Wednesday, March 16, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Japan Earthquake - Update

USAID is coordinating the overall U.S. government efforts in support of the Japanese governmentâs response to the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami that hit Friday. The United States has sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Tokyo that includes specialists with nuclear expertise from the Departments of Energy and Health and Human Services as well the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).Â* Two Urban Search and Rescue Teams (LA County and Fairfax County teams) which total 144 members plus 12 search and rescue canines and up to 45 metric tons of rescue equipment are conducting urban search and rescue operations as a part of the international search and rescue response. The Department of Defense has the USS Reagan on station off the coast of Japan and the USS Essex en route. The air facility in Misawa is being used as a forward operating base. The American Red Cross has committed an initial $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross to assist its ongoing efforts to provide medical care and relief assistance following the earthquake and tsunami and is providing an advisor to a high-level support group is led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.The NRC has released information stating that Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.Â*
FEMA has activated the National Incident Management Assistance Team-East (IMAT-East) to coordinate transportation support to the U.S. EPA in the deployment of radiation monitors to Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam.Â* Monitors should arrive in Hawaii and Alaska today, March 16, and Guam, March 17.
Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams from Fairfax County, Virginia (VA-TF1) and Los Angeles County, California (CA-TF2) deployed to Japan on March 12 and are participating with other international search and rescue teams conducting operations in areas affected by the earthquake ad tsunami. The two U.S. teams have joined with UK and China teams conducting grid searches in Ofunato, Japan, approximately 118 miles north-northeast of the Fukushima No. 1 reactor site and about 120 miles from the Fukushima No. 2 reactor site.
Significant National Weather

Northeast
Light to moderate and locally heavy rains will move northeast across northern New England and portions of upstate New York. As this system moves into the Canadian Maritimes Thursday morning, drier conditions will begin to dominate much of the eastern U.S.
South
Dry and warm weather remains in the Southern Plains for the remainder of the week. Warm gusty southerly winds are forecast to develop across the Southern Plains.Â* The combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and the increasing winds will heighten the fire threat for western Oklahoma and west Texas.
Midwest
Mild temperatures are expected in the Northern Plains as a weak cold front moves through with a narrow band of light rain. Expect highs to be around 10 degrees above normal with a fair amount of sunshine.
West
Rain and high elevation snow are forecast from the Pacific Northwest and Northern California through the Northern and Central Great Basin and into the Rockies through Thursday. Some heavy snow accumulations can be expected across the Cascades and Intermountain West over the next two days.(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
New Jersey Flooding

All rivers in New Jersey have fallen below major flood stage and are receding.Â* Most locations are expected to be below flood stage by this weekend. Residents who self-evacuated due to flood waters have begun to return home. Two American Red Cross shelters remain open with a total of 27 occupants. The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC) has returned to Level II (Normal Enhanced Operations.)
River Ice Flooding Update

Warm temperatures will continue to cause snow melt and ice break-up, increasing the risk of flooding due to ice jams in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Ice is still remaining on some rivers in Maine combined with warm temperatures continues to provide a possibility of jams. Runoff from snowmelt is expected to break up ice in parts of Wisconsin later this week, bringing the risk of ice jam flooding.
Montana
Multiple ice jams on the Musselshell River combined with snow melt runoff has caused minor flooding. As the Yellowstone River has begun to run, numerous ice jams, some over 10 miles long, are impacting low lying areas. Jams have formed West of Terry, at Glendive where extensive lowland flooding occurred and near Hathaway, which led to extensive lowland flooding and high water surrounding several structures.
South Dakota
Multiple jams have formed and released along the White River including a jam near theWhite River that led to moderate flooding. The river is expected to remain above flood stage through Friday.
Maine
A jam on the Penobscot River near Lincoln caused road flooding. Jams on the Piscataquis River near Howland and Maxfield led to road flooding.
For more information see the Ice Jam Database: rsgis.crrel.usace.army.mil/icejam/Â*(USACE)Â*
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states:Â* Illinois, Tennessee, Oklahoma, California, Washington and Oregon.


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