Saturday, September 3, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Hurricane Irene Response

Current Situation:
Operations remain focused on sustaining response capabilities and robustly execute recovery capabilities; specifically performing preliminary damage assessments and establishing disaster recovery centers. DRCs are open in Vermont.
Maine
Approximately 1,500 customers remain without power.
New Hampshire
Two shelters open with 10 occupants.
Vermont
Seven shelters open with 100 occupants.
Massachusetts
Two shelters are open with 4 occupants.
Approximately 30,884 customers remain without power.
Connecticut
Four shelters are open with 18 occupants. Approximately 72,822 customers remain without power.
Rhode Island
Approximately 33,292 customers remain without power.

New York
Response and recovery operations are ongoing across the state. Approximately 132,523 customers remain without power.Ten shelters are open with 117 occupants.

New Jersey
Eleven shelters are open with 550 occupants. Approximately 45,614 customers remain without power.The Passaic River at Pine Brook and Little Falls remain at Flood Stage, though river levels are receding and should fall below flood stage by the end of the week.
Puerto Rico
Two shelters are open with 73 occupants.
Virginia
Approximately 102,138 customers remain without power.
Maryland
Approximately 40,365 customers remain without power.
Pennsylvania
Approximately 9,400 customers remain without power.
North Carolina
Five shelters open with 137 occupants. Approximately 11,661 customers remain without power.

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms associated with a passing cold front will move across the Midwest this afternoon. Storms may become severe from the Mid-Mississippi Valley into Lower Michigan, with damaging winds and hail possible. Above average temperatures are expected across portions of the Ohio Valley; Heat Advisories are in effect through this evening.Â*
South
Tropical Storm Lee is moving northeastward off the Central Gulf Coast and will produce heavy rains, up to 10 to 15 inches (and locally up to 20 inches) over southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Sunday. Across the Florida Panhandle, 4 to 8 inches of rain is possible through Sunday. Cooler temperatures will follow across Oklahoma and Texas next week.
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Northeast
Light to moderate rain is possible in western portions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire on Sunday.
West
Thunderstorm activity is expected to return to the southern and central Rockies this afternoon.
Strong winds and low relative humidity have increased the risk of fire danger in southwestern Oregon and northern California; Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this evening.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of MexicoÂ*Â*
Tropical Storm Lee
At 5 a.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Lee is located 75 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana moving north-northwest at 7 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph. Lee is expected to cross the Louisiana coast this afternoon or tonight and then slowly cross southern Louisiana on Sunday. Some strengthening is possible before the center makes landfall. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from Sabine Pass, Texas to the Alabama/Florida Border.
Louisiana
The Governor has declared a State of Emergency. Local States of Emergency have been declared in 33 Parishes and the town of Grand Isle. The state has pre-positioned resources to meet initial requirements. All state agencies are taking precautionary actions and preparing to support the affected Parishes. Voluntary evacuations are ongoing for residents in Grand Isle.
Mississippi
The State EOC is Partially Activated. The Governor declared a State of Emergency as a result of the forecast track for Tropical Storm Lee. The emergency remains in effect until the threat to public safety no longer exists.
Hurricane Katia (Category One)Â*
At 5am EDT, Hurricane Katia is located 530 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands moving northwest at 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph. Katia is forecast to move toward the west-northwest or northwest for the next couple of days passing well north of the Leeward Islands on Sunday. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Hurricane Force Winds extend outward 35 miles. Tropical Storm Force Winds extend outward 175 miles from the center.
Eastern Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones expected within the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones expected through Sunday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.
Earthquake Activity

Alaska
At 6:55 a.m. EDT, September 2, 2011, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred 107 miles east of Atka, AK at a depth of 22.1 miles. Numerous aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 3.0-5.1 have occurred. A Tsunami Warning was issued but no Pacific Wide tsunami was generated. There are no reports of damages or injuries.

