Tuesday, November 8, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Moderate to heavy snowfall (5 to 9 inches) is possible over the Southern/Central Rockies this morning. Rain will mix with snow at the northern edge of the region. Colder temperatures are expected overnight in the Desert Southwest and California. Freeze Warnings are in effect through 9:00 a.m. PST.
South:
The slow-moving storm system over the Southern Plains will produce moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms this morning. Some storms may become severe, with damaging winds (up to 60 mph), large hail and tornadoes possible. The system will spread into the Lower Mississippi Valley during the day, increasing the risk of flooding across the area this evening.
Midwest:
The quasi-stationary front will move into the Great Plains today and continue to spread eastward over the next few days. Locally heavy rain is expected from the Middle Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes. A Mix of rain and snow will fall across northern portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Northeast:
The region will remain dry again today before the storm system exiting the Central Plains begins to move eastward into the region. Above normal temperatures are expected across the region.

Severe Storms Western Alaska

A major Bering Sea storm, located about 600 miles southwest of Shemya, Alaska, will begin to impact the west coast of Alaska this afternoon, and then push northward across the Chukotsk Peninsula tonight.
Western coastal communities will experience 12-18 hrs of hurricane-force winds (Cat 2 or 3), and seas to as high as 20 feet over the Chukchi Sea (15 to 25 feet over the northern Bering Sea). Large amounts of water are expected in Norton Sound, raising sea levels as high as 8-9 feet above normal overnight.
Major coastal flooding is expected along the northern and eastern shores of Norton Sound and along the Bering Strait coast. High water levels will produce coastal flooding along the southern shore of Norton Sound. Strong winds and wave action may push ice in Norton Bay on shore. The village of Kivalina (est. pop 377) will be highly vulnerable to damage caused by beach erosion and coastal flooding. The storm will also produce significant snowfall and blizzard conditions over almost all of the west coast of Alaska tonight and Wednesday. Snowfall, up to 14 inches, is expected along the southern Seward Peninsula coast and in parts of the interior Seward Peninsula.
State/Local Response:
The AK State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will activate to Level III at 2:00 pm EST this afternoon with State Department of Transportation, Health, and Social Services (24/7). Communities are reviewing communication, inundation and evacuation plans and preparing to move to higher ground. AK National Guard assets are available in Bethel and Nome, AK, to assist with evacuation. Power will remain operational as long as possible via Alaska Village, Inc. Local damage assessments will be conducted on Thursday.
Federal Response:
The National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) will activate to Level III (24/7) at 10:00 a.m. EST, November 8, 2011 with ESFs 1,3,12 and 15, and liaisons from DOD, USCG. FEMA Region X Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) will activate to Level III on Tuesday, November 8, and continue 24/7. Two LNOs are deployed to Alaska and are assisting in the identification of current capabilities and potential shortfalls. The FEMA NWC hosted an operations/logistics teleconference to discuss ongoing preparations and planning activities and to identify any potential shortfalls.

Alaska Storm of November 1974

A major storm occurred on November 14, 1974 in the Bering Sea on the western coast of Alaska. In the Alaska Storm of 1974, water overflowed from the harbor, went over the sea wall in Nome, and rose to a depth of over 5 feet in the low lying areas in western portions of the city. The absence of tide gages and quantitative water data made it difficult to assess the magnitude of storm surge. However, the shallow shores of Norton Sound made it possible to assess the line of debris. The storm produced the worst coastal flooding on record at Nome, AK with a tide of 13.2 feet. Floating blocks of sea ice also helped to aggravate flood damage to communities in eastern Norton Sound. Although no lives were lost, the flooding caused between 12 and 15 million dollars in damage. For additional information visit: journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0493(1997)125%3C3094%3ASSITRO%3E2.0.CO%3B2

October Nor'easter Recovery (October 28-30, 2011) - Final

Power restoration activity in Connecticut continues; full restoration is expected by November 9.
FEMA Region I
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) has returned to Watch/Steady State. A Region I Type II Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is deployed to the Joint Field Office in CT. A Mobile Communications Office Vehicle (MCOV) is deployed to CT and an Incident Support Base team is supporting Regional Staging Area operations in East Hartford, CT.
Connecticut (FEMA-3342-EM-CT)
The State EOC remains fully activated. Fewer than 24,000 customers remain without power. As of November 7th, 12 shelters remain open with 172 occupants. Boil Water Advisories have been issued in 76 areas across the state.

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
Subtropical Storm SeanÂ*Â*

The center of Subtropical Storm Sean is located midway between Bermuda and the Bahamas, about 445 miles southwest of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph, and the system is stationary. A slow westward or northwestward movement is expected to begin tonight. Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 380 miles from the center. Little change in strength is expected over the next 48 hours.
Eastern, Central and Western Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity is occurring or forecast.
Earthquake Activity

Oklahoma
At 9:46 p.m. EST on November 7, 2011, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake occurred 43 miles east of Oklahoma City, OK and 17 miles NNE of Shawnee, OK at a depth of 3.1 miles. Light shaking was felt from Plano, TX to Wichita, KS; however, no damage or injuries were reported.
International
At 9:59 p.m. EST on November 7, 2011, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred northeast of Taiwan (136 miles NW of Okinawa, Japan) at a depth of 138 miles. No tsunami was generated. USGS issued a GREEN Pager alertâlow likelihood of casualties and damage. There have been no preliminary reports of damages or injuries.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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