Wednesday, September 21, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
The region will be generally dry under high pressure. Precipitation will be limited to rain in the Pacific Northwest and afternoon thunderstorms across the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Temperatures will be 5-15 degrees above normal for areas west of the Rockies.
Midwest:
A frontal system extends from the Great Lakes to the Desert Southwest. Circulation around the low pressure center will produce rain over Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi Valley and Northern Plains. The tail end of the front will produce some welcome showers and thunderstorms over the Central and Southern Plains.
South:
As discussed above, Texas and Oklahoma will have showers and thunderstorms. The Southeast will have widespread rain and thunderstorms. Some areas in the southern Appalachians will receive as much as an inch of rain in heavy downpours and localized flooding is likely.
Northeast:
The region will be wet with widespread showers and thunderstorms. Some areas will receive as much as an inch of rain in heavy downpours and localized flooding is likely.

Northeast and Atlantic Storms Response/Recovery

State and Territorial Response:
Vermont
There are 2 shelters open with 33 (no change) occupants.
New York
There are 5 shelters are open with 110 occupants.There are approximately 4,200 customers without power; primarily in Broome County. Twenty boiled water orders are in effect, impacting 168 systems in 11 counties; 105 boiled water advisories have been rescinded.
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Two additional DRCs opened for a total of 14 DRCs.
Pennsylvania
Fourteen (+2) water treatment facilities and 16 sewage treatment plants are affected; 14 (-1) boiled water advisories remain in effect. There are 5 shelters open with 132 occupants.
Virginia
There is 1 shelter open with 74 occupants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical Storm Ophelia
At 5:00 a.m. EDT September 21, Ophelia was located about 1,370 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Ophelia is moving toward the west near 13 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours with some increase in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 24-36 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.
Area 1
A small area of low pressure located about 300 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Upper-level winds are not favorable for development of this system, as it moves westward at 15-20 mph. This system has a low chance (near 0 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Area 1 (INVEST 96L)
Showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure located about 225 miles south-southeast of Puerto Escondido Mexico continue to become better organized. Environmental conditions remain conducive for the development of a tropical depression over the next 24-48 hours, as it moves west-northwestward near 10 mph. This system has a high chance (90 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No Tropical Cyclones expected through Thursday afternoon.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Tuesday, September 20, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (169 new fires)
New Large Fires: 2
Large Fires Contained: 1
Uncontained Large Fires: 6
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 3
States affected: TX, MS, OR, WA, CA, ID, and MN.
Fire Activity
Minnesota
Pagami Creek Fire (St. Louis County, MN)
As of September 20, there are 93,898 (no change) acres burned; the fire is now 23% (+4) contained.
Evacuations have been modified for permanent residents for portions of Cook County. There has been no FEMA assistance or FMAG requested.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Virginia
The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of an earthquake on August 23, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for Louisa County, and Hazard Mitigation for the entire Commonwealth.



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