmergency.com," which apparently is causing some confusion among readers...due to it's similarity to the name Emergency.com (our website). We have received customer complaints about this matter.

Please also be aware that "EmergencyNet," "EmergencyNet News," and "Emergency.com" are all registered trademarks of the Emergency Response & Research Institute, Inc. and have been since 1995. EmergencyNet News has been published continiously (in one form or another) via e-mail since 1991, and the Emergency.com website has been on-line and registered internationally since 1994.

Questions, comments, or other issues regarding the intellectual property and/or publications of ERRI, Inc. can be directed to Clark Staten, e-mail: sysop@mail.emergency.com or call 773-631-3774.

Shopping Malls Another Vulnerable Target of Terrorism?

February 13, 2007, 21:07 PM EST

LEAD STORY

Malls Emerge as Another Front in Terror War

WASHINGTON, DC/SALT LAKE CITY, UT: The mall security guard scrutinizes the black backpack lying by the garbage bin. Should he open it? Ignore it? Call police?

In a world increasingly vulnerable to terrorism and random acts of violence like the rampage in a Salt Lake City mall Monday, security experts say that low-paid private security worker may be the front line of protection in one of the nation's most heavily trafficked places. And they question the adequacy of his training -- or of the malls' security measures -- to detect or deter an attack.

"For suburban America, the mall is the gathering place," said Mitchell Moss of New York University's Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response. "It's much more than just a place to shop. It's where huge numbers of people gather to go to the movies, eat and socialize -- therefore, making it a potential terror target."

Roosevelt Field, the state's largest mall, may draw as many as 100,000 people a day at holiday peak -- one reason Nassau police conducted a training exercise there a year after 9/11, based on the scenario of a plane crashing into the mall's food court.

The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly warned that malls are potentially attractive targets for terrorists, although officials say there is no credible intelligence of imminent plots.

It cites al-Qaida training manuals that identify "places of amusement" and "vital economic centers" as targets and a pattern of such attacks worldwide. A Rand Corp. survey documented over 60 attacks since 1998 on shopping centers in places as diverse as Russia, Turkey and Israel.

This country has seen only lone-wolf attacks -- one of the bloodiest Monday night when an 18-year-old Bosnian refugee opened fire on shoppers in a Salt Lake City mall, killing five and wounding four before being gunned down by an off-duty police officer. Police are still investigating his motive.

But such cases underscore how potentially vulnerable the nation's malls and shopping centers are to acts of violence, according to a recent Justice Department report, which found that while many malls have tightened security since September 2001, much more could be done. The report cited inadequate training for low-paid, high-turnover security workers, as well as insufficient drilling and coordination between mall security and first responders.

"Turnover in private security is huge," said author Robert Davis, citing rates as high as 100 percent in some places. "So even if you have a good program and people are trained in it, chances are that at any given moment, half your staff won't know what the plan is."

(Article continues: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usmall0214,0,6107775.story?track=rss ) -- Source: newsday.com, Carol Eisenberg, Feb.13, 2007, 9:07 PM EST

U.S. Mall Security Assessment
By C. L. Staten, Sr. National Security Analyst

ERRI national security analysts have been warning of potential attacks on shopping malls for several (at least five) years, and have been concerned about the level of preparedness and training for private security personnel who patrol these heavily populated properties.

Terrorists, in recent years, have shown a propensity for trying to create "high body counts," and malls fit a profile that could satisfy the deadly objectives of the "bad guys." additionally, and with all due respect to many hard-working mall security personnel...most malls in America just aren't prepared for an assault like we saw in Salt Lake City...or worse, an attack by a team of trained terrorist operatives.

Finally, ERRI analysts said that repeated attacks on malls in multiple locations could have a very negative effect on retail sailes and accomplish another form of "economic warfare" as ascribed by Ayman Zawahiri and other Al-Qaeda proponents (including Abu Zubaydah -- please see reference below). We remain particularly concerned about this threat, particularly during the holiday season, when the malls are often full of shoppers.

