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National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
High pressure will keep much of the region warm and dry. However, the northern and central Rockies will see some isolated thunderstorms.  Highs ranging from the 50s in the higher Rockies and northern Cascades to around 100 in the desert southwest.  Tomorrow a cold front will move inland from the Pacific producing showers and cooler temperatures.
Midwest:
A trough of low pressure over the Great Lakes will produce precipitation from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley over the next couple of days.  Highs temperatures will range from the 40s over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the low 80s in southwest Kansas.
South:
There will be a few thunderstorms over eastern sections of Virginia and North Carolina as a cold front moves eastward but most of the region will be sunny and dry.   There may be a few showers over southern Florida.  Highs will range from the 60s across the southern Appalachians to near 90 in parts of southern Texas and Florida.
Northeast:
A frontal system moving across the region will produce cool and unsettled weather for several days. Expect showery precipitation over northwest Pennsylvania, New York state and New England.  High temperatures will range from the upper 50s in western New York to the mid-70s in south-central Virginia.(NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Puerto Rico Heavy Rainfall

  • PREMA EOC remains activated
  • A JFO location has been identified in the Municipality of Guaynabo.
  • 10 Potential Disaster recovery centers have been identified.(Region II Sitrep, Sep 30)
  • IA PDAs have been completed on the four Municipalities that were revisited due to additional damages.
  • 5 fatalities; no injuries reported
  • 9 shelters; population 251 (Region II Sitrep, Sep 30)
  • As a result of severe storms and flooding, Cabo Rojo, Guayama, Humacao, Patillas, Ponce, and Yabucoa were the most impacted municipalities. In some locations, almost 30 inches of rain fell within a 3-day period. (Region II Sitrep, Sep 29)
  • 8,846 without sewer services; restoration unknown (Region II Sitrep, Sep 30, FEMA HQ)

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Ike

FEMA Region VI
Louisiana

  • GOSHEP activated at Level III (Emergency Operations).
  • 5 fatalities; no injuries
  • 5 shelters; population 203 (NSS)
  • 11 DRCs and 10 MDRCs (7 open) located throughout affected areas.

Texas

  • SEOC activated at Level I, 24/7
  • 47 fatalities; no injuries
  • 17 Shelters; population of 1,914 (NSS)
  • 97,990 customers remain without power. (DOE  as of 6:00 p.m. EDT Sep 30)
  • There are 37 Rights of Entry (ROE) sites open, and 18,687 ROEs request have been received to install Blue Roofs.  (TX JFO Report as of 9:00 p.m. EDT Sep 29)
  • 3 state-run PODS remain open; FEMA continues to supply product to State run Resource Staging Areas (RSAs).
  • 14 DRCs and 30 MDRCs, including 4 MRICs, (21 open) located throughout affected areas. (FEMA DAD)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Storm Laura
At 5:00 am EST the center of Tropical Storm Laura was located about 295 miles east-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland.  Laura is moving toward the north-northeast near 16 mph and this general motion is expected to continue with an increase in forward speed today.  Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours and Laura is expected to lose tropical characteristics later today. 

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Depression Fourteen-E
At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Depression Fourteen-E was located about 590 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.
The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 to 36 hr.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 Hours and the depression could become a tropical storm later today or Thursday.

Elsewhere, Thunderstorm activity associated with the broad area of low pressure located about 350 miles south-southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec has changed little.  Conditions appear somewhat favorable for development and this system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days as it drifts westward.

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting United States Territories. (NOAA, HPC,  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, September 30, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (148)
New large fires: 2
Uncontained large fires: 6
Large fires contained: 0
States with large fires: CA, OR and AZ  (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:32:39 EDT