Thursday, July 15, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant Weather

MidwestÂ*
More shower and thunderstorm activity is expected today, particularly from Michigan to Kansas and from Michigan into northern Illinois. Some thunderstorms may be severe and contain damaging winds and tornadoes in the Central Plains, Middle Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes regions.Â* Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings are expected to continue today with Heat indices reaching 100-105 degrees in the Central Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley. The Southern Plains through the lower Great Lakes should improve on Friday; however, precipitation will continue during the next couple of days.
Northeast
Weather conditions will improve along the East Coast as drier air moves into the region. High temperatures will reach the middle to upper 80s over parts of upstate New York and New England and greater than 90 degrees from Pennsylvania southward.
SouthÂ*
Northern sections of the region will be dry; however, scattered thunderstorms are expected along the Southeast Coast and Florida. Most of the South will see the temperatures in the 80s. Highs from northeast Texas to the Mississippi Valley may approach 100 degrees. The high temperatures combined with high humidity levels will create heat indices of 105-115 degrees.Â*
WestÂ*
High temperatures may approach 115 degrees across the Desert Southwest, and highs above 100 degrees will extend through the Central Valley of California and up to southern Oregon. The Interior West and Great Basin areas will see highs well into the 90s. Scattered thunderstorms may occur in the higher elevations of Arizona, New Mexico and southern Colorado.
(NOAA and media sources)

Flooding on the Rio Grande River, Texas

The Rio Grande River remains at major flood stage at Rio Grande City, Texas but is now at moderate flood levels and continues to recede in Laredo, Texas and near the International Columbia Bridge. Flood operations are expected to continue at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs.Â*
Â*(FEMA Region VI)

Midwest â Des Moines River Basin Flooding

Showers and thunderstorms are expected in north-central Missouri and northeastern Iowa today and could result in continued flooding along the Des Moines River basin. The Des Moines River at Ottumwa, Iowa remains at major flood stage due to the high releases from the Saylorville and Red Rock Reservoirs. The Wapsipinicon River near Dewitt, Iowa is at major flood stage.
(NOAA)

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). The three ram capping stack is in place on the flange and integrity testing continues on the new system. The spill has impacted approximately 573 miles of coastline and the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone closed to commercial and recreational fishing remains at approximately 34% or 81,181 square miles. Booming, skimming and in situ burning operations continue as weather permits.
(NIC Situation Report)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Central and Western Pacific:Â*
No tropical activity is expected within the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:Â*
Tropical Depression Six-E is located approximately 345 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico moving west-northwest at about 12 mph with maximum sustained winds around 35 mph. This general motion and some slight strengthening is expected to continue over the next day or so followed by a turn to the west on Saturday.
(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 Wednesday, July 14, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity was light with 134 new fires and five new large fires. No large fires were contained. There are currently seven uncontained large fires in WA, AK, NM, CA, CO, and NC.
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed major disaster declaration FEMA-1923-DR for Wyoming as a result of flooding from June 4-18, 2010. The declaration makes the Public Assistance Program available for Fremont County and the portions of the Wind River Indian Reservation and makes all counties eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster response will be Steven S. Ward.
Â*(FEMA HQ)



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