Friday, July 29, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Tropical Storm Don

At 5:00 a.m. EDT on July 29, the center of Tropical Storm Don was located 290 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Don is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph. This general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected until landfall late today or early Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is forecast before the center reaches the Texas coast. A gradual weakening should begin thereafter. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Matagorda. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area by late today.
A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 2 feet above ground level mainly along the immediate coast near and to the northeast of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast the surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves.
Don is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches from the south Texas coast westward into northeast Mexico with possible isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches.
See the National Hurricane Center (www.nhc.noaa.gov /) for the latest information.

Missouri River Basin Flooding

USACE continues to provide technical and equipment support to the monitoring of all levees and flood-fighting efforts throughout the Missouri River Basin.Â* There have been no new breaches/overtopping in Region VII since July 11.Â* There are potential overtopping concerns on 4 Federal (no change) and 7 (no change) non-Federal levees in the basin.Â* These levees are forecast to have less than 2â of freeboard based on the 5 day outlook.Â* River rises due to high rainfall events in the basin could impact these levees:
Reduced releases from Gavins Point dam will begin this Saturday, July 30.Â* Rates will be reduced from 160,000 cfs to 155,000 cfs and reduced to 150,000 cfs on August 1, 2011.Â* Releases will continue at 150,000 cfs through the first part of August.Â* Additional releases past the 150,000 cfs flow have not been determined at this time.Â* A long term drawdown schedule of release rates and dates is in the process of being finalized and it is expected to be announced by the end of this week.

Significant National Weather

Major Heat Wave Continues
There are Heat Watches, Warnings and Advisories in effect for the eastern half of the Nation. For the latest information see: www.weather.gov/largemap.php

West:
Monsoonal moisture and afternoon heating will produce showers and thunderstorms from the Southwest to the Central Rockies.
Midwest:
A frontal system draped across the region, combined with significant amounts of moisture, will produce showers and thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms are possible in the Plains with gusty winds and hail as the primary threats. High temperatures could reach 100 in southern Kansas.

South:
The impacts of Tropical Storm Don are discussed above. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will produce showers and thunderstorms across much of the region. High temperatures will be in the 90 to 100s on the Southern Plains and 80 to 90 elsewhere.
Northeast:
The frontal system moving in from the west will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the region. Severe thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail are possible from the Ohio Valley to southern New England. Locally heavy precipitation is forecast for New York with up to an inch forecast during the next 24 hours. The Mid-Atlantic will see highs near 100 degrees.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Don as discussed above.
Area #1
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, a large tropical wave, accompanied by a well-defined low pressure system, is located about 1,200 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles and moving westward at 15 to 20 mph. This disturbance is showing signs of organization, and environmental conditions are conducive for gradual development over the next few days. This system has a medium chance (30 percent) of becoming a tropical storm during the next 48 hours.

Eastern PacificÂ*

At 2:00 a.m. EDT, cloudiness and showers associated with a westward moving area of disturbed weather located a few hundred miles south-southwest of Guatemala have continued to diminish. Upper level winds are currently not conducive for development, but may become more favorable in a couple of days. This disturbance has a low chance (10 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific

No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday evening.

Western Pacific

No activity affecting U.S. territories.

Earthquake Activity

At 10:00 a.m. EDT on July 28, 2011, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred 78 miles northwest from Anchorage, Alaska at a depth of 50.7 miles. There were no injuries or damages reported.
Wildfire Update

Thursday, July 28, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (130 new fires)
New Large Fires: 5
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 15
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 1
States affected: GA, NC, TX, OK, NM CA, WY, ID, & CO.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Minnesota
On July 28, 2011, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4009-DR for the State of Minnesota for Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes that occurred July 1-11, 2011. The declaration approves Public Assistance for 14 counties and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The FCO is Lawrence Sommers.
Indiana
Amendment No. 2, to FEMA-1997-DR-IN effective July 28, 2011, adds two counties for Public Assistance.
Puerto Rico
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-4004-DR-PR; effective July 28, 2011, adds the Municipality of Yabucoa for Public Assistance.

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