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National Situation Update: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Parts of southern California and Arizona will be drier today as moisture moves eastward into Colorado and New Mexico.  A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for eastern Oregon and southeast Washington until 10:00 p.m. PDT.  Conditions include low humidity, high temperatures and increased winds.  Breezy winds and low humidity will result in critical fire weather conditions across portions of Washington and Oregon today.  High temperatures across the West will range from the 70s in Portland and Seattle to over 100 in Las Vegas and Fresno.
Midwest:
A stationary cold front may produce heavy thunderstorms from the central Plains to the western Great Lakes. Severe storms could produce tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain, with some areas possibly receiving over four inches or more of rain.  Flood Warnings continue for numerous rivers in Wisconsin and Illinois.
High temperatures will be in the 90s for most of the region.
South:
An area of low pressure continues to produce heavy rain across Florida and the coastal Carolinas.
High temperatures will range from the upper 90s for most of the South to the 100s in parts of Oklahoma and Texas.
Northeast:
A weak frontal boundary may bring thunderstorms and heavy rain across New York and New England states.  Strong surf and dangerous rip currents caused by Tropical Storm Bertha will continue over the next couple of days.  High temperatures are forecast to be in the 80s for much of the Northeast. (National Weather Service, Various Media Sources).

Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak

The CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multi-state outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections.  Since April, 1167 persons infected with Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.  These were identified because clinical laboratories in all states send Salmonella strains from ill persons to their State public health laboratory for characterization. No new states report ill persons.

Salmonella is a type of bacterium. The type of Salmonella causing illness in this outbreak, Salmonella Saintpaul, is relatively uncommon. Fruits and vegetables that come into contact with Salmonella may become contaminated with it, causing illness if eaten. Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of some animals, and can live in soil and water for months. Once Salmonella has contaminated something, it can be spread from surface to surface.

Among the 813 persons with information available, illnesses began between April 10 and July 4, 2008, including 357 who became ill on June 1 or later.  Many steps must occur between a person becoming ill and the determination that the illness was caused by the outbreak strain of Salmonella; these steps take an average of 2-3 weeks. Therefore, an illness reported today may have begun 2-3 weeks ago. Patients range in age from <1 to 99 years; 50% are female. The rate of illness is highest among persons 20 to 29 years old; the rate of illness is lowest in children 10 to 19 years old and in persons 80 or more years old. At least 220 persons were hospitalized. A man in his eighties who died in Texas from cardiopulmonary failure had an infection with the outbreak strain at the time of his death; the infection may have contributed to his death. A man in his sixties who died in Texas from cancer had an infection with the outbreak strain of at the time of his death; the infection may also have contributed to his death.

Health officials have worked continuously since late May to investigate this outbreak. CDC has sent 29 people to the field to work with other public health officials. FDA has activated the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), asking laboratories across the nation to expand their testing in an effort to find the source of this outbreak. FDA personnel are working virtually around the clock during this investigation. (FDA, HHS)

California Wildfires

Summary:
Currently there are 2,085 active fires.  Total fires contained are 2,004.  96% of the fires in California are contained.  There are 81 active fires. There are currently 18 fire complexes statewide that are actively threatening life and property.  A total of 873,025 acres has burned (515,213 acres for the 10 most critical complexes) and 18,805 personnel have been assigned.  (CAL Fire)

California Wildfires
Fatalities - 2; Injuries - 297
ARC Reports 4 shelters with 98 occupants (NSS Report,  July 15, 2008)
Structures destroyed: 101 residences; 1 commercial; 138 outbuildings
Structures threatened: 6,492 residences; 129 commercial; 2,270 outbuildings
State EOC is activated 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. PDT; limited night shift
FEMA NRCC is monitoring the situation and coordinating with Region IX.
FEMA Region IX RRCC is activated at Level III from 7:00 a .m. - 5:00 p.m. PDT
FEMA LNOs deployed to State EOC, NorthOps Center and SouthOps Center
NRCC LOFR (LNO) deployed to NIFC supporting California wildfires

International Wildfire Support

Foreign fire fighters began arriving Monday, July 14: Total 44
Personnel from Australia and New Zealand are traveling to North OPS today
5 Fire fighting specialists from Greece arrived at LAX yesterday
Resources from Canada and Mexico are also expected. (FEMA Region IX, CA OES, CAL FIRE)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Storm Bertha
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of TS Bertha was located about 355 miles northeast of Bermuda.  TS Bertha is moving toward the east near 6 mph and a turn toward the southeast is expected today.  Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph.  Slight strengthening is possible over the next day or so.

"Area 1" (Low potential for Tropical Cyclone Formation)
Disorganized thunderstorm activity off the southwest Florida coast is associated with a trough of low pressure.  This system is likely to produce locally heavy rains over portions of the Florida Peninsula as it moves eastward or northeastward during the next day or so although significant development is not expected due to the proximity of the system to land.

"Area 2" (Medium potential for Tropical Cyclone Formation)
The Tropical Wave and broad area of low pressure located about 600 miles east of the Windward Islands has has not become any better organized; however, this system could develop into a tropical depression at any time during the next day or so.

Eastern Pacific:
Hurricane Elida
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center Hurricane Elida was located about 575 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Hurricane Elida is moving toward the west near 13 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.  Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. A weakening trend is expected to begin within 24 hours as Elida moves over cooler waters.

Tropical Depression Seven-E
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Seven-E was located about 560 miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico.  Tropical Depression Seven-E is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. A motion to the west-northwest, roughly parallel to the coast of Mexico, at a slightly faster forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm later today.

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Tuesday July 15, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 5
Initial attack activity: Light (186 new fires)
New large fires: 4
Uncontained large fires: 55
Large fires contained: 3
Acres Burned YTD - 3,196,531
State with Large fires - Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a Disaster Declaration for Vermont for Severe Storms and Flooding from June 14-17, 2008.  The Disaster Declaration grants Public Assistance (PA) for 2 counties (Addison and Franklin Counties) and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:34:50 EDT