Thursday, September 16, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Western portions of Washington and Oregon, as well as much of Montana, will see scattered showers.
Southern and eastern New Mexico will experience isolated thunderstorms. The Desert Southwest will see high temperatures over 100 degrees.
NortheastÂ*
Showers and thunderstorms are expected across eastern Great Lakes into western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia; a few thunderstorms could become severe with damaging winds. New England into Virginia will also see isolated thunderstorms by the end of the day.
Midwest
Michigan southward to Ohio and Kentucky will experience showers and thunderstorms; a few thunderstorms over Ohio and Kentucky could become severe with damaging winds. Flash flooding is possible in Missouri and Illinois.
South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur across Kentucky and Tennessee, while parts of southern Florida, southeast and western Texas will see isolated thunderstorms.
(NOAA and media sources)

California Wildfire

The Canyon Fire began on September 12, 2010 in Kern County, CA and a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (2858-FM-CA) was approved September 15, 2010. The fire has burned 6,136 acres and is 50 percent contained. The fire is threatening 150 homes and 100 outbuildings in and around Bodfish and Lake Isabella, CA.
(Kern County EOC; InciWeb)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Activity

FMAG-2858-CA was approved on Sept 15, 2010 for the Canyon Fire, Kern County, CA. There are 6,136 acres burned, 150 homes and 100 outbuildings threatened and the fire is 50 percent contained.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Hurricane Igor is a strong Category 4 storm located 380 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands moving west-northwest at 6 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 145 mph with hurricane force winds extending out 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending out 275 miles from the center. Large swells and dangerous rip currents will impact the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today and should reach the East Coast of the United States later today and continue through the weekend.
Hurricane Julia is now a Category 2 storm located 760 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Island moving northwest at 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 105 mph and additional weakening is forecast over the next 48 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
Tropical Storm Karl is located 60 miles west of Campeche, Mexico moving west-northwest at 9 mph. The storm is expected to cross the southern portion of the Gulf of Mexico and be near mainland Mexico late today to early Friday. Maximum sustained winds are 65 mph and tropical storm force winds extend out 70 miles from the center. Hurricane watches are in effect for the coast of Mexico from La Cruz south to Palma Sola and hurricane warnings are expected for later today.
Eastern Pacific
There is an area of low pressure causing showers and thunderstorms about 600 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western PacificÂ*
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours.
Â*(NOAA, JTWC)Â*

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, September 15, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (165 new fires), New large fires: 2, Large fires contained:Â* 3
Uncontained large fires: 6, Type 1 IMTs committed: 1, Type 2 IMTs committed: 2
U.S. States affected:Â* CO, CA, UT, ID, NV, FL, WA, OR, and NM(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On September 15, 2010, the President signed major disaster declaration FEMA-1937-DR-TN for Tennessee due to Severe Storms and Flooding occurring August 17-21, 2010.Â* The declaration makes ten counties eligible for the Public Assistance program and all counties eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program. Gracia B. Szczech will coordinate the federal recovery.
Amendment #7 to FEMA-1930-DR-IA closes the incident period effective for this Iowa disaster on August 31, 2010.
(HQ FEMA)



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