Wednesday, July 14, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant Weather

Northeast
A strong upper level disturbance is moving across the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic region. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from New England to Virginia. The thunderstorms will contain some heavy downpours and some of the storms could produce damaging wind gusts in southeast Virginia.
SouthÂ*
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the South from Arkansas to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The thunderstorms may bring damaging wind gusts and localized heavy rain. The Southern Plains, Lower and Mid Mississippi Valley region will be humid and hot. Heat advisories are in effect for most of the region. An excessive heat warning is in effect for eastern Oklahoma and the Fort Smith area of Arkansas.
West
Gusty winds will continue over eastern Montana. Temperatures will be slightly above average across the southern half of the region with highs ranging from 90 to near 100 degrees over the lower elevations of Colorado and New Mexico and between 100 to 125 degrees in the Desert Southwest. An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for southeast California. An Excessive Heat Watch/ Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for portions of Arizona. The West will be dry but scattered showers and thunderstorms may occur across the Four Corners states.
MidwestÂ*
Severe thunderstorms are forecast for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Iowa, northwest Illinois and Nebraska, with the possibility of tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and hail. Heavy rainfall is possible, especially over northern Minnesota. Due to the high humidity, heat advisories are in effect across portions of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
(NOAA)
Flooding on the Rio Grande River, Texas â Update

The Rio Grande River remains at record flood levels at the International Columbia Bridge, and at major flood stage in Laredo and Rio Grande City, Texas. Flood operations are expected to continue at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs for the next two weeks. The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) increased floodwater release output into the Rio Grande that will further impact Rio Grande City, Texas. The water level rise from the planned release will not be a flash flood, but a fast river rise.
(FEMA Region VI)

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). The three ram capping stack is in place on the flange with the main valve open and freely flowing oil. Booming, skimming and in situ burning continues as weather permits. The spill has impacted approximately 553 miles of coastline and the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone closed to commercial and recreational fishing remains approximately 34% or 81,181 square miles.
(NIC Daily Situation Update)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Central and Western Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclone activity expected in the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:Â*
A small area of low pressure located a few hundred miles southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico is conducive for development over the next couple of days. It is moving west northwestward at about 10 mph and the National Hurricane Center predicts this area has a 50 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, July 13, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (146 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 5, U.S. States affected:Â* WA, AK, NM, CA, CO, and NC
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1907-DR-North Dakota, Amendment #3, is effective July 13, 2010. This declaration is amended to include five counties for Public Assistance.
(FEMA HQ)



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