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National Situation Update: Monday, July 3, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South: Across the South the bulk of the shower and thunderstorm activity will be confined to the Florida Peninsula and areas west of the Mississippi River. The heaviest rainfall is expected across southeast Texas as deep moisture streams inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Localized cloudbursts and flooding will be quite possible, mainly between Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi, and possibly as far inland as the Hill Country near San Antonio.

Midwest: A strong cold front pushing southward through the Upper Midwest and northern Plains will trigger a few severe thunderstorms Monday from the Great Lakes westward into eastern Nebraska. A few storms and showers may pop up elsewhere in the region, but the severest weather is expected along and in advance of the front.

West: Afternoon storms and showers will be scattered across the Mountain West Monday as is typical for the summer. Look for gusty winds along the northern Pacific beaches, especially in southern Oregon and northern California.

Northeast: Although afternoon showers and storms seem destined to pop up here and there in the Northeast Monday, precipitation by and large should be rather spotty, encouraged by only a weak trough of low pressure. Temperatures are expected to be seasonably warm with highs ranging from the 70s in far northern New England to the 90s in eastern and central Virginia. Boston, New York and Philadelphia will all enjoy highs in the 80s. (NWS, Media Sources)

FEMA Region III Flooding Updates

Delaware:
Assigned FCO is Glen Sachtleben

Regional staff is coordinating with the state on a draft declaration request.

No outstanding requests for Federal Assistance

Maryland:
Assigned FCO is Bill Lokey

President signed a Disaster declaration July 2, 2006.

Evaluating potential JFO locations

No outstanding requests for Federal Assistance

Pennsylvania:
Assigned FCO is Tom Davies.

The ERT is working to identify potential locations and staff for six to ten DRCs and four internet café trailers. 

Anticipate JFO completely operational by 17:00 hours July 3.  Selective sections began working in the JFO at 14:00 hours July 1, 2006

Red Cross reports 5 shelters open, no report on occupancy levels.

All major rivers have crested and water levels are receding, flooding persists in certain areas.
The State EOC is continuing to monitor water levels on the Lehigh, Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers.

Four trucks of water arrived in Bloomsburg on July 1, 2006. Four trucks of water and two trucks of ice have been shipped to Susquehanna County on July 2, 2006.

National Guard has 452 personnel in support of disaster operations.

Currently 1,245 customers without electric service and 1414 natural gas customers are without service.

Verizon reports 7,300 out of phone service in Susquehanna and Upper Delaware River.

139 roads remain closed in 8 counties

Six bridges are closed along the Delaware between Easton and the New Hope-Washington Crossing area.

Approximately 5,000 customers are without water service in Bloomsburg, Columbia County.

The National Guard has placed portable water trailers for residents. 

Other areas remain under a "boil water advisory".

Sewer systems have been shutdown in several counties along major rivers.

The Willow Grove Staging Area has received 95 trucks in total including, 37 Water, 37 MREs, 9 Cots, three JFO kits, two Blankets, two reefers with ice, one empty reefer and two empty vans.

The trucks have begun delivery of water and ice to Points of Distribution and will continue to operate on a 24/7 basis.

IA PDA's will continue today July 2 in the following counties:  Carbon, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.

Individual Assistance damage assessments will be conducted July 3 in the following counties: Berks, Bradford, Chester and Luzerne.

Virginia: 
A disaster declaration request has been received and is being reviewed in the region.

A request has been made by the Commonwealth to perform a PDA in Fairfax County commencing on July 5, 2006.

The most significant flooding is localized in Fairfax County

No outstanding requests for Federal Assistance.  (FEMA Region III, PEMAEOC)

FEMA Region II Flooding Updates

New York
The ERT-A opened an Initial Operating Facility (IOF) in Albany, NY on July 2, 2006.

Joint PDAs on the ground are ongoing for IA.

High water has stranded 35 boats in the canal system. They are being monitored until the water recedes. The locks will then need to be assessed for damages before they can be opened to allow passage.

Boil water orders are in effect in many of the impacted communities as water supply shows increased turbidity.

State Long-term Sheltering Committee is developing a list of affordable housing vacancies in the affected counties.

NY DOT continues to respond to numerous road and bridge closures. The situation is improving. Floodwaters are receding and roadways are being reopened when deemed safe for passage.

New Jersey
State requested a major disaster declaration on July 1, 2006; Regional documents were provided to FEMA Headquarters Declaration Unit @ 1200, July 2, 2006

A 200-foot stretch of the Delaware River in Stockton (Hunterdon) breached into the canal necessitating evacuation of 56 homes that sustained some damages. The NJ Water Supply Authority who controls the canal had a contractor evaluating the situation July 1, 2006.

The water works filtration plant on Route 29 in Trenton is near full capacity. Boil water precautions are in effect and outside water is being accepted to augment reduced output.

The Delaware River has crested and is receding in all areas of western NJ. The NWS predicts the river to return to normal levels as early as the afternoon of July 2, 2006

Electric and gas service is being cut by utility companies to flooded areas for safety. Number of customers affected continues to change.

Inspections of the closed bridges under the authority of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission continue.

The New Hope-Lambertville Bridge remains closed due to structural damage requiring further assessment and ultrasonic testing.
Numerous roads remain closed after flood waters have receded until debris removal can be completed. (FEMA Region II, NYEOC, media reports)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic: No tropical storm activity.
Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:  No tropical storm activity.
Eastern Pacific: No tropical storm activity.

Western Pacific: Tropical Storm Ewiniar was located approximately 270 nm northwest of Yap, and has tracked northwestward at 6 knots over the previous six hours. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 60 knots gusting to 75 knots. The storm is moving away from U.S. interests. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A series of light to moderate earthquakes have occurred throughout the day, July 2, 2006. The magnitudes have been from 4.4 to 6.2. They have been located in the vicinity of Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. No Tsunamis was generated. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, NWS, West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs are anticipated to begin in the Commonwealth of Virginia on July 5, 2006

PDAs in the State of Delaware for IA and PA are complete. (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

The current National Preparedness Level is 3 out of 5.

Initial attack activity was heavy nationally with 354 new fires reported. 14 new large fires were reported, six in the Eastern Great Basin Area, two each in the Southern and Southwest Areas, and one each in the Western Great Basin, Northern California, Southern California, and Rocky Mountain Areas.

Nine large fires were contained, three in the Eastern Great Basin Area, two in the Western Great Basin, one each in Northern California, Northwest, Northern Rockies and Southwest Areas.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

The National Interagency Fire Center has deployed two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) C-130 air tankers from the 145th Airlift Wing based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The air tankers and support personnel are based in Mesa, Arizona

Fire Weather Discussion: High pressure will continue over the West with the greatest concentration of thunderstorms over the Four Corners states. Dry and windy conditions will develop over portions of south-central California into southern Nevada, as well as across the southern Plains. In Alaska, a high pressure ridge will build from the southwest for warming and drying conditions. (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1651-DR-OH was declared July 2 2006, for severe storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds and flooding. The incident period is June 21-23, 2006. The FCO is Jesse Munoz.

FEMA-1652-DR-MD was declared July 2 2006, for severe storms, Tornadoes, and flooding. The incident period is June 22, 2006 and continuing. The FCO is William Lokey.