Wednesday, May 18, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

The Mississippi River crest is slowly working south. USACE continues to monitor the crest southward down the Mississippi River and continues flood fighting measures throughout the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) system with increased focus on conditions in southern Louisiana. New Orleans is expected to remain at near the current level for the next two weeks. The River is forecast to fall below flood stage on May 27.
Louisiana
15 (+4) of 125 gates are currently open along the Morganza Floodway. 330 of 350 gates are open on the Bonnet Carre Spillway that empties the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain and is anticipated to remain open for 2 to 4 weeks.
Approximately 3,900 residents may require sheltering. There are 22 shelters on standby with the capacity to house over 8,200 occupants. The majority of residents are expected to stay with friends and family. 34 parishes have declared a Parish State of Emergency. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for St. Landry Parish and voluntary evacuations remain in place for St Mary, St Martin, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Assumption and Ascension Parishes. Evacuations of Angola Prison in West Feliciana Parish were completed on May 16, 2011. No further evacuations are anticipated. 17 hospitals and 11 nursing homes are at a high risk of flooding and 4 healthcare facilities have been evacuated.
Approximately 700 Guardsmen have been mobilized and teams are deployed to 19 affected parishes.
Mississippi
There are seven shelters open with 73 occupants. The Port of Natchez remains closed. An additional 23 out of 24 total ports and the Port of Baton Rouge are open with restrictions within the Lower Mississippi River region. Only 2 out of 12 stations serviced by the Columbus and Greenville Railway in Greenville are open due to high water. The Natchez Railroad is out of service between Buda and Natchez. The Yazoo County airport remains closed.
Tennessee
There is one confirmed fatality due to flooding Crocket County. Six shelters are open with 540 occupants.

Alaska and Washington Flooding

Alaska
Â* On May 9, 2011, the village of Crooked Creek was inundated with flood waters and ice flow breakup.Â* 54 residents were evacuated and there was extensive damage to local homes and public infrastructure.Â* There were reports of water reaching 30 feet above flood stage.Â* The Governor signed a state Disaster Declaration. Joint PDAs will be requested.
Washington
Â* Flood warnings continue in the Yakima Valley with the Yakima River causing flooding of scattered residential areas and farmland in the Richland area.Â* The Yakima County EOC activated on May 14, 2011.Â* USACE Seattle District has a response team in the County to shore up multiple levees.Â* The Department of Transportation is inspecting highways for flood damage and local assessments are ongoing.
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Northeast Flooding

Vermont
Â* A State of Emergency remains in effect.Â* Flood Warnings continue for Lake Champlain at Rouses Point.
New York
Â*Flood Warnings continue for Lake Champlain at Rouses Point.
Major Flooding is ongoing.Â* One shelter is open with 35 occupants.
New Jersey
Â* Major Flooding is forecast for the Passaic and Millstone Rivers on May 20, 2011

Significant National Weather

West:
A deep trough will produce widespread precipitation across the region and unseasonably cool temperatures, some 5 to 20 degrees below average.Â* The heaviest rain (up to one inch) will fall in northern and central California. The higher elevations of the Sierra will pick up a half foot of snow. The low pressure system moving into the Southwest will produce westerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts near 45 mph.
Midwest:
The storm moving out of the Rockies will produce scattered showers, thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms across the Central and Northern Plains. The precipitation will be accompanied by gusty winds.Â* The low pressure system stalled over the Ohio Valley will continue to produce rain and showers across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.Â* Temperatures across the eastern part of the region will be 5 to 20 degrees below average.
South:
Record flooding continues along the Mississippi River.Â* The region will be generally dry except for showers in the Carolinas from the system over the Mid Atlantic and showers and severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma and Texas from the system dropping out of the Rockies.Â* Gusty winds, unseasonably warm temperatures and low relative humidity will produce Critical Fire Weather across much of New Mexico, western Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Northeast:
The low pressure system stalled over the Ohio Valley and a frontal system in the Mid AtlanticÂ* will produce rain, showers and thunderstorms over the entire region.Â* The heaviest rain is expected to occur from southeastern Pennsylvania to southern New England.Â* Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is possible and localized flash flooding is expected.Â* Temperatures are forecast to be 5 to 15 degrees below average across New York and New England.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean: Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1.Â*
Eastern / Central Pacific: Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western / South Pacific: There are no active tropical warningsÂ*

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (123 new fires
New Large Fires: 1
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 10
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 6
States affected: NC, GA, TX,FL, AZ, NM, & CA, (NIFC)

Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
FMAG -2907 was approved May 9, 2011.
50 miles northeast of Bisbee, Arizona.
27,195 acres burned / 25 % contained with an estimated containment date of May 22
201 structures remain threatened.
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Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-3322-EM-LA adds 4 counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance Program.

Amendment No. 4 to FEMA-1976-DR-KY adds 11 counties for Public assistance, including direct Federal assistance, and two counties for Public Assistance (already designated for emergency protective measures [Category B], limited to direct Federal assistance).

Amendment No. 13 to FEMA-1971-DR-AL adds 2 counties for Public assistance [Categories C-G] (already designated for Individual Assistance and assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A and B], including direct Federal assistance). (FEMA HQ)



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