Wednesday, June 23, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

MidwestÂ*
The frontal boundary that has been in place over the central Great Plains and the Ohio Valley will continue to be the focus for additional rainfall and a few strong thunderstorms through Thursday.Â* The heaviest rainfall is forecast in the upper Midwest and into the Great Lakes region. Flash Flood Warnings are in effect through this morning for portions of Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa. Tornado watches are in effect through this morning for portions of Iowa.Â* Flash Flood Watches are in effect through this evening for portions of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Flood Warnings remain in effect across the region
SouthÂ*
A strong sub-tropical ridge of high pressure over the Gulf Coast continues to supply heat and humidity to the central and eastern U.S. Although most areas across the Southeast will be, rain free, scattered thunderstorms are possible from eastern Texas, southern Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, and across the southern Appalachians.
NortheastÂ*
Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy rain and damaging winds, will move into western New York, western Pennsylvania, western Maryland and West Virginia this afternoon and evening. The main severe threat will be damaging wind gusts.Â*
WestÂ*
A system off the Pacific Northwest Coast will produce showers in the Cascades and possible thunderstorms in eastern Colorado and eastern New Mexico.
(NOAA and media sources)Â*
Â*
Severe Weather June Flood Response and Recovery - Update

Background:
Heavy rains from June 11-13 led to flooding in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, northern Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Rivers were reported outside of their banks more than six feet in some locations in Kansas and Nebraska. In early June, heavy rain and warm temperatures resulted in rapid snowmelt-induced flooding across portions of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.
Current Situation:
Though the stationary system that has been causing much of the rain and severe weather across the Plains and Midwest will begin to move eastward later this week, conditions will remain favorable for additional rain and severe weather at least through today. These areas should be on the lookout for Flood Watches and Warnings, including Flash Flood Warnings in some areas.
FEMA Response:
The Regions V, VII and VIII Regional Response Coordination Centers are activated at Level III and local IMAT teams are on alert to support flood response and recovery. FEMA Logistics pre-positioned water, meals, cots, and blankets in Kansas City, Missouri, as a precaution. FEMA liaisons are deployed to the Nebraska and Minnesota Emergency Operations Centers. USACE (ESF-3) representatives are activated to provide flood-fighting expertise. There have been no additional requests for federal assistance.
(NOAA, FEMA HQ)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel to the National Integration Center and additional Logistics and External Affairs support to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator. FEMA leads the Social Services and Small Business Interagency Working Group (Claims and Benefits).
Booming, skimming and in situ burn operations continue as weather permits, and relief well drilling continues. The estimated oil spill rate has been revised to between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day. Approximately 86,985 sq miles, or 36 percent, of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone is closed to commercial and recreational fishing.
(NIC Daily Situation Update)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*(FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
A tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea is moving westward about 10 mph and is spreading cloudiness and thunderstorms over portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and eastern Cuba. This system has changed little but environmental conditions are forecast to become more favorable for slow development as the wave reaches the western Caribbean Sea in a day or two. There is a low chance, 20 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane CeliaÂ*Â*Â*
At 2:00 a.m. PDT, the center of Hurricane Celia, a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was located about 770 miles south of the southern tip of Baja, California. Celia is moving toward the west near 10 mph, and a turn toward the west-northwest is expected over the next day or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph, with occasional higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next couple of days. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles. This storm poses no threat to U.S. interests.
Tropical Storm DarbyÂ*
At 2:00 a.m. PDT, satellite images indicate that the tropical depression south of the southern Mexico coast has strengthened to a tropical storm with sustained winds near 40 mph, with higher gusts. The center of Tropical Storm Darby was located about 335 miles south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. The storm is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph and is expected to turn toward the west-northwest and then west through Thursday. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday afternoon.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Wildfire Activity
National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, June 22, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (156 new fires), new large fires: 5, large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 14, States affected:Â* AK, AZ, NM, CO & TX
Hardy Fire Update
The Hardy Fire near Flagstaff (Coconino County), Arizona is 282 acres and is 80% contained. No spot fires have been reported in the last 48 hours. The Type II Incident Management Team will turn incident management over to Flagstaff Fire Department today. Fire mop-up and patrols will continue over the next seven days. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved on June 19, 2010 (FEMA-2845-FM-AZ).
Schultz Fire, Arizona
The Shultz Fire, also near Flagstaff (Coconino County), Arizona, is burning 14,000 acres with 20% contained. Power lines, municipal watershed & pipelines, buried gas lines & communications sites are threatened. Approximately 570 properties were evacuated, with an estimated 1,000 people affected.Â* A Type 1 Incident Management Team is in command. An FMAG was approved on June 20, 2010 (FEMA-2846-FM-AZ).
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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