Wednesday, July 21, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Thunderstorms and perhaps one or two thunderstorm complexes will affect an area from the western Dakotas, Nebraska and northern Kansas to Ohio and Kentucky. Some of these storms could become severe, with damaging wind gusts and downpours of 1 to 3 inches of rain, possibly causing flash flooding. High humidity will continue to affect the region from the Ohio Valley to Nebraska.
Northeast
Thunderstorms are possible throughout the Northeast. Some of the storms could become severe, with damaging wind gusts and downpours of 1 to 3 inches of rain. South-central and southeast Virginia will see high temperatures from the upper 90s to almost 100 degrees â 10 degrees above average.
South
The region will remain dry except for eastern Texas, southern Louisiana, and parts of Tennessee, which may see thunderstorms.
West
Scattered thunderstorms are possible from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico. Some of these storms could become severe in eastern Montana, eastern Wyoming, and northeast Colorado; the primary threat will be damaging wind, large hail, and heavy rainfall.Â*(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)

XXI Central American and Caribbean Games: July 17 â August 1, 2010

Overview
The games continue as scheduled.
Federal/FEMA Response
FEMA Region II is at Level III (24/7) for the duration of the Games. Caribbean Area Division personnel are staffing the Multiagency Coordination Center (MACC) in Puerto Rico.
Flooding on the Rio Grande River, Texas â Update
NWS reports that Flood Warnings continue for the Rio Grande River. The Rio Grande River at Rio Grande City remains at Major Flood Stage, but appears to have crested and is slowly receding. The river: flood elevation was recorded at 55.69 feet, as of 1:15 a.m. EDT on July 21. The Rio Grande River at Laredo and at Columbia Bridge is at Minor Flood Stage, and continues to recede. Flood operations continue at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs. Releases from the Falcon Reservoir were 60,040 cfs, and 12,360 cfs at Amistad and the pool elevation for the Falcon Reservoir continues to fall. Mandatory evacuations continue for the subdivisions of de la Garza, Campo Verde, and Garza in the City of Roma; some areas in the City of La Grulla (Starr County) and the City of Los Ebanos. Voluntary evacuations continue in the cities of La Joya, and in Penitas and south of the city of Pharr (both in Hidalgo County) due to flooding.Â* (FEMA Region VI, DHS/NOC Steady State Incident Report, TX SOC SITREP, media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel and equipment support.Â* The oil flow remains secured. The capping stack developed five minor gasket leaks and hydrate formation continues to be monitored and evaluated with no acoustic or visual anomalies noted. The well integrity test remains satisfactory and pressure has increased. Coastline impact has increased to approximately 630.7 miles, impacting AL, FL, LA, MS, and TX. Clean up crews in Alabama covered more than 40 miles of shoreline on July 19 â the largest effort to date in a single operational period. Tar balls were removed from Perdido Pass and the beach between Wrecking Ball and Laguna Key. A decontamination team is being stood up in Louisiana. Clean up crews in Mississippi responded to light impact on Cat and Ship Islands.(NIC Daily Situation Update, DHS NOC SLB, Deepwater Horizon Response and FL Situation Report)Â*
Cowiche Mills Fire Update

The fire started on Sunday, July 18, at approximately 3:30 p.m. PDT; cause unknown. High heat, low humidity, and high winds have driven the fire to spread quickly; currently approximately 6,200 acres have burned with 35% contained. Three residential structures have burned; approximately 150 residential structures remain threatened.
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG):

No activity.(FEMA HQ)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:Â*
A tropical wave located near the eastern Dominican Republic and extending northward over the Atlantic Ocean for a few hundred miles is moving west northwestward at 10 mph. There is a high chance (70%) of this system becoming a tropical depression or a tropical storm during the next 48 hours. Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall associated with this system are likely to affect the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, eastern Cuba, Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands during the 48 hours. The heavy rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides in mountainous areas.
Eastern and Central Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclone activity expected in the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No systems affecting U.S. interests.(NOAA, NWS, NHC, CPHC JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, July 20, 2010:

• Initial attack activity: Light (182 new fires)
• New large fires: 4
• Large fires contained: 3
• Uncontained large fires: 8

States Affected: CA, WA, CO, MT, ID, AZ & AK.Â*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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