Friday, May 27, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Severe Weather Outbreak â May 26, 2011

Pennsylvania
Severe weather was reported in the state on the evening of May 26. The region confirms reports from the state SEOC that there is widespread severe storm damage and the possibility of seven unconfirmed tornado sightings across several counties.Â* No deaths or injuries have been reported. Approximately 153,968 customers are without power statewide. Two shelters may open in Perry and Bradford counties. The state SEOC is currently activated at Level III (Enhanced Operations) due to severe weather events. The county EOCs in Bradford, Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton and Schuylkill were activated or partially activated to assess storm damages.Â*
Georgia
Severe weather was reported in the state on the evening of May 26. The region reported damages, power outages, injuries and/or fatalities in at least 5 counties. Additional reporting is expected from the state as information becomes available. The state EOC is at Watch/Steady State.

Midwest Severe Weather Outbreak

Joplin, Missouri (Jasper County)
The tornado that occurred on May 22 in Joplin (population 49,024) in Jasper County has now been upgraded to an EF-5; the most heavily populated areas and the major business and commercial areas were hardest hit; wind speeds reach up to 198 mph and cut a path a mile wide for at least six miles
A State of Emergency had already been declared for the recent storms in the State
Approximately 6,800 homes destroyed
126 confirmed fatalities
St. Johnâs Hospital was severely damaged and is accepting only patient Levels II-IV. All priority patients are being accepted at Freeman West Hospital.
St Johnâs Hospital is planning on building a 60 bed mobile hospital to be operational on Sunday, May 29.
Freeman East and West hospitals are operational and both are at capacity.
ARC reported six shelters are open with 299 occupants (1,000 occupant capacity).
An estimated 15,400 customers remain without power, but restoration is underway.
Mississippi Valley Flooding

USACE is monitoring the situation and continues flood fighting measures throughout the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) system.

LouisianaÂ*
12 of 125 gates are open along the Morganza Floodway. Estimated date which USACE will close the floodway structure is June 4-7 (assuming no additional rainfall).
330 of 350 gates are open along the Bonnet Carre Spillway (100% capacity) is anticipated to remain open another one to two weeks. Estimated closure is by the end of June (assuming no additional rainfall).
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for portions of St. Landry and St. Martinsâ Parishes.
To date, LA GOHSEP estimates at least 1,230 structures in 13 parishes have been affected by flood waters. These structures include 24 commercial structures and 1,204 residential structures, including camps.
Morgan City Health Care Center completed transferring 18 of its residents with higher care needs to its sister facility, Franklin Health Care Center as of May 25, 2011. The evacuation began Tuesday as a precautionary measure. Sixty residents remain at the Morgan City Health Care Center.
Mississippi
3 shelters are open; 28 occupantsÂ*
Northeast Flooding

Vermont
State of Emergency remains in effect. IA teams are on site and in the field.

New York
Flooding warnings continue along Lake Champlain in New York. States of emergency remain in effect for portions of the following counties: Clinton, Essex, and Oneida. One shelter is open in
Clinton County with 22 occupants.
Significant National Weather

West:
A series of disturbances continues to produce precipitation from the Pacific Northwest eastward to the Dakotas. The highest elevations will see some snow.Â* The ongoing rain and beginning of the snow pack melt out is will produce flooding across the Northwest.Â* Much of the Southwest will have westerly or southwesterly winds 25 to 40 mph with higher gusts.Â* Gusty winds and low relative humidity will result in critical fire weather across the Southwest to western Texas.
Midwest:
A front will produce rain and thunderstorms in the Northern and Central Plains. Localized flooding is likely in the heaviest downpours. A low pressure system associated with the front will produce thunderstorm and severe thunderstorms over the Southern and Central Plains.
Â*
South:
Record flooding continues along the Lower Mississippi River. Precipitation will be limited to a few showers and thunderstorms in the southeast.Â* The remainder of the region will be hot and dry.Â* Temperatures in southwest Texas will break 100.
Northeast:
A front extending from a low over the Great Lakes will produce widespread precipitation, including thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms across the Region.(NOAA, NWS and various media sources)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico:
Hurricane season begins June 1.
Eastern / Central Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western / South Pacific:Â*
Based on the current warning Super Typhoon 04W (Songda) poses no threat to U.S. territories.Â*

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Thursday, May 26, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (100 new fires)
New Large Fires: 3
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 14
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 8
States affected: GA, NC, TX, LA, MS, AZ, AK and NMÂ*(NIFC)
Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ (Cochise County)
FMAG -2907 was approved May 9, 2011. Seven miles southwest of Portal, Arizona. 47,280 acres burned / 35 % contained with an estimated containment date of June 22. Seven reported injuries
A mandatory evacuation of evacuation for Paradise residences remains in effect; an unknown number of structures are being threatened.Â*
Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendments
Kentucky
Amendment No. 7 to Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1976-DR-DY, effective May 25 adds 12 counties for Public Assistance (PA) including direct Federal assistance; 3 counties for PA, including direct Federal assistance, (already designated for emergency protective measures [Category B], limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program); 3 counties for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, (already designated for Individual Assistance and emergency protective measures [Category B], limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program); and 2 counties Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, (already designated for Individual Assistance)
Kentucky
Amendment No. 8 to Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1976-DR-KY, effective May 26 adds 1 county for PA and 5 counties for Individual Assistance (IA) (already designated for PA, including direct Federal Assistance).
Tennessee
Amendment No. 1 to Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA -1979-DR-TN, effective May 26 adds 2 counties for IA (already designated for PA, including direct Federal Assistance).

Request for Major Disaster Declaration
New York
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe storms and flooding beginning on April 26, 2011 and continuing.Â* The request included 15 counties for IA, 21 counties for PA and Hazard Mitigation statewide.Â* (FEMA HQ)



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