Thursday, June 10, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Showers will continue in the Pacific Northwest, becoming snow showers at the higher elevations. A storm system over the Northern Rockies will move eastward bringing rain to portions of the Intermountain Region through Thursday.Â* Showers and thunderstorms from this system are expected to move into the Middle Mississippi Valley by Friday morning. A trough of high pressure will allow slight relief from the recent hot spell in the Southwest as temperatures drop into the 90âs.Â* Increasing winds in the Desert Southwest are forecast to create areas of limited visibility due to blowing dust and sand.Â*
Midwest
Strong to severe thunderstorms are forecast through portions of the Midwest, with the highest probability for severe weather in South Dakota and Nebraska. Isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the Mississippi Valley.Â*
SouthÂ*
An upper level low pressure system over Texas will produce widespread rain and thunderstorms, some severe, over Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. While strong winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are forecast, flooding and flash flooding are the primary threats. Scattered thunderstorms are expected eastward in coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
NortheastÂ*
A storm over the Great Lakes will move eastward to the southern New England Coast today, bringing areas of rain and thunderstorms across portions of the Northeast.Â*
(NOAA, media sources)

June Flooding Events

Over the last several days a series of complex weather systems delivered heavy rain, hail, strong winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes from the Pacific Northwest and Northern and Central Rockies eastward across the Central and Southern Plains and extending into the Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic and New England states. Warm temperatures resulted in snowmelt induced flooding across portions of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.
Yesterday, more than 50 reports of severe weather were received over parts of the Midwest, Northern and Southern Plains. Seven tornadoes were reported across Kansas, Iowa, Texas and Colorado on June 8, 2010. Damaged roads and structures, power outages, and in some locations flooding and flash flooding occurred across the impacted areas.
(NOAA)

