Monday, March 14, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast:
With high pressure dominating much of the Northeast on Monday, fair and dry weather can be expected across most of the region. Some light snow showers and a few flurries are possible in southwest New York with little or no accumulation expected. Temperatures will range from near average to 10 degrees below average with highs ranging from the upper 20s in northern Maine to the 40s and low 50s in the Mid-Atlantic. Rain will return to the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday and overspread the region by midweek.
South:
Rain and thunderstorms will develop from eastern Texas and Arkansas to North Carolina with more than two inches of rain possible in northwest Tennessee. Below average temperatures expected from the Mid-South to the Mid-Atlantic with above average temperature in the Deep South from south Texas to Florida and Georgia. Rain and thunderstorms can be expected across portions of the Southeast on on Monday, with dry conditions returning for the remainder of the week.
Midwest:
Rain and snow can be expected from the Plains through the Ohio Valley today. Moderate and heavy snowfall will fall across eastern Kansas this evening and move across Missouri later tonight, with three to six inches of snow likely. On Monday, showers will extend from the Middle Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley. Below average temperatures are expected in the Northern Plains and near the Great Lakes.
West:
Rain and mountain snow will affect most of the Northwest as another Pacific storm moves inland toward the Northern Plains. Snow levels range from 3,000 feet in the Cascades to 6,000 feet in the central Sierras with up to a foot additional snow in the Washington Cascades and Olympics Mountains. Wind gusts as high as 60 to 70 mph are possible across northwest Montana. ((National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Severe Weather across the Eastern U.S. â Mar 10

Widespread heavy precipitation occurred across much of the eastern United States with severe weather reported across the region. A combination of the precipitation, melting snow and saturated soil created numerous hazardous flood conditions. Regional weather forecasts included potential tornados, flash flood warnings/watches, winter storm warnings/advisories, and severe thunderstorm watches. Near record flooding remained a possibility in some areas in the Northeast.
New Jersey
The NJ Department of Environment Protection is using high profile vehicles to assist the affected counties and have vessels on standby. More than 2,250 New Jersey residents self evacuated due to flooding.
(Passaic County)Â*
The county prosecutor activated their County Rapid Deployment Team to bring a greater law enforcement and security presence to the flood affected area. The American Red Cross has two shelters are open with 54 occupants, and has initiated mobile bulk distribution routes in affected areas. (FEMA Region II)Â*
Maryland
(Harford County)Â*
A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved March 11, 2011. Approximately 6,200 acres have been burned on state and private land. The fire is 75 percent contained. (FEMA Region III)Â*
Daviess County levee in Indiana - Update

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for the Daviess County levee along the White River in Indiana until 7:30 am EDT, March 14. The Indiana Homeland Security and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are currently on the scene. USACE personnel have confirmed the water is flowing into the White River. There are reports that residents of a Maysville trailer park, and surrounding areas, west and northwest of the town of Washington, could be impacted. The Daviess County Emergency Management, IDHS, and USACE continue to monitor the situation.

Earthquake Activity

Japan Earthquake - Update
Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant
As of midnight, March 14, 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that all four units of the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant automatically shut down on March 11. The units have off-site power and the water levels in all units are stable. There has been no venting to control pressure at any of the plant's units.
The Unit 1 operators were able to restore a residual heat remover system, which is now being used to cool the reactor. Work is in progress to achieve a cold shutdown of the reactor.
The Unit 2 and 4 workers are trying to restore residual heat removal systems. Plant #3 is in a safe, cold shutdown.
The radiation dose rate measurements observed at the four locations around the plant's perimeter over a 16-hour period March 13 were all normal.
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Unit 1 is being powered by mobile power generators on site, and work continues to restore power to the plant. There is currently no power via off-site power supply or backup diesel generators being provided to the plant. Seawater and boron are being injected into the reactor vessel to cool the reactor. The containment building was destroyed due to the explosion on March 12.
Unit 2 is being powered by mobile power generators on site, and work continues to restore power to the plant. There is neither off-site power supply nor backup diesel generators providing power to the plant. The reactor core is being cooled through reactor core isolation cooling. The current reactor water level is lower than normal, but remains steady. The containment building is intact at Unit 2.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has informed the IAEA that an explosion occurred at 11:01 a.m. local Japan time at the Unit 3 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Unit 3 does not have off-site power supply nor backup diesel generators providing power to the plant. The high pressure injection system and other attempts to cool the reactor core have failed. The injection of water and boron into the reactor vessel has commenced. The water levels inside the reactor vessel increased steadily for a time, but the water level inside the pressure vessel is no longer showing an increase.

