Friday, August 13, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast today over the central U.S. bringing more river flooding to Iowa. By late today, thunderstorms will extend from northern Wisconsin and Minnesota down to northeast Kansas. A few of the storms could become severe, with large hail and gusty winds. Areas from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley will remain dry. The Southern Plains will see high temperatures of over 100, with the Ohio Valley seeing high temperatures in the 90s.
The oppressive heat gripping the Mississippi valley and portions of the Midwest will begin to weaken a little over the weekend.
South
The remnants of Tropical Depression Five will bring increased moisture to the region as it moves northward from the Gulf Coast. Heavy rain will move from Louisiana to inland areas over the weekend.
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast from Louisiana eastward to the Carolinas. Louisiana and Mississippi could see locally heavy rain and localized flooding. The recent heat wave in the region will diminish due to clouds and precipitation, but humidity will remain high and may bring heat indices ranging from 110 to 115 degrees.
Northeast
Scattered thunderstorm activity will continue across the mid-Atlantic region while Upstate New York will see less precipitation. Much of New England will remain dry.
West
A cold front is shaping up over the Intermountain West this morning and is expected to make its way into the central plains during the day. Parts of Idaho, Montana and northern Wyoming will see showers and cool temperatures today. Elevations above 7,000 feet in northwestern Montana may see one to three inches of snow. The higher elevations of southeast Arizona and New Mexico will see isolated thunderstorm activity. High temperatures will increase and move across the Southwest over the weekend and will spread up through central California and the Pacific Northwest. The Desert Southwest will see highs up to 110 degrees, with Death Valley seeing highs of 120 degrees. The West Coast will see highs only in the 60s.(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydro meteorological Prediction Center and media sources)
Southeast Severe Weather

A line of severe storms affected the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. metro area early Thursday morning, August 12, 2010. A second line of storms moved through the area early in the evening. The storms produced heavy rain, quarter-sized hail, and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.
The storms caused widespread power outages, flash flooding, downed trees,Â* motorists stranded in high water, and several building collapses due to downed trees crashing through buildings.
The storms caused delays for commuter rail and buses due to power outages (traffic signals not working) and downed trees and debris blocking tracks and roadways. One subway station was closed due to power outage and flooding inside the station. There were over 100,000 without power across the entire region at the height of the storm. As of 1:00 a.m. EDT this morning, 43,000 customers remain without power.
Iowa Flooding

Over the past few days, a nearly stationary frontal system over Iowa brought strong thunderstorms and heavy rain to a large portion of central Iowa from near Oskaloosa (Mahaska County) to Sac City (Sac County). Since August 8, three to eight inches of rain have fallen, causing river and flash flooding in many locations in central Iowa. More rain and additional flooding is forecast through the weekend. The areas of most concern are along the Skunk, Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. Along these rivers, five river gauges are at major flood stage with four expected to remain at major flood stage over the next 48 hours. A few gauges are expected to crest at or near record flood stage. Agricultural levees along the Skunk and Des Moines Rivers remain at risk due to the continuing heavy rainfall. Two water treatment plants surrounded by levees, one at Ames and the other at Oskaloosa, also remain at risk. Major impacts from these thunderstorms have been power outages, residential flooding, numerous downed trees, and road closures.Â* Five highways have been closed due to flooding and approximately 1,000 customers remain without power (down from 8,000). There is one confirmed storm-related fatality and numerous injuries have been reported. Region VII Regional Watch is at Level III (Monitoring) with extended hours, 6:00 a.m. â 7:00 p.m. CDT. Two FEMA LNOs have been deployed to the Iowa EOC.
Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

Well pressure remains stable and is decreasing at a rate of 5 psi per hour. Drilling operations have been on hold until the passage of the remnants of Tropical Depression Five.Â* Approximately 669 miles of coastline is currently oiled in AL, FL, LA, MS, and TX. Shoreline cleanup efforts continue. 52,395 miles of Gulf Exclusive Economic Zone remains closed to fishing. Approximately 78% of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters are open to commercial fishing.Â*(NIC Daily SitRep Update, DHS SLB Deepwater Horizon Response, JIC Ongoing Administration-Wide Response)Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*(HQ FEMA)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:
Remnants of Tropical Depression FiveÂ*
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, a broad area of low pressure associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Five remains located near the coast of southern Mississippi. The low is expected to produce locally heavy rains and occasionally gusty winds in squalls as it moves inland over the next 24 to 48 hours. There is a LOW chance (near 0%) of this system re-developing into a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. Localized flooding is possible over southern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi.
Eastern Pacific:
Area of Disturbed Weather (1)
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, shower and thunderstorm activity associated with an area of disturbed weather is located 150 miles west-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Although conditions appear favorable for tropical storm formation, land interaction could inhibit development of this system by the weekend. There is still a high chance (70%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours as it moves slowly northwestward.
Central Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday, August 14, 2010.
Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting United States Territories.(NOAA, NWS, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity

At 7:54 a.m. EDT on August 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred 90 miles east of Ambato, Ecuador at a depth of 131 miles. There were no reports of serious injury, or damage and no tsunami was generated.(USGS)
Â*

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, August 12, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity:Â* Light (177 new fires)
New large fires:Â* 1
Large fires contained:Â* 4
Uncontained large fires:Â* 6
States Affected:Â* ID, CA, MT, WY, OK, and TX.Â*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment No. 4 to FEMA-1925-DR-KY for the State of Kentucky was approved on August 12 and adds three counties for Individual Assistance and one county for Public Assistance.
The JFO for FEMA-1901-DR-ND has been approved to close at close of business on August 27, 2010.
The JFO for FEMA-3309-EM-ND has been approved to close at close of business on August 27, 2010.


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