Thursday, June 17, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A potent weather system moving eastward from the Northern Rockies will impact parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with severe thunderstorms, large hail, and damaging winds, especially in parts of the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. A few tornadoes are also possible with this system from the Northern and Central Plains to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
SouthÂ*
Hot, humid conditions from the Gulf of Mexico northward will likely contribute to the formation of scattered thunderstorms from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula. Thunderstorms are also likely along the coastal Carolinas.
NortheastÂ*
Northern sections of New York and New England may see scattered showers. Elsewhere, the region will remain dry.
WestÂ*
Scattered showers are forecast for Washington and Wyoming. Rain and high winds are forecast for Montana and northern Idaho. Rain could be heavy in northern Montana. Snow levels in western Montana and northwest Wyoming, including the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park, may dip below 6,000 feet, where a light accumulation is expected.Â*
(NOAA and media sources)

June Flood Response and Recovery - Update

Background:
Heavy rains from June 11-13 led to flooding in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, northern Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Rivers were reported up to six feet outside of banks at some locations in Kansas and Nebraska. Waters began to recede Monday, June 14 across much of the affected areas. In early June, heavy rain and warm temperatures resulted in rapid snowmelt-induced flooding across portions of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.
Current Situation:
Flash flooding is possible over the next few days for portions of Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Strong storms are expected overnight in northern and eastern Nebraska, aggravating already high water levels and flood conditions throughout the region. Along the Missouri River, additional rain may add to rises expected due to increased release of water from Gavinâs Point Dam.
FEMA Response:
The Region VII and Region VIII Regional Response Coordination Centers are activated at Level III to support flooding response and recovery. FEMA Logistics pre-positioned water, meals, cots, and blankets in Kansas City, Missouri, as a precaution. A FEMA liaison is currently deployed to the Nebraska Emergency Operations Center. USACE (ESF-3) representatives are activated to provide flood-fighting expertise.

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel to the National Integration Center and additional Logistics and External Affairs support to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator. FEMA leads the Social Services and Small Business Interagency Working Group (Claims and Benefits).
U.S. government and independent scientists estimate the most likely flow rate of oil is between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels per day. Relief well, booming/skimming, and in situ burning operations continue as weather permits. BP is required to expand their current long-term containment and disposal strategy to increase oil capture to 40,000-53,000 barrels per day by the end of June, and 60,000-80,000 barrels per day by mid July.
Shoreline cleanup continues in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The coastline west of Panama City, Fla. may be impacted by Friday June 18. NOAA expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to Panama City Beach in order to include additional areas off of the Florida Panhandle. The space represents 33% (80,806 square miles) of the exclusive commercial and recreational economic fishing zone.Â*
Â*(NIC Daily Situation Update)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*Â*(FEMA HQ)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern Pacific
On June 17 as of 2:00 a.m. EDT, Tropical Depression Two-E, is located about 30 miles southwest of Puerto Escondido, Mexico, and 91 miles southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, moving toward the west-northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 30 mph. The government of Mexico has issued a tropical storm warning for Salina Crux through Acapulco and a tropical storm watch from west of Acapulco to Zihuatanejo.
A second low-pressure system is located 50 miles south-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico and continues to show signs of organization. There is a high chance (60 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as the depression dr ifts west-northwestward.
Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Western Pacific: Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, June 16, 2010:Â*
There were 122 new light fires and 3 new large fires, of which none are contained. 14 large fires are affecting the states of AK, AZ, FL, NM, & TX.
(NIFC)

Wildfire Update

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment #6 FEMA-1912-DR-Kentucky signed on June 16, amends the Major Disaster Declaration to include Clark, Ballard, Carlisle, and Hickman Counties for Public Assistance (Clark County is already designated for Individual Assistance) for damages due to Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud Slides and Tornadoes May 1 to June 1, 2010.
On June 16 FEMA-1901-DR-Nebraska; Amendment #1, and FEMA-1907-DR-Nebraska; Amendment #2, were signed amending two Major Disaster Declarations to appoint Dolph A Diemont as the Federal Coordinating Officer for both disasters.Â*(FEMA HQ)



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