All personnel at the site are accounted for, but six people have been injured. The reactor building exploded but the primary containment vessel was not damaged. The control room of unit 3 remains operational.
Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant
The radioactivity levels at the site boundary of the Onagawa nuclear power plant have returned down to normal background levels. Investigations at the site indicate that no emissions of radioactivity have occurred from any of the three units at Onagawa.

Impacts (Reported by the Government of Japan)
The National Police Agency of Japan has reported 1,353 fatalities / 1,085 missing; media reports higher numbers. Roughly 2,050 evacuation centers are open with approximately 380,000 occupants. Â*Â*

Today, rolling electricity blackouts will begin for 13 out of 23 wards in Tokyo.Â*Â*Some cities where U.S. bases are located will be included in the blackouts.

U.S. Government Assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) remains at Watch/Steady State. All FEMA Regions and State and Territory EOCs activated in response to the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami have returned to Watch/Steady State. There have been no additional damages reported from Region IX or X, as a result of the Pacific tsunami. There have been no requests for FEMA assistance at this time.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID is coordinating the overall U.S. government efforts. Â*A Response Management Team has been established at the Department of State in DC.
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)
Seven members have arrived in Tokyo and four in Misawa. There are three additional members scheduled to arrive later today, in Tokyo.Â*Â*The teams are comprised of personnel with nuclear expertise from the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, as well two individuals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with expertise in boiling water nuclear reactors.
Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
There are two US&R teams (LA County, CA-TF2 and Fairfax County, VA-TF1) on the ground in Misawa, Japan. These teams consist of 144 members, plus 12 search and rescue canines and up to 45 metric tons of rescue equipment. They will begin rescue efforts today, in Ofunato town, Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan.Â*USAID and DoD is coordinating the movement of US&R equipment to operating location due to over the road transportation limitations.Â*
Department of Defense (DoD)Â*
The USS Ronald Reagan is stationed off the coast of Japan and the USS Essex en route. They will use the air facility in Misawa as a forward operating base.

On March 13, four helicopters from the USS Ronald Reagan detected radiological material while carrying out a humanitarian mission. As a result, the Navy has ordered all of their vessels to remain more than 100 nautical miles off shore until an assessment of the impact of contamination on operations is completed. One on the contaminated helicopters had visited a Japan Self Defense Forces vessel, approximately 60 nautical miles northeast of Fukushima.Â*Â*The other three had engaged in ship-to-shore overland flights 60-70 nautical miles north of Fukushima.

American Red Cross (ARC)
The ARC International Services team is supporting the Japanese Red Cross Society to assess the impact, determine response efforts, and assist the people of Japan.Â*
International Overview and Reactions
Germany has warned their citizens against traveling to northeast Japan, and is organizing a bus to evacuate German residents in Sendai to Tokyo. Germany and Finland are going to authorized departure status for eligible family members.Â*Â*

To date, Japan has accepted offers of assistance from 69 countries.Â*Â*US&R teams from ten countries have arrived and 17 additional teams from other countries are on standby.
Korea, Australia and New Zealand will be sending military personnel to support humanitarian aid missions. (HHS,NRC, DOS, IAEA)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: Tennessee, Louisiana and Washington.
Wildfire Update

Texas
Enmin FireÂ*(Jack County)Â*
The Fire Management Assistant Grant (FMAG) was approved on March 11, 2011. Approximately 7,555 acres have been burned on state and private land. The fire is approximately 60 percent contained.
Big Trickle Ranch Fire Â*(Bosque County)Â*
A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved March 11, 2011. Approximately 6,200 acres have been burned on state and private land. The fire is 75 percent contained. (Region VI, TX SOC)Â*
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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