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National Situation Update: Monday, August 18, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Storm Fay
At 05:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Storm Fay was about 105 miles east-southeast of Havana, Cuba and about 155 miles south-southeast of Key West, Florida.  TS Fay is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph. A turn towards the north is expected during Tuesday.  On this track the center of Fay will cross western Cuba early today and move near the Florida Keys.  Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible and Fay could be approaching hurricane strength when it nears the Florida Keys and become a hurricane before it reaches the Florida peninsula.  Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.  A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred 150 miles east of Atka, AK in the Aleutian Islands on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. EDT.  The depth was 26.3 miles. No injuries were reported and a tsunami was not generated. (USGS, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Sunday, August 17, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Light (117 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 19
Large fires contained: 2
States with Large fires: CA, ID, MT, NM, OR, TX, WA and WY
Dry thunderstorms are predicted over northern California, Oregon, Washington and western Nevada.  Hot and dry weather will continue throughout the rest of the western states. (NIFC, CAL Fire)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)