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National Situation Update: Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South
Thunderstorms could produce strong winds and hail from eastern Texas to the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys and eastward into northern Georgia and the western Carolinas. Several inches of rain are expected, especially in Arkansas and Tennessee.

Northeast
Rain is forecast from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. Another storm will bring additional rain to the Mid-Atlantic later in the day, then move northward through the Northeast Wednesday Night into Thursday. Rain totals of an inch or more are expected over portions of the region during the next several days.

Midwest
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast from the Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop in portions of the Mississippi Valley. Some storms may contain gusty winds and hail.

West
A cold front, accompanied by rain and mountain snow, will move into the Northwest from Northern California to Washington and Oregon, and extending eastward into the Northern Rockies by Thursday. (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. On May 5, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 403 laboratory-confirmed cases in 38 states. There are 702 additional probable cases in the US in 43 states and DC. The latest state with confirmed H1N1 cases is Hawaii. On Tuesday, the Hawaii Department of Health received lab confirmation of three H1N1 flu cases. All three have recovered and are no longer contagious.

Fourty-three cases have resulted in hospitalization. Two deaths have now have been confirmed in the U.S. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has reported the first death of a U.S. resident with H1N1. The death has been confirmed by the CDC. 

CA, ME, OH and TX have issued States of Emergency.  FL, IA, NE, WI, MD, VA, IL and American Samoa have declared Public Health Emergencies. Strategic National Stockpile materials delivery is complete with the exception of Guam and American Samoa, scheduled to receive their shipment on Friday, May 8.

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - International
alWorld Health Organization (WHO) pandemic alert level remains at Phase 5. According to WHO, on May 6 at 2:00 a.m. EDT there were 1,516 confirmed cases worldwide, including the United States (403). Mexico has reported 822 confirmed cases of H1N1, including 29 deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Columbia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27). (HHS SOC, CDC, PAHO/WHO)

Volcano Activity – Redoubt Alaska

Since about 2:00 a.m. EDT this morning, the seismicity at the Redoubt volcano has changed from discrete repeating events to a continuous tremor. Small ash bursts are sending ash to less than 12,000 feet above sea level. Winds are carrying the low-level ash and steam plume towards the east. Seismic activity remains at an elevated level, and the lava dome in the summit crater continues to grow. An explosive event due to dome collapse, or internal depressurization, could occur at any time. An explosion may produce a high altitude (>30,000 ft ASL) ash plume, trace to minor ash fall in parts of south-central Alaska, lahars in the Drift River Valley, and pyroclastic flows in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Redoubt activity Color Code remains at ORANGE; Alert Level WATCH. Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) continues 24/7 operations and is monitoring the situation closely. (AVO)

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)

Wildfire Update

Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, CA
At approximately 2:00 p.m. PDT Tuesday, the California State Warning Center (CSWC) was advised of a brush fire burning in the San Roque Canyon, north of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County. The fire, fueled by dry conditions and high winds gusting to 50 mph, has burned more than 400 acres. Some electrical lines are threatened. The fire is 0% contained. Fourteen strike teams, comprised of 70 engines and three helicopters have responded. Santa Barbara County issued mandatory evacuation orders to about 3,000 residents in or near the threat area. Law Enforcement has completed 95% of door to-door-notifications. Two Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) moved 80 residents out of the threat area. The Red Cross established an evacuation center in Goleta, CA; large and small animal shelters have been established. Numerous schools have been closed. (CalFire, Santa Barbara County)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:25:11 EDT