Thursday, August 25, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Hurricane Irene

As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, August 25, Hurricane Irene was located about 80 miles east-southeast of Nassau and about 735 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving to the northwest at 12 mph.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 115 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 255 miles. Irene is now a category 3 hurricane. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so.
Irene is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches across the Bahamas.
A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the North Carolina Coast, north of Surf City, NC, to the North Carolina-Virginia border including the Pamlico, Albermarle, and Currituck sounds.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for north of Edisto Beach, SC, to Surf City, NC.
Surf and swells generated by Irene will begin affecting portions of the Southeastern Coast of the U.S. today. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The core will move over the northwestern Bahamas today. A turn toward the north-northwest and then toward the north is expected today and tonight and pass well offshore of the East Coast of Central and North Florida tonight and early Friday.
Storm surge in areas of onshore flow near the center of Irene expected. A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels over the Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. (NOAA, NHC)
Mandatory evacuations will be in effect at 5:00 a.m. EDT on today for Ocracoke Island, NC. Voluntary evacuation for New Hanover County (Wilmington) will begin at 6:00 a.m. EDT today. Additional NC counties are expected to issue voluntary and mandatory evacuations today.
The State of Connecticut has initiated a pre-activation of the Emergency Operations Framework procedures.
Territorial Response
Puerto Rico
PR has received approximately 22 inches of rain.
One reported fatality: a woman died as a consequence of a river overflowing its bank in Carolina, PR.
Over 93 houses were damaged or destroyed as a result of the impact of Irene.
Twelve shelters open with 528 occupants.
Approximately 116,000 customers are without power as of 11:00 p.m. EDT, Aug 24.
Approximately 70,000 customers are without water.
All ports and airports are open.
There are 7 medical facilities (1 hospital and 6 diagnostic treatment centers) on generator power.
About 500-800 citizens in Guayanilla Municipality, 300 in Toa Baja, and 200 in families in Ponce, are evacuated due to flooding.
Estimates of up to 4000 citizens may be affected as flooding area grows over next few days.

U.S. Virgin Islands
95,762 customers without power throughout the Island.
Twenty-five percent of customers without water are expected to have their service fully restored today.
All ports and airports are open.
Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Behind a cold front, fair skies, cooler temperatures and lower humidity are expected over the Great Lakes States, Upper Mississippi Valley, and central Plains. Another storm system will approach the Northern Plains, triggering scattered afternoon showers and a few thunderstorms.
East:
A slow-moving cold front will enter the Appalachian States. Ahead of the front, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage from northern New England southward through Pennsylvania and Virginia, with isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. In advance of Hurricane Irene, high surf and strong rip currents will become more common all along the eastern seaboard.

South:
Daytime heating will help trigger scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms across most of the region. The heat wave in the Mid South will continue ahead of a cold front, with high temperatures near 100 degrees and high humidity.
West:
A storm system in the northwest will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms over the Northern Rockies. Weak monsoonal moisture, in combination with daytime heating, will produce scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the Southern and Central Rockies. Extreme heat will continue in the Desert Southwest, with afternoon high temperatures up to 120 degrees.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
Area 1 (Invest 98L)
Disorganized shower activity is associated with a low pressure system located about 1150 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Although the low is moving toward the west-northwest at around 15 mph toward warmer waters, upper-level winds are currently unfavorable for significant development. This system has a low chance, 10 percent, of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Tropical Depression 10
At 5:00 a. m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression 10 was located approximately 435 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. A turn toward the northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48
Hours and the depression is likely to become a Tropical Storm later today.
Eastern PacificÂ*Â*
Tropical cyclone activity not expected during next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday evening.

Earthquake Activity

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred at approximately 1:07 a.m. EDT on August 25, 2011, approximately 5 miles south of Mineral, VA

The North Ana Nuclear Power Plant in Louisa County, VA went into an Unusual Event after the M4.5 aftershock. Equipment checks and facility assessments are in progress. No reports of any damages or injuries at this time.

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred at approximately 1:46 p.m. EDT on August 24, 2011, in Northern Peru at a depth of 90.2 miles. There was no tsunami generated.

Wildfire Update

Wednesday, August 24, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Moderate (189 new fires)
New Large Fires: 13
Large Fires Contained: 6
Uncontained Large Fires: 26
Type 1 IMT Committed: 0
Type 2 IMT Committed: 6
States affected: ID, WY, UT, VA, SD, TX, OK, AR, WA, OR, NV, KS, CA, MT, NM, AZ, and CO.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Iowa
A Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4016-DR-IA was approved for the State of Iowa as a result of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding from July 9-14, 2011. Public Assistance is approved for Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story, and Tama Counties and Hazard Mitigation Statewide.
Indiana
Amendment No. 4 to Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1997-DR-IA, .
Montana
Amendment No. 4 to Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1996-DR-MT, is amended to add 15 counties and 1 Indian Reservation for Individual Assistance, effective August 23, 2011.

More...