National Situation Update: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
Midwest
A few showers and thunderstorms, some severe, may impact Iowa and parts of Illinois and Missouri and move southeastward toward the mid-Mississippi Valley. High temperatures will range from the mid-70s across Lake Superior to over 100 in western Kansas.
Northeast
A cold front may bring severe storms, heavy rainfall and flash flooding for much of New England and Long Island, NY today as it moves eastward through the region. Many areas could receive 3 to 6 inches of rain. High temperatures will range from the 70s in Buffalo, NY to the 80's in Washington, DC.
South
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Brownsville to Port Aransas, Texas. Coastal Tropical Storm Warnings elsewhere are discontinued. At 2:00 p.m. EDT, July 23, 2008, Dolly made landfall at South Padre Island, Texas, as a Category Two hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph.
Dolly is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches with isolated amounts of 20 inches in portions of south Texas and northeastern Mexico over the next few days. These rains will likely cause widespread flooding across portions of south Texas and northeast Mexico. Elsewhere in the South, isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast mainly in coastal locations and the Florida Peninsula. Highs for the region will range from around 80 in the southern Appalachians to 100 in much of Oklahoma.
West
Much of the region will be dry with isolated storms and showers over the interior from eastern Montana southward to eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. High temperatures will be seasonal with 60s in northern California to well over 100 in Death and San Joaquin Valleys. (NWS, Media Sources)
Tropical Storm Dolly
FEMA Region VI Actions
FEMA Region VI is activated Level II, 24-hour operations
3 PA PDA teams deployed / 2 PA PDAs on standby; 4 IA PDA teams deployed / 2 IA PDAs on standby
MERS personnel and assets staged
State Actions - Texas
TX State EOC fully staffed (Level I)
TX Gov requested a Major Disaster Declaration
21 shelters; 3,774 occupants
47,688 without power
Levees and dams are being closely monitored
All fuel demands being met; no shortages reported
Louisiana Oil Spill
FEMA Region VI Actions
FEMA Region VI is activated Level II, 24-hour operations
FEMA-State liaison has reported to the LA EOC
FEMA currently has 542,988 liters of water prepositioned 70 miles from New Orleans
State Actions
Current focus on response and containment
Some water intakes closed; sampling underway
Possible contamination of water supply in some parishes
Economic impact expected due to MS River closure
State not expected to request Federal assistance to supply water to two parishes whose intake valves have been shut down.
California Wildfires
Statewide Statistical Summary:
Currently, there are 2,064 contained fires. Total fires are 2,096. 98% of the fires in California are contained. There are 32 active fires. A total of 1,009,722 acres has burned and 13,532 personnel have been assigned. (CAL Fire 9:00 p.m. PDT, July 23 report, CAL OES)
Fatalities - 3
Injuries - 338
Structures destroyed: 122 residences; 1 commercial; 139 outbuildings
Structures threatened: 4,926 residences; 136 commercial; 2,183 outbuildings
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
Nothing significant to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Storm Dolly
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Dolly was located about 95 miles northwest of Brownsville, Texas. Dolly is moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph. Continued motion toward the west-northwest is expected during the next day or so with a slight increase in forward speed until the system dissipates on Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Dolly is expected to weaken as it moves further inland and is expected to become a tropical depression by tonight.(NWS, National Hurricane Center)
"Area 1" (Low potential for Tropical Cyclone Formation)
A broad area of low pressure associated with a large westward-moving tropical wave is located over the tropical eastern Atlantic about 600 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Significant development of this system is not expected during the next couple of days.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Storm Genevieve
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Genevieve was located about 575 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Genevieve is moving toward the west near 10 mph. A westward or west-northwestward motion with little change in forward speed is forecast during the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph, with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast to resume today and Genevieve could approach hurricane strength during the next day or so.
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 Wednesday, July 23, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Heavy (332 new fires)
New large fires: 8
Uncontained large fires: 35
Large fires contained: 6
States with Large fires - CA, MT, NC, TN, TX, UT, VA and WA
Wet thunderstorms will continue today across the Eastern Great Basin, Montana and Wyoming. Thunderstorms are possible across northern Washington. Dry air will continue to move into California and Nevada with warmer temperatures across the West. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
On July 23, 2008, the Governor of Texas requested an expedited Major Disaster Declaration as a result of Hurricane Dolly.
On July 21, 2208, the Governor of Idaho requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the entire state as a result of heavy rains, flooding, and rapid snow melt. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:34:40 EDT