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National Situation Update: Saturday, May 16, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

Midwest:
Today, showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Ohio Valley; this activity will be just south of the Great Lakes to start the day, but will move south of the Ohio River by evening. Lows may drop into the 20s in North Dakota, where a Freeze Watch is in effect. Light snow is possible for northern Minnesota this morning. Wind gusts will top 30 mph in the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes.
West:
Much of the West will be very hot and dry. Las Vegas,Nevada is under an Excessive Heat Watch and the San Francisco Bay area in under a Heat Advisory.
Thunderstorms are expected in the mountains of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Today highs over 100 degrees will expand from the southwestern deserts into the central California valleys.
Temperatures in Washington and Oregon will range from the 80s to the 90s, except for the Cascades and coastal areas.Tomorrow will be hotter, with temperatures rising five to-ten-degrees higher than today, with a few record highs forecast to be set from California up through the northwestern US. 
South:
Thunderstorm activity is expected across the South today. Thunderstorms, with localized heavy rain, are possible from the Carolinas to Texas. Severe weather is unlikely, but a few thunderstorms may approach severe limits from Texas to Tennessee. Some clearing is expected from northern Texas to Tennessee, however, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity behind the front. The cold front will advance farther south into the region tomorrow, resulting in more showers and thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas. The Florida Peninsula will have a chance for showers and thunderstorms into early next week.
Northeast:
Parts of Upstate New York, Pennsylvannia, West Virginia, Maryland and northern Virginia may receive strong-to-severe thunderstorms today, with strong wind gusts, hail and an isolated tornado. Showers will move across New England during the evening and overnight hours today, with showers expected across coastal New England tomorrow. (National Weather Service, various media sources)

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak Update

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA

  • The H1N1 Influenza Outbreak continues to grow in the United States. As of 5:00 pm EDT on Friday, May 15, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 5,018 confirmed and probable cases in 46 states plus the District of Columbia
  • 173 hospitalizations, including three (3) confirmed deaths in the US

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - International

  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 1:00 am EDT on Friday, May 16, 2009, there were 7,520 confirmed cases in 34 countries, including the US.
  • WHO reported Mexico had 2,446 confirmed cases of H1N1, including 60 deaths

Alaska Flooding Update

  • Alaska Governor issued a State Disaster Declaration for interior flooding events beginning on May 4 and continuing.
  • AK SECC activated at Level IV (Major Property Damaging Event)
  • Ice jam flooding continues along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers in Alaska
  • 71 of Tanana's 250 residents remain evacuated
  • Preliminary reports have 25 - 30 homes affected in Tanana; water returning to normal levels
  • State and TCC (Tanana Chiefs Council) expressing concern for long-term assistance for Fairbanks evacuees (approx 145)
  • Flood Watch remains in effect
  • 32 communities on four major river drainage systems have been impacted
  • Temporary road to native Village of Eagle completed; some temporary power in City of Eagle; working on purification systems to provide potable water
  • No Federal Assistance has been requested.  (Region X, Bothell MOC)

Severe Weather/Tornadoes

Region IV:

  • FEMA Region IV RRCC has returned to Level IV (Watch / Steady State) 

Kentucky:

  • Governor declared a statewide State of Emergency due to tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 8.
  • Kentucky EOC is at Level III (Full Activation)
  • Fatalities: 2 / Injuries: 4
  • 1,173 customers are without water in the affected areas
  • 468 customers are without water and 5,620 customers are under Boil Water Advisories
  • Shelters: 4 / Occupants: 36 (Floyd, Pike, and Breathitt Counties)
  • 6 mobile feeding kitchens in 3 counties
  • PA and IA PDAs for four counties (Clay, Grayson, Knott and Madison) have been conducted; expect all affected Eastern KY counties assessed by May 18
  • KY National Guard providing law enforcement, transportation, command and control support, food and water support

Region VII:
Missouri

  • Severe storms and high winds affected portions of southern MO on May 8
  • Governor declared statewide State of Emergency
  • State EOC is at Level 1
  • Fatalities: 4 / injuries: 12
  • 6,200 customers remain without power; restoration ongoing
  • IA PDAs began May 13 in 39 counties; PDAs in 26 counties completed; estimated completion date of remaining counties is May 18
  • PA PDAs will begin after IA PDAs have been completed; state expected to request PDAs in 14 counties
  • Additional tornado touchdowns in portions of southwestern, central and northeastern Missouri on May 13
  • 3 fatalities; 12 injuries
  • 1,350 customers without power in Kirksville and St. Louis areas

Kansas:

  • Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes occurred May 7 - 8, causing downed power lines and trees, and damage to residences/businesses.
  • 1 confirmed fatality
  • PA PDAs expected to start May 19 for 25-to-30 counties
  • State EOC not activated

Volcano Activity:

Mount Redoubt, AK
Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE; Alert Level remains at WATCH.  Partial webcam views through clouds show no significant change at the volcano; a steam plume is visible rising from the dome. Numerous seismic events observed on the Redoubt network today have been due to a series of regional tectonic earthquakes located about 100 miles south of Kodiak. These are not related to activity at the volcano. (AVO)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern Pacific:
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season will officially start on Friday, May 15, and run through November 30th.

Western Pacific:
No activity affecting US territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

As of 5:00 p.m. EDT, a swarm of eight earthquakes ranging from 3.1 to 4.7 in magnitude have occurred approximately 64 miles southeast of Old Harbor, AK at a depth of 7 to 39 miles. No tsunamis, damage or injuries reported.(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

Mile 17 East End Road Fire, Alaska

  • Fire started in Homer on May 12, caused by downed power line
  • 1,074 acres burned
  • 150+ residences threatened
  • 25% contained
  • FMAG-2820-FM approved May 14             

Florida Wildfires

  • On May 14, 2009, Governor of Florida declared State of Emergency for the entire state due to drought conditions in Central, South and Southwest Florida and 140 wildfires throughout the state with 11,357 acres burned
  • FEMA-2819-FM-FL was approved on May 12, 2009
  • Orlando-Volusia Complex Fire
  • 7,526 acres; 35% contained

Wildfire Activity

  • National Preparedness Level: 1
  • National Fire Activity as of  Friday, May 15, 2009:
    • Initial attack activity: Light (102 new fires)
    • New large fires: 2
    • Large fires contained: 2
  • Uncontained large fires: 10
  • Fire Weather:  Southern California will be warm and dry with diminishing winds.  The Southwest will be very warm with low humidity except for scattered thunderstorms over eastern New Mexico and west Texas.  Florida and the Southwest should see scattered thundershowers.  Alaska's Kenai Peninsula will be partly cloudy with generally light winds. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

  • North Dakota:  Amendment #5 was approved May 15, 2009 for FEMA-1829-DR, adding Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, McLean, Pembina, Rolette, and Wells Counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance)
  • West Virginia:  On 15 May, 2009 the President signed a disaster declaration FEMA-1838-DR for Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides and Landslides, occurring May 3, 2009 and continuing.  Specifically approved is Individual and Public Assistance for Mingo and Wyoming Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The FCO is Edward H. Smith.
  • Tennessee:  On May 15, 2009, the President signed Disaster Declaration FEMA-1839-DR for Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding on April 10, 2009.  Specifically approved is Public Assistance for Benton, McMinn, Rutherford and Sequatchie Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The FCO is Terry L Quarles  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:28:30 EDT