Wednesday, November 9, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Conditions will be predominantly dry across the West, with the exception of light rain and mountain snow in portions of Washington State associated with a storm system moving over British Columbia. Santa Ana winds are expected over California throughout the day, winds may reach up to 50 mph in some areas.
South:
The storm system exiting the Southern Plains will continue to move northeast through the Middle Mississippi Valley and into the Great Lakes. Thunderstorms are possible again today in portions of the Southeast and Tennessee Valley. Cooler temperatures are expected behind the storm system. Lows near freezing are possible as far south as central Oklahoma tonight.
Midwest:
The first significant snow of the season is expected to impact portions of northern and central Wisconsin and upper Michigan with accumulations of 3-10 inches before the storm begins to diminish tonight. Strong winds, up to 50 mph, are also expected across the area. Locally heavy rain is possible in southern Michigan through this evening.
Northeast:
Most of the Region will remain dry today with seasonable temperatures.Â*Â*

Severe Storms Western Alaska

A powerful and extremely dangerous storm of near record or record magnitude is impacting the west coast of Alaska. The storm is bringing extremely strong winds to all of the Alaska west coast, accompanied by widespread major coastal flooding and potential severe beach erosion over many parts of the coastline. Coastal areas will experience sustained winds of 55-75 mph with winds gusting 90-100 mph. Water levels will rise as much as 9 feet in some areasâsustained sea levels may last 24 hours. Seas are forecast to crest in Nome, AK on Wednesday. Four to seven inches of snow is expected across the region today, daytime high temperatures near 30 degrees will then drop to near 20 degrees in the evening.
State/Local Response:
The AK State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated to Level III with the AK Departments of Transportation, Health and Social Services (24/7). AK National Guard assets are available in Bethel and Nome, AK to assist with evacuation and transportation of response personnel. The State is preparing personnel for possible Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT) response operations. Approximately 115 residents have voluntarily evacuated from low lying, coastal locations in the communities of Nome, Teller and Govin. Local community shelters are open with minimal occupancy reported; most residents are sheltering in place.
Federal Response:
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated to Level III (24/7) with Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS), Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 1,3,12 and 15, and liaisons from NOAA, Department of Defense, US Coast Guard (USCG). FEMA Region X RRCC is activated to Level II with ESFs 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 15, USCG, and Defense Coordinating Element. Core personnel from the Region X Incident Management Assistant Team (IMAT) and two liaisons are deployed to AK; teams will work to identify current capabilities and potential shortfalls. Region X is updating rosters for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment teams. A staging area will be established at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, AK. The US Coast Guard forward deployed helicopters to Dutch Harbor, Cold Bay and Kings Cove to support potential response operations.

Emergency Alert System Test

FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in close coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), will conduct the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 2:00 p.m. EST today, November 9, 2011. The purpose of the test is to assess how well the Emergency Alert System would perform its primary function: alerting the public about a national emergency. Although the Emergency Alert System and its predecessors have been in existence for more than 50 years there has never been a nationwide test of these capabilities.
The test will occur simultaneously across the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. It will last approximately 30 seconds, after which regular programming will resume.
The test will be similar to local emergency alert system tests; an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is a test.” It will appear on all broadcast radio and television stations, cable television systems, satellite radio and television systems, and wireline video service systems. Landlines, mobile phones and other infrastructure such as power grids will not be involved.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, wireline video providers, satellite digital audio radio service providers and direct broadcast satellite service providers to make their communications facilities available to the President during a national emergency. It may also be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER (child abduction) alerts and severe weather warnings targeted to specific geographical regions or areas.
For additional information on the Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System, visit: www.fema.gov/eastest/

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of MexicoÂ*

Tropical Storm SeanÂ*Â*
The center of Tropical Storm Sean is located about 445 miles southwest of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph moving west at 3 mph. A turn toward the north is expected over the next 24 hours followed by a turn toward the northeast and increase in forward speed on Thursday. Winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the center.

Eastern, Central and Western Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity is occurring or forecast.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity
Tuesday, November 8, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 1 Initial Attack Activity: Light (35 new fires)
New Large Fires: 0 Large Fires Contained: 0 Uncontained Large Fires: 3
Type 1 IMT Committed: 0 Type 2 IMT Committed: 0 State(s) Affected: MO & MN
Disaster Declaration Activity

Vermont
On November 8, 2011, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4043-DR for the State of Vermont for Severe Storms and Flooding occurring May 20, 2011. Specifically, the declaration provides Public Assistance for Franklin, Washington, and Windham Counties. All counties in the State of Vermont are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The FCO is James N. Russo of the National FCO Program.
District of Columbia
On November 8, 2011, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4044-DR for the District of Columbia for the Earthquake for the period August 23-28, 2011. The declaration provides Public Assistance for the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The FCO is Kim R. Kadesch of the National FCO Program.
Virginia
The Governor has requested a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of Tropical Storm Lee on September 8, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for the counties of Caroline, Essex, Fairfax, King and Queen, King George, Prince William, and Westmoreland and the City of Alexandria. The Governor is also requesting Hazard Mitigation statewide.

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