Thursday, September 29, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
The region will be dry except for isolated thunderstorms in the Four Corners area and some rain in the Pacific Northwest throughout the day.

Midwest:Â*Â*
A cold front dropping into the region will produce little weather but will bring cooler temperatures to the Upper Midwest. The upper level low over the Great Lakes and the associated frontal system will produce precipitation for the eastern third of the Nation. Thunderstorm activity over the Ohio valley may become severe with large hail, gusty winds and possible
tornadoes.

South:
The front draped across the region will bring showers and thunderstorms to the entire Gulf Coast. The remainder of the region should be dry with temperatures expected to be above average over the entire region with highs from the 80s to 100s.

Northeast:
The Midwest storm system mentioned above continues to pull moisture northward over the region resulting in numerous showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rain (up to about an inch or more) and flash flooding is possible from the Mid-Atlantic to southern New England.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf
Tropical Storm Philippe
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located about 1,175 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Philippe is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph and a west-northwest to northwest motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, followed by weakening. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center.
Tropical Storm Ophelia
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia was located about 180 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. Ophelia is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph and this motion is expected to continue with some increase in forward speed over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours and Ophelia is forecast to become a hurricane on Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, mainly to the east of the center.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Hilary
At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Storm Hilary was located about 675 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Hilary is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph. A turn toward the north-northwest is expected today, followed by a turn back toward the northwest by late Friday or early Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast and Hilary is expected to become a remnant low by Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central PacificÂ*
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday evening.

Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Wednesday, September 28, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (50 new fires)
New Large Fires: 1
Large Fires Contained: 3
Uncontained Large Fires: 8
Type 1 IMT Committed: 4
Type 2 IMT Committed: 1
States affected: TX, OK, MN, CA, OR, ID, AZ, and NV.

Disaster Declaration Activity

District of Columbia FEMA-4036-DR-DC
The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the District of Columbia, effective September 28, 2011, for Hurricane Irene during the incident period August 26 to September 1, 2011.Â*This declaration provides Public Assistance to the District of Columbia. The FCO is Kim R. Kadesch.
Amendments for the State of Vermont
The following amendments for the State of Vermont are in effect as of September 26, 2011, appointing James N. Russo to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO): Amendment No. 8 to FEMA-4022-DR; Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-40001-DR; Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-3338-EM; and Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-1995-DR.
Amendments for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The following amendments for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are in effect as of September 27, 2011, appointing Mark H. Landry to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO): Amendment No. 2Â*to FEMA-4028-DR; Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-3330-EM; and Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-1994-DR.
Puerto Rico Amendment #4 to FEMA-4017-DR-PR
Effective September 28, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4017-DR, dated August 27, 2011, is amended to include Penuelas Municipality for Public Assistance, Loiza and San Juan Municipalities for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); and Adjuntas, Ciales and Guaynabo Municipalities for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).
New York Amendment #5 to FEMA-4031-DR-NY
Effective September 28, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4031-DR, dated September 13, 2011, is amended to include Chemung County for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); and Orange County for Public Assistance.
Virginia Amendment #2 to FEMA-4024-DR-VA
Effective September 28, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4024-DR, dated September 3, 2011, is amended to include Amelia, Brunswick, Greensville, Hanover, Lunenburg, Northampton, Nottoway, and Powhatan and the independent city of Alexandria for Public Assistance.
Texas Amendment #6 to FEMA-4029-DR-TX
Effective September 28, 2011, Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4029-DR, dated September 9, 2011, is amended to include Anderson, Caldwell, Fayette, Henderson, Hill, and Rusk counties for Individual Assistance and Colorado, Leon, and Walker counties for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance).


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