Tuesday, August 31, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast
High pressure remains locked over the Northeast, it will be sunny but warm, with temperatures in the 90s with low humidity.
Midwest
A cold front moving through the Midwest will extend from Lake Superior to northern Kansas by this evening. A second round of severe thunderstorms will develop today ahead of the front from the Upper Midwest to the central Plains. The main threat from these storms will be damaging wind gusts, but hail and tornadoes may also be possible. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly as the front passes through the region.Â*
West
Showery rain is expected today across parts of Washington and Oregon, and will transition to scattered thunderstorms in Idaho and Montana. The Northwest will remain cool with temperatures 5 to 20 degrees below average. Highs across the lower elevations will peak in the 60s and 70s.
South
Thunderstorms are expected in the Gulf Coast region and southern Plains with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s across most areas. The weather will remain relatively quiet until Hurricane Earl begins to move toward the coastal Carolinas later in the week.Â*Â*
(NOAA and media sources)Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

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

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:Â*
Hurricane Earl is a strong Category Four storm located 190 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico moving west-northwest at 13 mph. The storm has sustained winds near 135 mph with hurricane winds extending out 70 miles from the center and tropical storm winds extending out 200 miles from the center. Earl is expected to continue northwest during the next 48 hours and move over the open Atlantic.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands but conditions should gradually subside. Another few inches of rain is possible across these areas and heavy accumulations over the past two days could cause dangerous mudslides. The U.S. East Coast especially the Carolinas to New England should closely monitor the progress of Earl.
Now is the time to review local evacuation routes, make an emergency plan to keep in touch with family members during an emergency and for those who live further inland and may lose electrical power for an extended period; stock up on supplies and make the necessary preparations to shelter in place. For more information on what you need to do to prepare for an emergency, seeÂ*www.ready.gov.
FEMA HeadquartersÂ*
The National Response Coordination Center activated to 24/7 operations today and Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) from FEMA Regions V, IX, and X are deploying to Region I to prepare for possible storm impact in New England.
FEMA Region IIÂ*
FEMA Region II Region Response Coordination Center is operating from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Emergency Support Functions and the Defense Coordinating Element is activated until further notice. Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs), Defense Coordinating Officers and two Federal Coordinating Officers were sent to the Caribbean Area Division in advance of the storm. FEMA liaisons are working with local officials out of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Emergency Operations Centers.
Also in the Atlantic
Tropical Storm Fiona is located about 590 miles east of the Leeward Islands moving toward the west-northwest near 24 mph but is expected to slow down and move northwest during the next 48 hours. The storm has maximum sustained winds around 40 mph and is expected to pass near or northeast of the northern Leeward Islands early Wednesday.Â*
Another broad area of low pressure, associated with a tropical wave, is about 400 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Development, if any, is expected to be slow to occur as this system moves westward at 15 mph. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern PacificÂ*
A broad area of low pressure is located 400 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico moving northwest about 10 mph. There is a medium chance, near 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)Â*
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 Monday, August 30, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (115 new fires), new large fires: 5, large fires contained: 5
Uncontained large fires:Â* 26, U.S. States affected: ID, OR, WA, MT, CA, HI, MO & OK
(NIFC)Â*
Washington State
The Slide Creek Fire is located in Stevens County, six miles south of Colville, WA. The fire has burned 989 acres and is now 90 percent contained. There are no reported injuries or fatalities. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved on Aug 27.
The Highway 8 Complex Fire is located in Klickitat County just north of Lyle, WA. The fire has burned more than two thousand acres and is now 85 percent contained. There are no reported injuries or fatalities.Â*Â*
Idaho
The Hurd Fire is located northwest of Cascade, Idaho and has burned 1,331 acres. It is 70% contained and there are no reported injuries or fatalities. FMAG-2853 was approved on Aug 26.Â*
(HQ FEMA)
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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