FEMA Response

FEMA Region VII is at Level III
Situational Update
Oregon
Severe weather caused flooding in Baker County near the Idaho border June 5-7. Two bridges and 58 homes were either partially flooded or isolated by flood waters in Pine and Eagle Valley. Initial damage assessments are ongoing.
IdahoÂ*
Rainfall and snowmelt caused flooding, washed out bridges, and damaged roads across central and northeast Idaho June 5-7. Preliminary reports estimate 48 residences and 14 commercial structures flooded in east central ID. The Governor declared a state of emergency for 3 counties on June 8.
Wyoming
Flooding is ongoing on the North Platte River (Carbon County) and the Laramie River (Albany County). Sandbagging efforts are ongoing from Lander to Riverton (Fremont County), WY. Over 200 National Guard Troops are assisting in flood areas. The Army Corps of Engineers from Omaha, Nebraska is in Fremont County to assess structures impacted by high flows. The Governor of Wyoming declared Fremont County a disaster area.
Utah
Flooding is occurring and expected to continue for the next 24 hours in north-central Utah, particularly along the Weber River (Summit County). Major traffic delays have been reported; five homes are reported damaged with over 100 homes threatened by rising water.
Colorado
Flooding is occurring and expected to continue over the next several days in agricultural areas along the Arkansas and Colorado Rivers (Mesa County) and tributaries.
Texas
Flash flooding and river flooding is ongoing and likely to persist through late this evening across central and eastern Texas. Flooding on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers below Canyon Dam and the San Marcos River at Lulling, TX are creating the most impact, including one unconfirmed fatality, water rescues, and numerous road closures. At least 50 people were evacuated in Comal and Guadalupe counties. Initial damage assessments for a tornado touchdown in Jefferson County on June 9 resulted in 2 mobile homes destroyed, 3 homes and 4 mobile homes with major damage, and 2 mobile homes with minor damage.
Illinois
A confirmed EF-2 tornado moved into the City of Streator, IL causing structure damage and injuring 17 people. Another EF-2 tornado struck the City of Dwight, IL, spreading debris 200 yards across a field , downing trees on top of homes, and damaging mobile homes. 14 people were injured, one critically.
Missouri
Nine counties in west-central Missouri were affected by heavy rain and flooding. Water lines were impacted in Worth County, affecting 25 families. American Red Cross provided bottled water.
Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA Response
The Region IV and Region VI RRCCs remain at Watch/Steady State. FEMA MERS provided radios to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.Â* FEMA is leading a Social Services and Small Business Interagency Working Group (Claims and Benefits).Â* FEMA External Affairs is providing personnel to support FOSC External Affairs.Â* FEMA is also providing an emergency management subject matter expert to the National Incident Command (NIC).
State Response Levels
The Florida EOC is operating at Level I (Full Activation), with Florida Department of Environmental Protection as the lead agency. The Louisiana EOC is at Level III (Modified/ Partial Activation), and the Alabama EOC is at Partial Activation.
Situational Update
More than 3,500 vessels are responding on site, in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple offshore drilling units. 24,500 personnel are providing support for response efforts, and 17,500 National Guard personnel from the Gulf Coast states have been activated to participate in the BP oil spill response efforts.
The estimated oil spill rate remains between 12,000 to 19,000 barrels per day. Booming, skimming and in situ burn operations continue as weather permits.
Oil and gas continues to flow from TOP HAT to the ENTERPRISE Vessel for processing. The daily average recovery rate is estimated to be 15,000 barrels per day. Offloading of approximately 60,000 barrels of oil to the MASSACHUSETTS barge is scheduled to be complete today, June 10.
Drill Rig DDIII drilling operations are estimated to be 35.5 % complete; drill depth remains at 8,729 ft below sea floor (13,978 ft. below drill floor). Drill Rig DDII BOP drilling operations are estimated to be 11.5 % complete; drill depth remains at 3,432 ft. below sea floor (8,650 ft. below drill floor). Drilling is scheduled to restart today, June 10.
The Near-Term (dual flow) system for the Q-4000 startup is planned for June 14. The Q-4000 is a unique multi-purpose semi submersible oilfield construction and intervention vessel currently being used to assist the ENTERPRISE in further attempts to stop the leak.
Current Impact/Oil Landfall
Approved Small Business Administration Economic Injury Assistance Loans total more than $2 million for small businesses in the Gulf that have been impacted by the oil spill. Deferments were granted on existing SBA disaster loans in the region totaling $1,440,000 per month in payments.
Sheen and tar balls have arrived on beaches in all the Gulf Coast States; cleanup is underway.
In Florida waters the primary oil plume is 13 miles from Pensacola, 100 miles from Gulf County, and 280 miles from St Petersburg, FL. NOAA trajectories show direct on-shore impacts of scattered tar balls and light sheen through Friday, mainly near Pensacola and East Bay. (NIC Daily Situation Update, DHS NOC SLB, Deepwater Horizon Response and FL Situation Report)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*Â*(FEMA HQ)
Severe Weather Recovery: Mississippi Valley/Southeast (May 1-2) Update

Kentucky
The KY SEOC is at Level 1 (Normal Operations) with hot standby and the Emergency Communication Information Center (ECIC) in 24 hour operations. The JFO for this event is operational in Lexington, KY. All PA PDAs were completed June 9 and all IA PDAs were completed on June 4. Six Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) are located in the state.
Tennessee
The State EOC remains at Level IV (Localized Emergency). The JFO for this event is operational in Antioch, TN. Six MDRCs remain in Tennessee. (Region IV Logistics)
Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific during the next 48 hours.
In the Central Pacific, a weak surface trough is located about 1175 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii and moving westward at almost 20 mph. Disorganized thunderstorms associated with this trough have become less active since yesterday. Strong upper level winds in the vicinity of the system are not conducive for significant development. There is a low chance (10 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness is at Level 2. National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, June 9: Initial attack activity was light with 69 new fires. There were two new large fires and 10 uncontained large fires affecting Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and California. One large fire was contained.Â*
(NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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