Monday, May 16, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

Â*A record breaking flood wave continues to travel south along the Mississippi river, with significant impacts expected in the Atchafalaya and the Lower Mississippi River Basin.Â*
The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish has been partially opened to reduce the level of flooding on the Mississippi River. As of May 15, USACE reported a total of nine gates were open on the Morganza Spillway in order to maintain a flow of 1.5 million cubic feet per second (cfs) below the floodway.Â* On the Bonnie Carre Spillway there are 300 of 350 gates open at this time.
Louisiana
Â* To date, 33 parishes have declared a Parish State of Emergency. All affected State agencies and parishes have taken precautions to prepare for the impending flood.Â*
In St. Landry Parish, a mandatory evacuation order has been issued. Meanwhile, voluntary evacuation orders remain in effect for the parishes of Assumption, Catahoula, Iberia, Iberville, LaSalle, Pointe Coupee, St. Martin, St. Mary, and West Baton Rouge. At this time, no shelters are populated. Many parishes have shelters on standby until the need arises.

In St. Landry Parish, the National Guard is assisting Parish and Department of Transportation personnel with improving levees. They have constructed approximately 10,000 Linear Feet (LF) of HESCO barriers and Super Sand Bags through the parish. In St. Mary Parish, the National Guard has constructed approximately 18,000 LF of HESCO barriers to fortify and elevate levees along Lake Palourde to prevent backwater flooding in Morgan City and Amelia. Approximately 23,000 LF of HESCO barriers have been constructed in Morgan City, Amelia and Sircusaville.
The National Guard will continue to support the 5th Levee District's efforts to monitor levees, distribute equipment and supplies, and to fortify levees in East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, and Concordia Parishes.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation has delivered 57,406 sandbags. 34 super sacks to keep water from flowing into a pump station.

The Louisiana's Department of Corrections is providing offender work crews to support local sandbagging operations.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has authorized Medicaid recipients in affected areas to obtain up to a 30-day supply of prescriptions. The department has identified 17 hospitals and 11 nursing homes that are at a high-risk of flooding and 2 hospitals at moderate risk of flooding. The department is in the process of verifying that each at risk facility has adequate emergency response plans in place.
The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting over flights of the river and standing by to assist with evacuations, pollution response and search and rescue.
Coast Guard Disaster Assistance Response Teams are prepositioned in high flood threat areas. These teams consist of six member teams with expertise in shallow water operations and urban environments. The teams specialize in using various rescue and communications equipment, and supplies.Â*
The Coast Guard continues to coordinate all potential actions with River Industry Executive Task Force, New Orleans Port Coordination Team and Lower Mississippi River Commission.

Mississippi
Â*There are 120 road closures being reported, due to flooding.Â* As of May 15,American Red CrossÂ* the (ARC)Â* reports 6 shelters open with 49 occupants.
Tennessee
Â*As of May 15, the American Red Cross (ARC) reports 6 shelters open with 488 occupants.
Significant National Weather

Midwest:
The central U.S. will be caught in between the western and eastern weather systems with high pressure expected to be in control through Tuesday. The combination of clear skies, light winds, and a cool dry air-mass will result in the possibility of frost, especially in low lying areas, across a large portion of the Midwest from Kansas into the Dakotas. Fair weather and gradually moderating temperatures can be expected through midweek.
South:
The Mid-Atlantic region can expect heavy rain tonight and into Tuesday, as a low pressure system redevelops over North Carolina. Locally excessive rainfall is possible from the Coastal Plains and back into the eastern slopes of the Central Appalachians. Much of the Southeast will have cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms through Tuesday. Clear skies, comfortable temperatures and light winds can be expected across much of the Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley through mid-week.
Northeast:
A slow-moving storm system will bring significant precipitation to the Mid-Atlantic and New England states.Â* Moderate to locally heavy rainfall can be expected across portions of the Upper Ohio Valley and New England through Monday. Flood watches will remain in effect for portions of the Northeast due to saturated soils and already elevated river and stream levels.
Â*
West:
A strong Pacific storm will continue impacting the western U.S. with rain and higher elevation snow.
The storm will move very slowly inland overnight and overspread the Great Basin on Monday bringing unsettled conditions from the Great Basin to the Northern Rockies and the West Coast through Monday. Near-record setting cold air is expected in some interior locations.
Start of the 2011 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season

Â*May 15, marked the first day of the Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season, which will run until November 30.Â* There are 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes projected for the 2011 season.
For the latest Eastern Pacific Tropical Activity:Â* www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_epac.shtmlÂ*

National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011)

The National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) is scheduled for mid to late May. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.
NLE 2011 is designated as a Tier I National Level Exercise. Tier I exercises are conducted annually in accordance with the National Exercise Program (NEP), which serves as the nationâs overarching exercise program for planning, organizing, conducting and evaluating national level exercises. The NEP was established to provide the U.S. government, at all levels, exercise opportunities to prepare for catastrophic crises ranging from terrorism to natural disasters.
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
FMAG -2907 was approved May 9, 2011. Location: 50 miles NE of Bisbee, AZ.Â* A total of 26,542 acres have burned and the fire is 20 percent contained. The estimated full containment date is May 22.Â* However, 151 structures remain threatened.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Â*
Sunday, May 15, 2011:

• National Preparedness Level: 2
• Initial attack activity: LIGHT (105 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 1
• Large Fires Contained: 2
• Uncontained Large Fires: 13
• Type 1 IMT Committed: 2
• Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
• States affected: NC, GA, TX,FL, AZ, NM, & CA,

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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