ERRI Reference: "11:00CDT - 24 Apr 2002, Another Unconfirmed Zubaydah Statement Provokes Concerns At Shopping Malls," which can be found at: http://www.emergency.com/2001/ter-advsry-sum.htm

[Editor's note: ERRI counter-terrorism analysts prepared a briefing/instruction module to be presented to mall security personnel, in regard to this possible terror threat, shortly after the above April 24th advisory was issued. At that time, little interest was shown by corporate mall owners, as few seemed to believe that malls could emerge as targets of mass casualty incidents.]

Deaths Reported in Utah Mall Shooting

12 Feb. 2007 - 22:00 PM CST

EmergencyNet News *FLASH* Report

Deaths Reported in Utah Mall Shooting

SALT LAKE CITY, UT: According to preliminary Associated Press reports, a gunman entered a shopping mall and began randomly shooting Monday night, hitting several people before he was killed, police said. The incident is thought to have begun at about 18:45 p.m. (local time).

"There have been multiple victims and there are some fatalities. ... I can't confirm the number," police Detective Robin Snyder said outside the Trolley Square Mall. "The suspect has been killed," she said. "We don't know a motive yet," Snyder added.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as five people may have been killed in the incident. Multiple police and ambulance vehicles surrounded the area, as the mall was locked down. A confrontation between the gunman and police was reported, with the gunman being killed. Few details of the "take-down" of the assailant are currently available.

The mall, Trolley Square, contains approximately eighty (80) stores. It is located at 602 S. 500 E. in Salt Lake City.

Sources: KTVX - Channel 4 (ABC), KSTU - Channel 13 (FOX), and emergency service sources

The Journalist and the Jihadi - Daniel Pearl Murder

The Journalist and the Jihadi

Daniel Pearl Kidnap and Murder

In this remarkable two-hour documentary event, originally created and produced as one of HBO?s signature productions and narrated by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Daniel Pearl?s inspiring life and final days are revealed.

Tune in Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. ET (11 and 12 Feb 2007) - CNN (Check your local listings)

Daniel Pearl and Omar Sheikh were both highly educated individuals from privileged backgrounds who saw the world very differently. Pearl was a humanist who became an accomplished journalist and spent most of his career reporting from the Muslim world as part of a quest to promote cross-cultural understanding. Sheikh was radicalized by events that he regarded as the global persecution of Muslims, and became an Islamic militant who chose a deeply violent method to achieve what he believed in. After 9/11, their paths crossed in Pakistan, with tragic consequences.

ERRI Reference:

Series of "Real-Time" EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning the Kidnap of Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl -- 28 Jan to May 22, 2002

http://www.emergency.com/2002/WSJ_kidnap02.htm

Explosion and Multiple Alarm Fire in Kansas City

02/07/2007 15:08:53 PM CST
EmergencyNet News *FLASH* Report

Blast and Major Fire at Chemical Plant in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, MO: Evacuations of nearby homes and businesses are said to be underway in the vicinity of a chemical fire in an industrial area of Kansas City, MO. The name of the plant involved is "ChemCentral," according to unconfirmed reports from the scene.

Many firefighters have been dispatched to the scene of a reported explosion and three-alarm blaze at Front Street and Chestnut, south of the river, in Kansas City. Other sources are telling EmergencyNet News that the location of the incident is Nicholas and N. Garland.

A massive amount of smoke is billowing from the scene. It is not presently known what is burning or if the material(s) are toxic. There are no known reports of injuries or deaths at the time of this report.

According to reports from the scene, the fire is also immediately adjacent to a railroad track with several tank cars that may also contain chemicals. ERRI firefighting/Haz-mat experts said that there appears to be a "exposure problem" with the tank cars and that there may be an additional explosion danger.

EmergencyNet News continues to monitor live video of the incident and we will bring you additional information as circumstances warrant...

DDoS Attacks Reported on DNS Servers Overnight

Hackers attack key Net traffic computers

Posted 2/7/2007 7:41 AM ET
By Ted Bridis, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, DC; USAToday/The Associated Press are reporting that hackers briefly overwhelmed at least three of the 13 computers that help manage global computer traffic Tuesday in one of the most significant attacks against the Internet since 2002.

