Friday, September 30, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Dry weather continues for the Intermountain West through Saturday as low pressure over California weakens. Today and tonight, there is the possibility of isolated thunderstorms and showers in the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, Four Corners, and Sierras. Showers, with some snow showers, are possible tonight in the Pacific Northwest.

Midwest:
A deepening system responsible for showers over the Midwest today will move across the Northern Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic up to portions of southern New England. Later today into Saturday, lake-effect showers from the Great Lakes will be common in the Ohio Valley.
South:
High pressure building into southwest will result in above normal temperatures and an increase in moisture through the weekend in Arizona. Expect mostly isolated showers and thunderstorms today and tomorrow. There is the potential of wildfires through today in the Southern Plains, as northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph combine with minimum humidity. Significantly colder temperatures will spread south from Canada having the greatest impact on locations east of the Mississippi. Highs below 50 will be common for the northern Appalachians this weekend, with highs only in the 60s as far south as the Tennessee Valley, and the southeast for Sunday.
Northeast:
Severe thunderstorms are possible along the coast and interior portions of New England throughout the day and in northern New England tonight.

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee Recovery

Pennsylvania
Â*Five shelters are open with 90 occupants.Â* There are 4 boil-water advisories that remain in effect.Â* Critical Infrastructure affected: 5 Sewage Treatment Plants and 4 Water treatment Plants.
Twin Lakes Dam (Luzerne County)
A low-level overtopping event occurred at the Twin Lakes Dam on September 28 which resulted in the evacuation of 25 homes.Â* Initial reporting indicated the dam failed; however, Luzerne County officials informed residents of Harveys Lake, PA (the nearest low-lying city) that the initial reports of âdam failureâ were inaccurate.Â* On September 29, all evacuation orders were lifted as water levels receded and residents were allowed to return to their homes.Â* There have been no unmet needs.Â* JFOs are operational in PA, DE and VA.Â* A JFO for Maryland is pending.

Texas Severe Storms

On September 29, 2011, severe, quick-moving thunderstorms moved across middle Texas.Â* Houston's utility providers indicated that at the height of the storms, there were approximately 100,000 customers without power. Two homes were destroyed by fires as a result of lighting from the storm.
As of 11:00 p.m. EDT on September 29, 2011 an estimated 13,000 customers remained either with partial or full power outages. Restoration efforts are ongoing. Significant weather related flight delays were also reported at the Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport.
There are no reports of injuries or fatalities and no request for FEMA assistance.Â*(FEMA Region VI)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf
Tropical Storm Philippe (At 5:00 a.m. EDT)
The center of Tropical Storm Philippe is located about 1,150 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands. Philippe is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph and this motion is expected to continue through most of today. A turn toward the west-northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected late today or Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible, but overall no significant change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Hurricane Ophelia (At 5:00 a.m. EDT)
The center of Hurricane Ophelia is located about 695 miles of Bermuda. Ophelia is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph. A turn to the north with an increase in forward speed is expected later today on the forecast track. The center of Ophelia is expected to pass east of Bermuda on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph with higher gusts. Ophelia is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Ophelia could become a category two hurricane later today. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

Â*
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda and tropical-storm-force winds are possible on Bermuda starting late Saturday. Rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches can be expected on Bermuda in associations with Ophelia.

Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical Depression Hilary (At 5:00 a.m. EDT)
The center of tropical depression Hilary is located about 735 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California and Mexico. The Depression is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph. A turn toward the northwest is expected later today followed by a turn toward the west-northwest by Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast and Hilary is expected to become a remnant low later today.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central PacificÂ*Â*
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Thursday, September 29, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (49 new fires)
New Large Fires: 0
Large Fires Contained: 1
Uncontained Large Fires: 8
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 0
States affected: TX, MN, ID, WY, OR, and CA

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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