Friday, August 20, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Strong to severe thunderstorms are forecast from the Northern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley from northern Michigan to eastern Kansas. Some thunderstorms may contain large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Weather conditions are expected to be dry from the lower Great Lakes down to the Ohio Valley as well as the High Plains. Highs of 100 or more are likely over the southern Plains.
South
Much of the South will see scattered thunderstorms especially in the area from Louisiana to Georgia and parts of the Florida Peninsula. Areas from the southern Plains down through Texas will be dry, along with parts of Kentucky and Tennessee to Virginia and North Carolina. Some locations around the Oklahoma and Texas border will see temperatures around 100 degrees or higher.
Northeast
Most of the region will be dry except for some light showers in extreme northern Maine.
West
The West will be dry. The only exceptions will be over parts of eastern Arizona and New Mexico where isolated thunderstorms will form. Parts of the Desert Southwest will see high temperatures from 105 to 100 degrees.
(NOAA and media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

Approximately 676 miles of coastline is currently impacted and shoreline cleanup efforts continue. To date, 22 percent or 52,395 miles of federal waters of Gulf Exclusive Economic Zone remain closed to fishing.
(NIC Daily SitRep Update)

National Preparedness Level: 2

National Fire Activity as of Thursday, August 19, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: moderate (268 new fires), new large fires: 4, large fires contained:Â* 2
Uncontained large fires: 5, U.S. States affected: OR, ID, AR, WY, AK, MT, and CA
(NIFC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:Â*
A westward-moving tropical wave over the northwestern Caribbean Sea has a low chance, near 10 percent, of tropical cyclone formation during the next 48 hours. Another large area of disturbed weather extends from the west coast of Africa to several hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde islands. Environmental conditions appear favorable for slow development of this system as it moves westward at 5 to 10 mph. In the near term, this system has a 20 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Depression Eight-E is located about 230 miles west of Manzanillo, Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Some slight strengthening is forecast before it moves westward or west-northwestward then weakens over cooler water on Saturday. No coastal warnings or watches are in effect.
Central and Western Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclone activity expected during the next 48 hours.Â*
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

Aftershocks continue in the Mariana Islands region, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that occurred on August 13, 2010. There were no reports of major damage or injury. (USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a major disaster declaration for Illinois for severe storms and flooding from July 22 to August 7, 2010(FEMA-1935-DR). The declaration makes seven counties eligible for the Individual Assistance Program and all counties eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer will be Gregory W. Eaton.
(FEMA HQ)



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