Experts said the unusually powerful attacks lasted as long as 12 hours but passed largely unnoticed by most computer users, a testament to the resiliency of the Internet. Behind the scenes, computer scientists worldwide raced to cope with enormous volumes of data that threatened to saturate some of the Internet's most vital pipelines.

The Homeland Security Department confirmed it was monitoring what it called "anomalous" Internet traffic.

"There is no credible intelligence to suggest an imminent threat to the homeland or our computing systems at this time," the department said in a statement.

The motive for the attacks was unclear, said Duane Wessels, a researcher at the Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis at the San Diego Supercomputing Center. "Maybe to show off or just be disruptive; it doesn't seem to be extortion or anything like that," Wessels said.

Other experts said the hackers appeared to disguise their origin, but vast amounts of rogue data in the attacks were traced to South Korea.

The attacks appeared to target UltraDNS, the company that operates servers managing traffic for websites ending in "org" and some other suffixes, experts said. Officials with NeuStar, which owns UltraDNS, confirmed only that it had observed an unusual increase in traffic.

Among the targeted "root" servers that manage global Internet traffic were ones operated by the Defense Department and the Internet's primary oversight body.

"There was what appears to be some form of attack during the night hours here in California and into the morning," said John Crain, chief technical officer for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. He said the attack was continuing and so was the hunt for its origin. Article continues at: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2007-02-07-hacker-attack_x.htm?csp=34

ERRI References:

"Series of "Real-time" EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning Denial of Service Attacks on Leading Web Sites on the Internet - 08 Feb 2000 to 16 Feb 2000," (includes diagram of "controller and zombie" computers), can be found at: http://www.emergency.com/2000/dos2000.htm

22 Oct 2002 -- Warnings and Indications: Attack Reported on Root DNS System of Internet

By C. L. Staten, Senior National Security Analyst, Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI)

CHICAGO, IL (EmergencyNet News) -- According to various reports from reputable sources, the internet suffered one of it's most extensive attacks on the servers that route traffic through the rest of the network at about 17:00EDT on Monday. The incident reportedly affected as many as 7 of the 13 world-wide DNS servers. According to federal officials the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) is conducting an inquiry into the incident that lasted about one hour.

The method of attack is called a "distributed denial of service" or "DDOS." It is carried out by commanding multiple computers, that have been previously compromised via a "trojan" or "worm," or other virus and using them to attempt to overwhelm the target server. In the case on Monday, the attacker (s) attempted to compromise the main servers that translate names and numbers into usable references for all computers to locate resources on the internet.

In February 2000, CNN, Amazon.com, eBay, Yahoo, and a number of other commercial and news websites were severely disrupted for several hours due to DDOS attacks. Click here to learn more about DDOS attacks in a: Series of "Real-time" EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning Denial of Service Attacks on Leading Web Sites on the Internet - 08 Feb 2000 to 16 Feb 2000

ERRI computer analysts said that while Monday's attack was serious, that what could be more ominous is a possibility that it may have only been a "probe" or "test of concept" in a larger plan that might occur in the future. The attacks could also have been carried out in an attempt to further undermine confidence in computer systems upon which the U.S. and her allies have grown dependant for their overall military and economic superiority. To achieve the greatest effect, the likelihood is that a more wide-spread or attack of longer duration would be carried out on important infrastructure sites during some sort of other military, terrorist, or political crisis...in an concerted attempt to degrade communications, reduce interoperability, and lessen the cyberspace capabilities of the United States.

http://www.emergency.com/2000/compdefnse-implc.htm

http://www.emergency.com/techthrt.htm

http://www.emergency.com/2000/cybersec2000.htm

Iranian Diplomat Reported Kidnapped in Baghdad

06 February 2007

Gunmen in Iraqi Army Uniforms Kidnap Iranian Diplomat in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms have abducted an Iranian diplomat in Baghdad. A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said it holds the United States responsible for the safety of its diplomat, who was seized in Baghdad's Karradah district late Sunday.

The Iranian spokesman said the kidnappers were linked to Iraq's Defense Ministry "which works under the supervision of American forces." A U.S. military spokesman denied any U.S. involvement in the seizure of the Iranian diplomat.

