National Situation Update: Friday, May 19, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

New England Flooding Update

Rivers continue to recede, but many are still in flood, particularly the Spicket and the Merrimack . Flooding and flood watches continue throughout the stricken area.

Additional rainfall could prolong the time for the rivers to recede, but is unlikely to cause any renewed flooding. However, Federal, State, and local officials continue to monitor for dam failures and further flooding.

FEMA Region I has transitioned its operations from the Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) to the Regional Office.

Elements of the US Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the US Coast Guard that had reported to the RRCC have returned to their normal duty stations, but remain on alert if needed.

Personnel of Urban Search and Rescue Task Force MA-TF-1 deactivated at 4:00 pm EDT Thursday, May 18.

Personnel of the National Disaster Medical System will remain on alert until 6:00 am EDT Monday, May 22.

Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) are scheduled to begin today in Maine , Massachusetts , and New Hampshire .

Public Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin today in Maine and on Tuesday, May 23, in Massachusetts and New Hampshire .

FEMA Logistics is continuing its search for potential Joint Field Office sites.

Massachusetts Update:

  • A citizen's information telephone line is open 24 hours a day, and has received over 2,000 calls from the public.
  • The State Health Department is supporting and monitoring the placement of about 200 evacuees from a Lawrence nursing home who have been placed in area facilities while their nursing home is being repaired.
  • The American Red Cross and local municipalities are collectively operating 8 shelters at this time in Gloucester , Hamilton, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Peabody, Saugus, and Wenham, accommodating approximately 300 people.
  • The Salvation Army is operating feeding locations or providing prepared foods in Lawrence, Peabody, and Saugus, serving about 800 meals to date.
  • All shellfish harvesting areas except for the Outer Cape have been closed.
  • In Haverhill , a wastewater treatment plant continues to discharge raw sewage into the Merrimack River . Temporary repairs should be completed today.
  • Current dams of concern include the Spicket River Dam at Methuen , the Millyard Dam at Amesbury, and Walden Pond at Lynn . Water is receding and/or slowing at all three locations and officials continue to monitor.
  • 850 National Guard have been activated, and have carried out 44 missions.

New Hampshire Update:

  • The public information telephone line has received approximately 2,000 calls.
  • 15 area schools continue to be closed or delayed.
  • The American Red Cross reports shelters open in Salem , Somersworth, Newmarket , Southern NH University, Nashua , and Bristol.
  • The Salvation Army has dispatched a canteen to Milton , and has served over 950 meals to date.
  • Overtopping and/or breaching of dams continues in Exeter, Tuftonboro, Bristol, Meredith, Concord, Newmarket, Webster, Loudon, and Fremont, and a dam failure is possible in Hampton.
  • Over 800 National Guard have been activated.

Maine Update:

  • The State has issued a press release on "private well water," and about 200 water testing kits are being delivered today to area community centers.
  • Water levels are dropping, but officials continue to monitor.
  • 29 local roads remain closed in York County , but no Interstate Highway closures have been reported.
  • In York County , bridges are closed in York, Wells, and Ogunquit due to significant flood damage. ( FEMA Region 1 )

Significant National Weather

Northeast: An area of low pressure aloft will keep New England cool and wet for another few days. The rain may keep rivers and streams above flood stage over southern New England and flood watches continue in Northeast New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. By tomorrow, all the rivers are forecast to be below flood stage.

South: Thunderstorms are likely to push out of Missouri, through Tennessee and into Georgia later today with heavy rain, gusty winds and hail. Most of the South will be dry through the weekend.

West: The run of record high temperatures is coming to an end. The axis of the ridge of high pressure aloft that kept the West Coast hot and dry is shifting eastward. A low pressure system moving in from the Pacific will bring precipitation and cooler temperatures to the coast. Rain showers may reach as far south as San Francisco today and perhaps all the way to Los Angeles by Sunday night.

Midwest: Low pressure aloft will produce rain over the eastern sections of the Great Lakes. A stationary frontal boundary will allow scattered showers and thunderstorms to erupt from the northern Plains to the Missouri Valley over the weekend.  (NWS, Media sources)

Hurricane Preparedness Week

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. This year Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 21-27, 2006.

Hurricane hazards come in many forms: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. The goal of the Hurricane Preparedness Web site ( http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml )  is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take action. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. (National Hurricane Center)

Summary of Forecasts and Hazards

Synopsis: A major pattern shift is expected at the end of the 3-5 day period. Below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation in the Northeast coupled with record-setting heat in the West is expected to evolve to below normal temperatures along the West Coast with above normal temperatures for the eastern two-thirds of the country. Localized flooding is possible in California as rainfall adds to river heights currently swollen from snowmelt. The last half of this Assessment period is expected to see high heat index values for the Gulf Coast and southeastern states as the upper-level flow transitions into a more summer-like pattern.

Hazards

  • An enhanced wildfire risk is expected for parts of the Southwest and southern Plains from May 21-23.
  • Severe storms are expected for parts of the Upper Midwest into the southern Great Lakes region from May 21-23.
  • A general wildfire risk exists for the northern part of the Florida Peninsula.
  • Severe drought exists across the Southwest, parts of the Southern Plains, the western Gulf Coast region, and a small part of South Carolina ; some relief is anticipated.

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity in the U.S. or its territories.

A moderate earthquake occurred at Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 07:04: pm (EDT). The magnitude 5.7 event was located off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia at a depth of 14.7 miles. No Tsunami was generated. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program NOAA/NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Individual Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin today in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Public Assistance PDAs are scheduled to begin today in Maine and on Tuesday, May 23, in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Friday, 19-May-2006 07:24:37 EDT