Friday, June 25, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Weather in the region will be limited to showers and thunderstorms in Idaho, Montana, the Sierra Nevada and the higher elevations of eastern Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. High temperatures across the Desert Southwest will reach as high as 110 degrees.
Midwest:Â*
A developing frontal system will produce showers and thunderstorms across the Northern Plains, the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes. Some of the thunderstorms will be severe with large hail and gusty winds and even isolated tornadoes. Temperatures in the Central and Southern Plains to the Mississippi Valley will reach the 90s, which will help the region dry out a bit.
South:
A weak front will produce a swath of precipitation from Texas to the Carolinas. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for much of the region. Severe thunderstorms are possible in the Carolinas.
Northeast:
Under high pressure, the region will be precipitation free with no significant weather. The Mid-Atlantic region will see highs in the 90s, but humidity levels will be more moderate than yesterday.
(NOAA and media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

Â*
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).
An estimated 2.3 â 4 million barrels of oil has been released as of 22 June. 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 78,597 sq miles, or 33 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.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
A broad area of low pressure is centered about 150 miles east-northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras-Nicaragua border. This system has changed little in organization during the past several hours. Upper-level winds appear conducive for some increasing development of this system as it moves slowly northwestward. The system could become a tropical depression before it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula and there is a high chance (60 percent) of it becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Celia
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Celia, a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was located about 805 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Celia is moving west-northwest near 13 mph and will continue in this direction with a decrease in forward speed during the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph with hurricane-force winds extending 50 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending out 140 miles. This storm poses no threat to U.S. interests.
Hurricane Darby
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Darby, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was located about 25 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. Darby is moving west-northwest near 7 mph and will turn toward the west-southwest with a decrease in forward motion to a near stationary position by late Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with hurricane-force winds extending 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending out 70 miles. This storm poses no threat to U.S. interests.
Central and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday afternoon.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

Alaska
On Jun 25, at 12:56 a.m. EDT, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake occurred 83 miles northeast of Anchorage at a depth of 16.4 miles. No damage or injuries were reported.
(USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, June 24, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity:Â* light (124 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 11, U.S. States affected:Â* AK, AZ, NM, CO, CA & TX
Schultz Fire, Arizona
The Shultz Fire, near Flagstaff (Coconino County), Arizona is now at 14,800 acres with 40% contained. All evacuation orders have been lifted. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved on June 20, 2010 (FEMA-2846-FM-AZ)
(NIFC, FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

West VirginiaÂ*
On Jun 24, the President declared FEMA-1918-DR for West Virginia. The declaration authorizes Individual Assistance and Public Assistance in four counties. All counties in West Virginia are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Puerto Rico
On Jun 24, the President declared FEMA-1919-DR for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The declaration authorizes Public Assistance in 10 municipalities. All municipalities in Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
(FEMA HQ)



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