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National Situation Update: Friday, May 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A late season storm is moving ashore in northern California.  Heavy rain, up to three inches, is forecast for the coastal mountains north of San Francisco and near one inch in San Francisco.  Snow levels in the Sierra will drop from 8500 feet to 7000 feet by tomorrow and a foot or more of snow is possible in the northern and central Sierra Nevada's.  Showers will spread inland from California and Oregon across southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado with a few thunderstorms forecast for Arizona and New Mexico. Tomorrow, the storm will spread precipitation into the Four Corners region.
Midwest:
Much of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest will be dry. However, a series of systems moving across the region will produce significant precipitation from the Plains to the Ohio River Valley.  The area from the Plains to the Ohio Valley will see even more rain as we move into next week.   Widespread flooding is expected to continue.
South:
A cold front will move slowly across the region through the weekend.  Periods of heavy rain and severe weather are forecast across northern Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee. Showers and thunderstorms will increase across the southern Appalachians and North Carolina.  Eastern Oklahoma, northeastern Texas and Arkansas will receive the heaviest precipitation. The forecast is for more than 10 inches over the next five days. Widespread flooding is expected to continue. A ridge of high pressure will keep coastal areas of the southeast dry through the weekend.
Northeast:
A slow moving cold front will produce widespread precipitation over the region through the weekend.
Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast today with the Appalachians receiving more than an inch of rain. Pennsylvania and Upstate New York will see more than half an inch of rain. (National Weather Service, various media sources)

H1N1 Flu Outbreak Update

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA

  • The H1N1 Flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. On Thursday, April 30 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 109 confirmed cases in 11 states.
  • The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) pandemic alert level increased to Phase 5. Characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
  • HHS released a total of 11 million courses of antiviral drugs to all 50 states.

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - International

  • On Thursday, April 30 the CDC reported there were 150 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu outside of the U.S. and reports 8 confirmed deaths in Mexico.
  • HHS began moving 400,000 courses of antiviral drugs to Mexico representing less than 1% of the total American stockpile.
  • Government of Mexico has closed schools and suspended all public events through May 4.

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - FEMA Response

  • Leadership is monitoring the current situation and participating in conferences and planning sessions to respond to the needs of State and local agencies.
  • FEMA NRCC is maintaining contact with FEMA Regions, DHS, HHS/CDC, and other Federal and state partners.
  • Select Regions are standing by or have activated personnel in response to the Department of Health and Human Services nationwide Public Health Emergency Declaration.

Travel Considerations related to H1N1 Flu Outbreak

  • The United States Embassy in Mexico suspended all visa and non-emergency American citizen services from April 30 - May 6, 2009.
  • CDC issued a Traveler's Health Alert Notice and a Traveler's Health Warning, which recommends against nonessential travel to Mexico.(HHS SOC April 30, DHS Leadership Brief April 30; CDC Update April 30; PAHO/WHO Update on Swine Influenza April 30, 2009, FEMA DSAR April 30, 2009)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

 No significant activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting U.S territories in the Western Pacific  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Friday, May 1, 2009 at 2:03 am EST an earthquake measuring 5.9 struck about 175 miles southeast of Auki, Malaita, Solomon Islands at a depth of 21.6 mile.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Florida Wildfire Update
State EOC is at activation Level III (monitoring).
The Deep Fire has burned approximately 28,000 acres within Big Cypress National Preserve. The fire is 75% contained.
No injuries or damages reported.  No request for Federal assistance. (National Park Service, FL DEM, NOAA SPC, InciWeb)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:25:17 EDT