Iraqi officials say assailants riding in two vehicles intercepted the diplomat's car in the mainly Shi'ite district.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has urged his military commanders to speed up preparations for a security crackdown in Baghdad. The new security plan calls for 90,000 Iraqi and U.S. troops to patrol Baghdad's neighborhoods.

President Bush said Monday it is a good sign the Iraqi government wants the Baghdad security operation to begin. Mr. Bush last month announced his plan to send more U.S. forces to Baghdad.

Source:Voice of America News, http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-02-06-voa10.cfm (Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters)

ERRI/EmergencyNet News ANALYSIS:

Noting the allegations that U.S.-backed forces had kidnapped an Iranian diplomat, ERRI analysts said that their preliminary assessment would suggest that this may have been a "false-flag" operation involving other people disquised as Iraqi soldiers. On at least two previous occasions in recent weeks, insurgents have undertaken attacks while dressed as American or Iraqi forces.

One analyst, very familiar with the situation in Iraq, said that this latest kidnapping may be an attempt to "create a provocation" that would lead to an escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran.

"Much more investigation remains to be done in this case...there are given elements among both Sunni and Shi'ite forces who would/could undertake this kind of an covert act in effort to try to provoke the Iranians to directly attack U.S. and Coalition units in Iraq," one veteran analyst said today.

"The intrigue of 'who is fighting who in Iraq' continues to increase in complexity with each passing day," another ERRI military analyst noted. "Often these days, the hard part is determining who is actually undertaking the attacks as both sides try to misdirect attention and responsibility and yet accomplish their devious goals...that is the history of this region of the world...rarely are things as they appear," he added.

Major Chill Comes to Mid-West - COLD WARNING

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1123 AM CST SAT FEB 3 2007

...DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

.NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 AND 25 MPH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN TODAY.

THESE WIND SPEEDS COMBINED WITH SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES WILL LOWER WIND CHILLS BETWEEN 25 AND 40 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE TO REACH DANGEROUS LEVELS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING WITH THE LOWEST WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED DURING THE MORNING HOURS...WHEN VALUES WILL APPROACH NEAR 50 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. WIND CHILLS FROM 30 TO 40 BELOW WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1119 AM CST SAT FEB 3 2007

...AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS EXPECTED...

.ARCTIC AIR WILL SETTLE ACROSS THE AREA TODAY THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF COLD WEATHER OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN ACROSS THE REGION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BELOW ZERO THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY NIGHT WITH WIND CAUSING WIND CHILLS TO FREQUENTLY FALL BELOW -20 DEGREES.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST TUESDAY.

STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE AND BELOW ZERO WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO TODAY.

EVEN COLDER AIR IS EXPECTED TO SETTLE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY WITH LOW TEMPERATURES GOING WELL BELOW ZERO. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN SOME AREAS MAY NOT GET ABOVE ZERO.

DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE ARCTIC AIR...WIND CHILL WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED FROM TIME TO TIME OVER PARTS OF THE ADVISORY AREA.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS...RESULTING IN FROST BITE AND HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...DRESS IN LAYERS COVERING EXPOSED SKIN. FROSTBITE WILL OCCUR IN A FEW AS 10 MINUTES IN THESE CONDITIONS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
142 PM EST SAT FEB 3 2007

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...

.AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS PUSHING EAST THROUGH SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AT MIDDAY. LAKE EFFECT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG WITH WINDY CONDITIONS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG THE LAKESHORE AND FOR MOST OF THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA FROM INTERSTATE 96 TO INTERSTATE 94. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL RESULT IN FREQUENT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL RANGE FROM

5 TO 20 BELOW ZERO THIS AFTERNOON.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...
..BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING. THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND THIS EVENING. WEST WINDS WILL GUST AT TIMES TO 40 MPH THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING. IT IS DURING THIS TIME THAT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED...WITH FREQUENT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. TRAVEL WILL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

WIND CHILLS OF 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO TODAY WILL LOWER TO 20 TO 30 BELOW TONIGHT. THIS MAY RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...DRESS IN LAYERS AND MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

-- SOURCE: National Weather Service

Additional reference:

COLD Weather injuries
By Paul Anderson, Metro Correspondent
http://www.emergency.com/coldwthr.htm