Tuesday, September 20, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
The region will be generally dry with just a few afternoon thunderstorms across the mountains of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. Gusty winds are forecast for Montana.
Midwest:
A frontal system over the Upper Midwest will produce precipitation from the Plains to the Great Lakes. Thunderstorms are possible especially near the Great Lakes. Northwesterly winds gusting from 40-60 mph are forecast for the Dakotas.
South:
The Texas panhandle and Oklahoma may see a few showers and thunderstorms. Eastern Texas, Arkansas and northern Louisiana will be dry under a ridge of high pressure. The Southeast will have widespread rain and thunderstorms. Some areas will receive as much as an inch of rain in heavy downpours and localized flooding is likely.
Northeast:
A frontal system moving into the region will produce widespread rain. Higher elevations of the Mid-Atlantic will receive as much as an inch of rain in heavy downpours and localized flooding is likely.

Northeast and Atlantic Storms Response/Recovery

Vermont
2 shelters are open with 33 occupants.
New York
Six shelters are open with 159 occupants.
Pennsylvania
Fourteen (no change) water treatment facilities affected in 11 counties have issued 15 (no change) boil-water advisories. There are 7 shelters are open with 161 occupants.
Virginia
There is 1 shelter open with 95 occupants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic /Caribbean /Gulf
Area 1 (Invest 98L)
At 2:00 a.m. EDT September 20, 2011, a large low pressure system is located about 1,500 miles east of the Windward Islands. Thunderstorm activity is gradually increasing, and environmental conditions are expected to remain conducive for the development of a tropical depression during the next couple of days. This system has a high chance (70 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves westward at 5 to 10 mph.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Area 1 (Invest 96L)
At 2:00 a.m. EDT September 20, 2011, a low pressure system located about 225 miles southeast of Puerto Escondido Mexico continues to show signs of improved organization. Conditions are expected to remain favorable for increased development of this disturbance over the next couple of days, as it moves west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph. This system has a medium chance (50 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No Tropical Cyclones expected through Wednesday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Monday, September 19, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: Light (89 new fires)
New Large Fires: 0
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 5
Type 1 IMT Committed: 4
Type 2 IMT Committed: 6
States affected: TX, OR, CA, ID, MT, and MN.
Wild Fire Activity
Minnesota
Pagami Creek Fire (St. Louis County, MN) As of September 19 a total of 93,898 acres have burned; the fire is 19% contained. Evacuations have been modified for permanent residents for portions of Cook County. The Minnesota EOC remains at Level III (Partial Activation). There are 565 people and multiple air resources assigned, including thirteen helicopters, five float planes, five air tankers, and three aerial supervision platforms. Local, national, and international resources have assisted in the fire fighting and public safety efforts. There have been no unmet needs reported to the state. No FEMA assistance has been requested. There have been no FMAG requests at this time.
Texas
On September 19, the Texas Forestry Service (TFS) responded to 4 new fires that burned 5 acres. In the past 7 days, TFS has responded to 88 fires that burned 14,606 acres.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-4031-DR-NY adds 1 county (Chemung) for Individual Assistance.
Amendment No. 3 to FEMA-4029-DR-TX adds 2 counties (Cass, Marion) for Individual Assistance.



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