Thursday, June 24, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Today, severe thunderstorms remain a threat across the northern plains. The strongest storms may produce damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes. Flood Watches and Warnings remain in effect across the Midwest. River gauges on the Mississippi River from Burlington, Iowa to Cape Girardeau, Kentucky continue to report moderate flooding. Flooding is expected to continue on the Illinois River from Henry to Beardstown through most of the week. River gauges along the James River, in South Dakota, are indicating major flooding from Stratford to Mitchell. River levels are slowly falling, but major flooding is expected to continue through the end of the month.
Northeast
Thunderstorms will be on the increase today, across all of eastern New York and western New England. There is a slight risk of these thunderstorms becoming severe, with damaging wind gusts in excess of 58 mph possible. Other scattered thunderstorm activity is forecast from West Virginia to Maine throughout the day. The storms should develop in the heat of the day as temperatures rise into the 80s and very low 90s. A few areas along the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to the Virginia/North Carolina border could approach 100 degrees. Heat advisories will remain in effect through this evening across the Mid-Atlantic.
South
Very hot and humid conditions will continue across the south today and heat indices are expected to be between 95 and 110 degrees from the Carolinas to eastern Texas. Overnight lows in the mid 70s to low 80s will provide little relief as this pattern continues through the weekend. The only relief from hot weather today will come in the form of scattered thunderstorms, as a cold front moves into the mid-south. Areas most likely to experience a cooling thunderstorm are southeastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, Florida, northern Carolina and the southern Appalachian Mountains. Heat advisories remain in effect for much of the mid-south, except portions of northwest Tennessee
West
The threat of showers and thunderstorms across the Pacific Northwest today will be limited to central Washington and central Oregon. A weak high pressure system should bring drier and warmer conditions to the region this weekend. Today, scattered thunderstorms will also develop in the afternoon heat over eastern Colorado and eastern New Mexico.
(NOAA and media sources)
Â*Â*
Severe Weather

June Flood Response and Recovery - Update
Background:
Heavy rains from June 11-13 led to flooding in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, northern Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. In early June, heavy rain and warm temperatures resulted in rapid snowmelt-induced flooding across portions of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. On June 23, severe weather affected northern Illinois, northwest Indiana and Ohio. High winds and flooding were the main threats from these storms; however, several reports of funnel clouds were received throughout the event. Flood watches and warnings remain in effect for the affected areas.
FEMA Response:
The Regions V, VII and VIII Regional Response Coordination Centers are activated at Level III and local IMAT teams are on alert to support flood response and recovery. FEMA liaisons are deployed to the Indiana and Minnesota Emergency Operations Centers. USACE (ESF-3) representatives are activated to provide flood-fighting expertise. There have been no additional requests for federal assistance.
(NOAA, FEMA HQ)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel to the National Integration Center and additional Logistics and External Affairs support to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator. FEMA leads the Social Services and Small Business Interagency Working Group (Claims and Benefits).
Booming, skimming and in situ burn operations continue as weather permits, and relief well drilling continues. The estimated oil spill rate has been revised to between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day. Approximately 78,597 sq miles, or 33 percent, of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone is closed to commercial and recreational fishing.
(NIC Daily Situation Update)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
A tropical wave located over the western Caribbean Sea continues to produce showers and a few thunderstorms across portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the adjacent waters of the northern Caribbean Sea. Although the low-level circulation of the wave appears to be improving, the associated shower activity still lacks organization and is located mainly to the east of the wave axis. Upper-level winds appear conducive for some slow development of this system as it moves westward or west-northwestward around 10 mph over the next couple of days. A U.S. Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft is tentatively scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon, if necessary. There is a medium chance (40 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are also affecting Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands, but are not directly associated with the tropical wave.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane CeliaÂ*Â*Â*
At 2:00 a.m. PDT, the center of Hurricane Celia, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was located about 735 miles south of the southern tip of Baja, California. Celia is moving toward the west near 13 mph, and a turn toward the west-northwest is expected over the next day or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph, with occasional higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles. This storm poses no threat to U.S. interests.
Tropical Storm DarbyÂ*
At 2:00 a.m. PDT, Tropical Storm Darby was located about 295 miles south-southwest of Salina Cruz, Mexico. Darby is moving west-northwest near 12 mph and it will continue this direction with a slight decrease in forward speed during the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Darby could become a hurricane later today. This storm is not a threat to any U.S. interests.
Central and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday evening.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

International
On Jun 23, at 1:41 p.m. EDT, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred 35 miles northeast of Ottawa, Canada at a depth of 10.2 miles. No damage or injuries were reported.
(USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Wildfire Activity
National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, June 23, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity:Â* Light (106 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 13, states affected:Â* AK, AZ, NM, CO, CA & TX
Schultz Fire, Arizona
The Shultz Fire, near Flagstaff (Coconino County), Arizona, is burning 14,000 acres with 20% contained. Power lines, municipal watershed & pipelines, buried gas lines & communications sites are threatened. All evacuation orders were lifted.Â* A Type 1 Incident Management Team is in command. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved on June 20, 2010 (FEMA-2846-FM-AZ).
(NIFC, FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

South Dakota
Amendment No. 2 for FEMA-1915-DR-SD was approved on June 20, 2010 to close incident period for this declaration on June 20, 2010. (FEMA HQ)
(FEMA HQ)



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