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National Situation Update: Monday, September 11, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Commercial Aviation ORANGE

U.S. Marks Fifth Anniversary of September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks

In large cities and in small towns across the country today, people will mark the fifth anniversary of the largest terrorist attack in U.S. history.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed airliners into the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon.  A fourth hijacked airliner, United Flight 93, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard when passengers and crew members fought back against the hijackers.

Nearly 3,000 died in the September 11 attack, including Americans as well as nationals of virtually every country in the world.

In New York City, moments of silence are planned today for 8:46, 9:03, 9:59 and 10:29 a.m., the times when the hijacked airliners struck each of the twin towers, and when each tower fell.

In Shanksville, friends and family members of those killed aboard Flight 93 will gather at the crash site today for a memorial service.

On Saturday, Pentagon officials allowed the general public access to the building's memorial to the 184 people who died when the Pentagon was attacked.  A solemn marker outside the Pentagon conveys a simple message: "We will never forget."  (Media Sources)

National Weather Forecast

West:
A strong high pressure center over the Great Basin will result in sunny and dry conditions across much of the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast the High Plains of eastern Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. The Mojave and Sonoran Deserts will reach highs over 100 and the Central Valley of California will reach the 90s.

Midwest:
 A slow-moving front combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will produce heavy precipitation over eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan, northwest Indiana, Illinois and much of Missouri. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Great Plains.

South:
Scattered showers and storms are forecast southwest Florida, the Gulf Coast, parts of West Texas, eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. Rough surf and rip currents produced by Hurricane Florence (see National Hurricane Center for the latest advisory) will make for dangerous conditions along much of the Southeast coast.

Northeast:
The Northeast should remain dry and cool except for a stray shower or thunderstorm in West Virginia and western Virginia. Frost and freeze advisories are posted this morning for northern New York and much of northern New England. Gusty winds and high surf conditions are expected along the coast due to a tight pressure gradient between offshore Hurricane Florence (see National Hurricane Center for the latest advisory) and a strong high centered over southern Quebec. (NWS, Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
At 5:00 am EDT, the center of Hurricane Florence was located about 80 miles west-southwest of Bermuda and 1,000 miles from Miami, Florida. Florence is moving toward the north near 12 mph a turn towards the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is forecast during the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hour. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles. Based on the current warning Florence poses no threat to the United States but a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bermuda and large ocean swells and dangerous surf conditions are forecast to affect the East Coast of the United States.

At 5:00 am, newly formed Tropical Depression Seven was located 525 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands and 750 east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Tropical Depression Seven is moving towards the west near 7 mph. A gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and the depression could become a tropical storm later today.  Based on the current warning Tropical Depression Seven poses no threat to the United States.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a number of tropical waves in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Central and Eastern Pacific
There are no tropical systems but the National Hurricane Center is monitoring a number of tropical waves.

Western Pacific
Tropical Depression 14W is located approximately 630 miles southeast of Naha, Okinawa, Japan. This poses no threat to United States territories at this time. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center).

Earthquake Activity

A strong (6.0) earthquake occurred about 250 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Florida at 10:56 AM EDT Sunday, September 10, in Florida. No tsunami was generated.  (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

NORTH CAROLINA: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for 12 counties began September 6, 2006, and are scheduled to be completed by today.
ALASKA: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance PDAs for the Mat-Su Borough and the City of Cordova are scheduled to begin today.(FEMA HQ) 

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level - 5
Current Situation:  Large wildland fires are classified as 100 acres or larger in timber fuel types, 300 acres or larger in grass fuel types, or when a type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) is assigned.
National Fire Activity

• Initial attack activity: Moderate (90 new fires)
• New large fires:  2
• Large fires contained: 4
• Uncontained large fires: 54
• Area Command Teams: 2
• Type 1 IMTs:  10
• Type 2 IMTs:  22
• Fire Use Teams:  6

• Mid-level fireline and aviation management personnel
• Type 1 Hotshot Crews
• Type 2 Initial Attack Crews 
• Type 2 Crews       (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)