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National Situation Update: Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West
Some higher elevations of northern California will experience strong winds and up to 5 or 6 inches of rain.

Showers and windy conditions will continue over Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Mountain snow and lower elevation rain showers of up to 5 - 6 inches are expected into the Northern Rockies.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect in southwest and south-central NM and far western TX.

Midwest
Parts of the Central Plains to the Mississippi Valley will experience rain and thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are possible in the Southern Plains, especially from southeast Kansas and southern Missouri into Tuesday night.

South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast from the Carolinas to portions of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana today. Rainfall in the amount of 1-3 inches has already been observed across portions of south central and southeast Mississippi, with activity ongoing and expected to continue throughout the afternoon.

Late Tuesday into Tuesday night, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail are expected from northern Texas, Oklahoma into Arkansas to the lower Mississippi Valley; some locations may see severe storms with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes.

Northeast
Rain is expected from the Middle Atlantic region across New England and eastern Upstate New York. (National Weather Service, Region IV, various media sources)

H1N1 Flu Outbreak Update

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA
The H1N1 Flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States. On May 4, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 286 laboratory-confirmed cases in 36 states. There are 786 additional probable cases in the US in 44 states and DC. There were 35 hospitalizations and 1 fatality.

As of May 4, 546 schools in 27 states were closed due to confirmed or probable cases. CA and TX have issued States of Emergency.  FL, IA, NE, WI, MD, VA and American Samoa have declared Public Health Emergencies.

Strategic National Stockpile materials delivery is complete with the exception of Guam and American Samoa.

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - International
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2:00 a.m. EDT, May 5, there are 1,124 confirmed cases worldwide, including the United States.  Mexico has reported 590 confirmed cases of H1N1, including 25 deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (140), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Columbia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1), Portugal (1), and the United Kingdom (18).  Portugal, Columbia and El Salvador are the latest countries added.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) pandemic alert level remains at Phase 5.

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - FEMA Response
Leadership is monitoring the current situation, 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.

Travel Considerations related to H1N1 Flu Outbreak
The United States Embassy in Mexico will resume normal business on May 6, 2009. The WHO advises there is no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders; however, it is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention.(DOS, HHS SOC, CDC, PAHO/WHO)

Alaska Ice Jams

Ice jam flooding along the Yukon and Kuskowim Rivers has destroyed 2 villages, Old Eagle, Alaska (pop.129, right), and Fortymile Village, Yukon Territory, along the Yukon River, and inundated homes in Aniak, Alaska, on the Kuskokwim River.

Record ice thickness in the Yukon, cool mid-April temperatures, and near record snowpack in the upper Yukon basin set the trigger for breakup flooding.

The National Weather Service in their Alaska Spring Breakup Summary issued Monday stated that the flood potential from snowmelt and ice jams throughout Alaska this spring is currently rated as moderate to high, in all areas that are prone to flooding. The string of record warm days has created a significant amount of snowmelt, which brought a sudden increase in the timing of the breakup process.(NWS, Region X)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment # 2 was issued May 4 for FEMA-1835-DR-AL. The Amendment adds Dekalb County for Public Assistance.(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:25:12 EDT