Wildfire Update

Washington
The State EOC is at Phase II (Enhanced Operations) in support of Hurricane Irene and WA fire response.
Salmon Wildfire (FINAL)
The fire, located 5 miles west of Omak, Washington has consumed 1,910 acres and is 85% contained. Approximately 40 homes and 15 other buildings are threatened. Evacuation orders have been cancelled.
Oregon
High Cascades Complex Fires
A complex of six fires, located on the Warms Springs Reservation in north-central Oregon has grown to 101,292 acres with 40% containment. No homes have been lost; however, three outbuildings have been burned. Approximately 290 total structures remain threatened. Pre evacuation notices remain in effect for residences in Seekseequa and Dry Hollow. A Type 2 IMT is assigned to the fire with 1,682 personnel. Smoke from the fires has blanketed portions of eastern Oregon with little dispersion.

National Fire Activity
Friday, September 2, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 3
Initial attack activity: Light (195 new fires)
New Large Fires: 18
Large Fires Contained: 12
Uncontained Large Fires: 46
Type 1 IMT Committed: 0
Type 2 IMT Committed: 14
States affected: VA, MT, WA, CO, ID, WY, AL, AR, MN, TX, OR, NV, CA, NM, OK, LA, UT, & AZ.
FMAG Activity
California
Hill Fire (San Bernardino County)
A FMAG was approved on September 3, 2011. The fire, burning in Hesperia, California, has consumed 1,100 acres with 20% containment. Approximately 800 primary residences and 200 businesses are threatened in Oak Hills, Hesperia and Phelan, California communities. High voltage transmission lines from the Hoover Dam and underground wires are also threatened. Two homes destroyed and two injuries have been reported. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for 1,000 residents; voluntary evacuations are in effect for 400 additional residents.
Oklahoma
Ferguson Fire - (Comanche County, OK)
A FMAG was approved on September 3, 2011.The fire, burning in Meers, Oklahoma has consumed 2,000 acres of Federal and private land with 0% containment. Approximately 110 homes are threatened and 10 homes have been destroyed. Voluntary/Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 380 residents.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Presidential Declarations
Connecticut
Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4023-DR-CT
The President has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Connecticut for Tropical Storm Irene from August 27, 2011 and continuing, Public Assistance for the counties of Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and New London. Direct federal assistance is authorized. Hazard mitigation is approved statewide. The Federal Coordinating Officer is Gary Stanley of the National FCO Program

Requests for Major Disaster Declaration
New Hampshire
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Hampshire due to Tropical Storm Irene and associated flooding beginning August 24, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance, for Coos, Grafton, Carroll, and Merrimack Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

Pennsylvania
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a result of Hurricane Irene beginning on August 27, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for 5 counties and Hazard Mitigation for all 67 counties within the Commonwealth. The Governor is also requesting direct federal assistance.
Rhode Island
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Rhode Island as a result of Hurricane Irene, severe winds, and associated flooding during the period of August 27-29, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance, for Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Virginia
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of Hurricane Irene beginning on August 27, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for 11 counties and 11 independent cities. The Governor is also requesting Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Amendments
FEMA-3331-EM-CT
Effective September 2, 2011, the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-3331-EM), dated August 27, 2011, is amended to include the counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New Tolland, Tolland and Windham for the Individuals and Households Program under Section 408 of the Stafford Act, 42 USC 5174 (already designated for emergency protective measures [Category B], including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program).

FEMA-4022-DR-VT
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-4022-DR changes the incident period for this declaration from September 1 to August 27, 2011.
Amendment No.2 for FEMA-4022-DR adding Windham County for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance).
FEMA-4020-DR-NY
Amendment No. 2 for FEMA-4020-DR adds Orange, Saratoga, and Sullivan Counties for Individual Assistance. Also adds Clinton, Montgomery, Rockland, Suffolk, and Warren Counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance), and Kings County for Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance.

FEMA-4019-DR-NC
Amendment No. 3 to FEMA-4019-DR-NC adds Currituck, Pitt, and Washington Counties for Individual Assistance, and Onslow County for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).

FEMA-1998-DR-IA
Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-1998-DR closes the incident period for the major disaster declaration, dated June 27, 2011.

FEMA-1984-DR-SD
Amendment No. 8 to FEMA-1984-DR adds Yankton County for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).

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