Wednesday, September 14, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

WestÂ*
Rain and thunderstorms are expected for much of the Region, specifically the Desert Southwest to Colorado. Rainfall may exceed one inch in portions of Colorado and New Mexico. Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect for the Southwest.
NortheastÂ*
Rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected across parts of New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic as well as the eastern Great Lakes. The primary threats are strong winds and hail. Rainfall may reach half an inch of accumulation from these storms.
MidwestÂ*
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast from the Central Plains to the Ohio Valley and portions of the Great Lakes. Rainfall accumulations may exceed one inch in Missouri and the lower Ohio Valley. Freeze warnings and frost advisories will be in effect until early Wednesday morning from the Dakotas to Michigan.
SouthÂ*
Isolated thunderstorms are expected from Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle into the Lower Mississippi Valley. The highest rainfall accumulations may reach one inch. These storms may become severe with strong wind gusts and hail. (NOAA and NWS)
Northeast and Atlantic Storms Response/Recovery

Vermont
There are 3 shelters open with 46 occupants.
New York
Approximately 21,000 residents remain evacuated from areas affected by recent flooding from the Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. Boil Water Orders remain in effect for 15 counties, affecting an estimated population of 150,000. Approximately 4,000 customers remain without power. Over 50 state roads and 30 state bridges remain closed. There are 9 shelters open with 425 occupants.

New Jersey
Power and gas restoration efforts have been completed for the majority of customers. There are 3 shelters open with 168 occupants.
Pennsylvania
All mandatory evacuations have been lifted; however, some voluntary evacuations remain in effect. Eleven boil water advisories remain in effect, affecting over 30,000 residents. Eleven sewage treatment plants and fourteen water treatment plants have been affected. Four dams are under watch. There are thirteen shelters open with 294 occupants.Approximately 1,100 customers remain without power and 3,600 customers remain without gas.
Virginia
Forty structures have been destroyed and 27 structures have sustained damage. One primary and 41 secondary roads remain closed. There is one shelter open with 143 occupants.
Texas
There are 7 shelters open with 77 occupants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected in the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones expected through Thursday evening.

Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf
Tropical Storm Maria
At 5:00 a.m. EDT on September 14, 2011, Tropical Storm Maria was located 300 miles east-northeast of the southeastern Bahamas and is moving north-northwest near 10 mph. This general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected to continue through Wednesday. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected on Thursday. On this forecast track, Maria will pass west of Bermuda on Thursday morning. Some strengthening is forecast in the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
National Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Heavy (366 new fires)
New Large Fires: 9
Large Fires Contained: 5
Uncontained Large Fires: 32
Type 1 IMT Committed: 7
Type 2 IMT Committed: 17
States affected: OK, TX, OR, WA, CA, ID, AZ, MT, and MN.
Fire Activity
Pagami Creek FireÂ*(Saint Louis County, MN)
The fire is located approximately 14 miles east of Ely, Minnesota. Over 100,000 acres has burned. The fire has tripled in size since Monday, expanding outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. Containment is unknown. Approximately 120 campers and residents from 36 homes have begun precautionary evacuations. No injuries have been reported and no structures have sustained damage. No FEMA assistance has been requested at this time.
Bastrop County Complex Fire Update (Bastrop County, TX)
The Fire Management Assistant Grant, FEMA-2958-FM, was approved Sep 4, 2011. The fire has burned 34,068 acres and is 70 percent contained. Two fatalities have been confirmed.
Update: Approximately 1,550 homes have been destroyed. Registration of residents to re-enter affected neighborhoods continues through Thursday following a posted re-entry plan. The subdivisions that remain under evacuation are being patrolled by local law enforcement 24 hours a day.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Major Disaster Declaration Approval
Maine â FEMA-4032-DR
The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Maine (FEMA-4032-DR) effective September 13, 2011, for Tropical Storm Irene during the incident period of August 27-29, 2011. The declaration provides Public Assistance for Franklin, Oxford, and York Counties. All counties in the State are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
New York â FEMA-4031-DR
The President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-4031-DR) effective September 13, 2011, for the Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee during the incident period of September 7, 2011, and continuing. The declaration provides Individual Assistance for Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties. All counties in the State of New York are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Amendment
Vermont
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-3338-EM, effective September 5, 2011, closes the incident period for the emergency declaration for the State of Vermont.
New York
Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-3328-EM, effective September 5, 2011, closes the incident period for the emergency declaration for the State of New York.
Puerto Rico
Amendment No. 3 to FEMA-4017-DR adds Fajardo, Gurabo, Las Piedras, Naguabo, Naranjito, Rio Grande, San Lorenzo, Trujillo Alto, Vega Baja, Vieques, and Villalba Municipalities for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).
Pennsylvania
Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-4025-DR adds Delaware, Luzerne, and Philadelphia Counties for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance) and Pike and Wayne Counties for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance.
North Carolina
Amendment No. 8 to FEMA-4019-DR adds Vance County for Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance).
Governorsâ Requests
Maryland
The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Maryland as a result of Hurricane Irene during the period of August 24, 2011, through September 9, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance and Individual Assistance for the counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel (including the City of Annapolis), Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince Georgeâs, Queen Anneâs Somerset, St. Mary, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester, Baltimore City and Ocean City, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Kansas
The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Kansas as a result of flooding during the period of June 1 to August 1, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for Atchison, Doniphan, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The Governor is also requesting direct federal assistance.

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