Tuesday, May 25, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Scattered thunderstorms (some severe) producing heavy rain are forecast from the Upper Midwest to Kansas.Â* A few thunderstorms are also possible across the lower Ohio Valley.Â* Flash Flood Warnings are in effect through early morning for portions of northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.Â* Flood Warnings remain in effect along the Mississippi River in Illinois and Missouri.
South
A storm off the Southeast Coast will produce showers and sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph along the immediate coast and Outer Banks of the Carolinas.Â* Thunderstorms (some severe) producing heavy rain will continue over the southern Plains across western Oklahoma and western Texas.
Northeast
Low pressure moving eastward along a front just north of Maine will produce scattered severe thunderstorms across northern sections of the state.
WestÂ*
A storm system moving into the West Coast will produce rain and mountain snow from Washington to central California.Â* Rain accumulations over southwest Oregon and northwest California could exceed one inch.Â* A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through Thursday evening for portions of central California.(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)
Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA Actions
FEMA is supporting the operation by providing personnel to the National Integration Center as well as Logistics and External Affairs support for the Federal On-Scene Coordinator.
The Drill Rig Enterprise continues to recover an oil/gas mixture with no water, and amounts recovered continue to fluctuate. Approximately 257,967 barrels (10,242,078 gallons) of oily water mixture have been recovered to date, and 821,429 gallons (704,958 gallons surface/116,471 gallons subsea) of dispersants have been deployed. Approximately 14,712 gallons of subsea dispersant was applied in the last 24 hours.
(Deepwater Horizon JIC)

Hurricane Prep Week is May 23-29

Tuesdayâs focus - Winds and Tornadoes
The intensity of a hurricane as it hits land is expressed in terms of categories that relate wind speeds and potential damage. According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a Category 1 hurricane has lighter winds compared to storms in higher categories. A Category 4 hurricane would have winds between 131 and 155 mph and, on the average, would usually be expected to cause 100 times the damage of the Category 1 storm. Depending on circumstances, less intense storms may still be strong enough to produce damage, particularly in areas that have not prepared in advance.
Tropical storm-force winds are strong enough to be dangerous to those caught in them. For this reason, emergency managers plan on having their evacuations complete and their personnel sheltered before the onset of tropical storm-force winds, not hurricane-force winds. Hurricane-force winds can easily destroy poorly constructed buildings and mobile homes. Debris such as signs, roofing material, and small items left outside become flying missiles in hurricanes. Extensive damage to trees, towers, water and underground utility lines (from uprooted trees), and fallen poles cause considerable disruption. The strongest winds usually occur in the right side of the eyewall of the hurricane. Wind speed usually decreases significantly within 12 hours after landfall.
Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes that add to the storm's destructive power. Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right-front quadrant of the hurricane. However, they may also be found elsewhere embedded in the outer rainbands, well away from the center of the hurricane.
(NOAA)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

On May 24, 2010, FEMA-2842-FM-NM was approved for the State of New Mexico. The FMAG request was submitted as a result of the Cabazon Fire (Sandoval County) that began on May 23, 2010, and burned in excess of 145 acres of State and private land.Â*
(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
The non-tropical low pressure system centered between Bermuda and the Bahamas remains disorganized and the potential to acquire subtropical characteristics during the next day or so is diminishing. This low is moving slowly toward the north-northwest and is still producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms along with gale force winds.Â* There is a low chance, 20 percent, of this system becoming a subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours and no further special tropical weather outlooks on this system are anticipated.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:Â*
No activity.
(NOAA,CPHC,JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 1
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, May 24, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: Light (59 new fires), New large fires:Â* 2, Large fires contained:Â* 0
Uncontained large fires:Â* 2, States affected: NM, CO, MI and AK
(NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity

The President approved a major disaster declaration (FEMA-1917-DR) on May 24, 2010 for the State of Oklahoma as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds occurring May 10-13, 2010.Â* The declaration provides IA for 7 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.Â*

Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1907-DR-ND was signed May 24, adding two counties for PA.
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1915-DR-SD was signed May 24, adding one county for PA.
Â*Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1913-DR-NH was signed on May 24, adding one county for PA.
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1898-DR-PA was signed May 24, authorizing Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Amendment No. 9 to FEMA-1909-DR-TN was signed May 24 adding 18 counties for PA.
Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-1912-DR-KY was signed on May 24, adding 17 Counties for PA, 15 counties for IA and 10 counties for both IA and PA.
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1916-DR-MS was signed May 24 adding two counties for PA.Â*Â*
(FEMA HQ)



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