Tuesday, September 13, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast from western Pennsylvania to northern New England. The primary threats are strong and damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes. Upstate New York and northern Vermont are forecast to receive the most damaging weather. The Mid-Atlantic area is expected to be pleasant and dry.
West
Thunderstorms are forecast for the portions of California through the Central Rockies, Southern Plains and the Southwest. Highest rainfall accumulations may reach 1 inch. Severe thunderstorms with wind and hail are likely across the Desert Southwest, specifically Arizona.
Midwest
Rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Ohio Valley today. The thunderstorms are expected to be severe. Strong winds will develop from eastern North Dakota to Upper Michigan.

South
Isolated thunderstorms are possible across the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and northern Arkansas. Rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast in southern Florida with accumulations reaching 1 inch. The remainder of the Region will be sunny and dry.
Northeast and Atlantic Storms Response/Recovery

Vermont
There are 3 shelters open with 46 occupants. There are 7 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) open.
New York
Approximately 21,000 residents remain evacuated from the affected areas due to recent flooding from the Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. Boil Water Orders remain in effect for 16 counties, affecting an estimated population of 150,000. The Johnson City and Endicott Waste Water Treatment Plant flooded and is inoperative. Approximately 19,600 customers remain without power. Over 90 state roads and 30 state bridges remain closed. There are 11 shelters open with 494 occupants.Thirteen DRCs are open; two mobile DRCs are schedule to open on Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011.
New Jersey
Approximately 1,500 customers remain without power and 2,500 customers remain without natural gas; restoration efforts have been temporarily suspended pending flood waters receding in affected areas. There are 3 shelters open with 165 occupants. Eight DRCs are open.
Pennsylvania
Evacuations remain in effect in some areas; however, all rivers within the basins are receding. Sixteen boil water advisories remain in effect affecting over 30,000 residents. Eleven sewage treatment plants and fourteen water treatment plants have been affected. Four dams are under watch. There are thirteen shelters are open with 294 occupants.Approximately 1,100 customers remain without power and 3,600 customers remain without gas.
Virginia
There is one shelter open with 143 occupants. Forty structures have been destroyed and 27 structures have sustained damage. One primary road and 41 secondary roads remain closed.
Maryland
Power has been restored to the majority of customers.
North Carolina
Two shelters are open with 30 occupants.Eight DRCs are fully operational.
Alabama
Power has been restored to the majority of customers. One shelter is open with 3 occupants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf
Tropical Storm Maria
At 5:00 a.m. EDT on September 13, 2011, Tropical Storm Maria is located 340 miles east of southeastern Bahamas and is moving north-northwest near 5 mph. This general motion is expected to continue today followed by a gradual turn toward the north at a faster forward speed on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast in the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum accumulation of 8 inches. Strong wind gusts to tropical storm force winds are possible for higher terrain in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected in the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones expected through Wednesday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity
Monday, September 12, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Light (191 new fires)
New Large Fires: 9
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 34
Type 1 IMT Committed: 7
Type 2 IMT Committed: 16
States affected: OK, TX, OR, WA, CA, ID, AZ, MT, MN, and WY. (NIFC)

Fire Management Assistant Grant (FMAG) Approval
Comanche Complex Fire Update (Kern County, CA)
FEMA-2971-FM-CA was approved Sep 11, 2011. At the time of the request, the fire had burned approximately 22,330 acres of State and private land and was 30 percent contained.
Update: The fire has burned 23,266 acres and is 30 percent contained. Approximately 2, 300 residences remain threatened.
Keene Complex Fire Final (Kern County, CA)
FEMA-2970-FM-CA was approved Sep 11, 2011. At the time of the request, the fire had burned approximately 25,000 acres of State and private land. The fire is 30 percent contained.
Update: The fire has burned 7, 025 acres and is 92 percent contained. Four residences remain threatened. Â*
Bastrop County Complex Fire Update (Bastrop County, TX)Â*
FEMA-2958-FM-TX was approved Sep 4, 2011, and has burned 34,068 acres and is 60 percent contained. Burnt areas are being controlled by law enforcement 24/7.
Update: Approximately 1,550 homes have been destroyed. Evacuations remain in effect; however, registered residents will be allowed into the burn area Monday through Thursday following a posted reentry plan.
Region VI
State Response
Texas
There are 11 shelters open with 244 occupants.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Major Disaster Declaration Approval
Pennsylvania â FEMA-4030-DR
The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (FEMA-4030-DR) effective September 12, 2011, for Tropical Storm Lee during the incident period of September 3, 2011, and continuing. The declaration provides Individual Assistance for Adams, Bradford, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming, and York Counties. All counties in the Commonwealth are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Amendment
Pennsylvania
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-4025-DR-PA adds 7 counties for Individual Assistance and 4 counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance).
Governorsâ Requests
New Jersey
The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Jersey as a result of a severe rain storm during the period of August 13 â 15, 2011, with near-record flooding beginning on August 14, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
New York (Amendment to a Request)
The Governor has provided a supplemental letter in support of the September 8, 2011, request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New York as result of the impacts of Tropical Storm Lee beginning on September 7, 2011, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Hazard Mitigation statewide and the following counties be added for Individual Assistance; Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schenectady, Tioga Counties.

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