Monday, October 31, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast:Â*
Most of the region will be dry today under high pressure. Although temperatures will remain below average (in the 40s in New England and 50s-60s in the Virginias), some snowmelt is expected to continue. A storm system developing near the North Carolina coast will produce rain across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast this evening.
South:
Showers and thunderstorms will spread slowly north across southern Florida. Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect through this afternoon as a result of expected rainfall rates of up to 1-2 inches per hour.
Midwest:
Light rain is possible across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley through this evening. Gusty winds and low relative humidity will increase the risk of fire danger across portions of Missouri and adjacent Kansas
West:
A cold front will move southeast from Canada into Montana and Idaho this morning. Rain and high elevation snow are expected to begin across the Pacific Northwest. Above average temperatures will spread from the Great Basin into the Northern Plains ahead of the cold front.

October Nor'easter (Oct. 28-30)

Current Situation: The rare October Norâeaster that began on Friday evening exited the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Sunday and left approximately 3.2 million customers without power. Snow totals across the region ranged from 4-6 inches of snow in Rhode Island to over 30 inches in portions of New Hampshire. Recovery activities continue across many states as snow removal, downed trees and power outage issues linger. Major airports have resumed normal operations. Most major transportation routes in the Northeast that were closed over the weekend roads have reopened; clearing continues on secondary routes.
Critical Transportation:
Amtrak service is disrupted for the Lake Shore Limited train that runs between Albany, N.Y. and Boston.
New Jersey transit service was disrupted between Morristown and Gladstone, Union and Newark, and the New Jersey coast over the weekend, but will resume operations this morning.
Fatalities/Injuries/Missing:
There are two unconfirmed storm-related fatalities; however, the media is reporting up to eleven fatalities in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
FEMA Region I
The RRCC is activated to Level III (Situational Awareness Watch only) from 7 a.m. EDT to 5 p.m. EDT. The Regional Watch Center is at Watch/Steady State (24/7). The established JFOs/IMATs are able to provide response support if needed. State Liaison Officers are deployed to Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
State/Local Response
The record setting snowstorm produced 4-6 inches of snow in Rhode Island, and between 19 and 31 inches across New Hampshire. At lower elevations in Vermont, four inches of snow was confirmed and up to 16 inches in were reported at higher elevations. Power Restoration: As of 10 a.m. EDT, Oct. 30:

• There were 150,234 customers without power in Maine
• Approximately 763,753 customers without power in Connecticut
• Approximately 10,520 customers without power in Rhode Island
• Approximately 593,741 customers without power in Massachusetts
• Approximately 353,151 customers without power in New Hampshire
• Approximately 4,247 customers without power in Vermont

Massachusetts
The Governor declared a State of Emergency and activated the Emergency Operations Center
As of 6 p.m. EDT, Oct 30 there were 10 shelters/warming centers open with 0 occupants.
New Hampshire
The State EOC is Partially Activated. There is one shelter open with 0 occupants.
Vermont
The State EOC is Partially Activated.
Connecticut
The Governor declared a State of Emergency and activated the Emergency Operations Center on Saturday Oct. 29. EOCs are open in six counties (Danbury, Waterbury, New Cannan, Westport, New Haven and Norwich). As of 6 p.m. EDT, Oct. 30 there were 41 shelters/warming centers open with 147 occupants.

FEMA Region II
The RRCC is not activated; the Regional Watch Center is at a Watch/Steady State. The RWC is maintaining contact with the New York State Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center.Â*
State/Local Response
The State of New York received between 12 and 17.9 inches of snow, while New Jersey received between 14 and 19 inches of snow this weekend. Recovery activities continue across the state. Power outages remain the major issue and restoration is ongoing. Power Restoration:

• As of 6 p.m. EDT Oct. 30, there were 597,083customers without power in New Jersey.
• As of 10 a.m. EDT Oct. 30, there were 263,155 customers without power in New York.

New Jersey
The Governor declared a State of Emergency on Oct. 29. NJ ROIC is activated to Level III (Partial Activation). Two hospitals and two senior residences remain on backup power. Residents were evacuated from one of the nursing homes; restoration date is unknown. Four shelters are open across the state with six occupants; additional warming shelters are open.
New York
New York OEM is activated to Level III (Partial Activation); New York City OEM is also at Level III.
Five shelters are open with twenty occupants; warming shelters are also open across the state.
Approximately 80 residents of an adult care facility on Westchester County have been evacuated to a shelter.
FEMA Region III
Region III Regional Watch Center is at a Watch/Steady State. JFO and field operations in Pennsylvania supporting FEMA-4025-DR and 4030-DR were closed over the weekend and will reopen this morning.
State/Local Response
The number of power outages has decreased and restoration efforts continue across the Region. As of 11:15 p.m. EDT, Oct. 30:

• • Maryland had 6,500 customers without power
  • Virginia had 10, 600 customers without power
  • Pennsylvania had 307,000 customers without power
  • West Virginia had 14,937 customers without power.

Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth EOC remains activated to Level III (Enhanced Activation) since Sept. 20 as a result of Tropical Storm Lee.
Federal Response
The National Response Coordination Center is not activated. The National Watch Center remains at Watch/Steady State and is providing situational awareness reporting to FEMA leadership and the Regions affected by the storm. National IMATs Red and Blue are available for deployment. National IMAT White is deployed to the Virginia JFO. All 28 Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces are mission capable and available.
FEMA Logistics Support:
The State of Connecticut requested four truck-loads of water (64,800 liters) be delivered to the JFO in Windsor. The request is being processed.

Space Weather

No space weather storms observed the past 24 hours and none are predicted for the next 24 hours.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern Pacific
No tropical cyclone formations at this time.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity is expected through Tuesday evening.
Western Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity.

Earthquake Activity

At 3:16 a.m. EDT a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the Rat Islands of the Aleutian Island Chain, Alaska. The quake occurred 24 miles NNE of the Kiska Volcano at a depth of 99.7 miles. No damage or injuries were reported and a tsunami was not generated.
Wildfire Update

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


More...