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National Situation Update: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South
An area of low pressure moving westward from the Florida peninsula will mix with a high pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic, producing strong winds over Florida and the Southeast Coast into interior portions of the Carolinas and Georgia.  Heavy rain will continue over the Florida Peninsula and may move into southern portions of Georgia and eastern South Carolina.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for rivers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  Flood Watches have been issued for portions of east central and northeast Florida.  A Red Flag Warning will be in effect beginning late this morning for parts of northern and central Georgia due to strong and gusty winds.
West
A Flood Warning remains in effect for the Naches River affecting Yakima County in Washington.  Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through this evening for west-central Colorado due to widely scattered dry thunderstorms and for Alaska due to low humidity conditions.
Midwest
Red flag warnings are in effect across northern Michigan through tonight for high temperatures and breezy southerly winds.  Temperatures will warm into the 80s in response to southerly winds gusting to 30mph, while afternoon humidity values fall into the 20s.  Critical fire weather conditions are expected across most of upper Michigan today.  The Illinois River is still at major flood level and is forecast to rise for several more days and then recede.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Dakotas, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
Northeast
No significant weather forecast.  (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 11:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 5,469 confirmed and probable cases in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The CDC reports five confirmed fatalities in the United States.

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - International
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, there were 9,830 confirmed cases in 40 countries, including the United States. Mexico has 3,103 confirmed cases and 79 fatalities.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Earthquake Activity

At 6:49 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2009, USGS recorded a 4.1 magnitude earthquake in the Los Angeles area of California.  The earthquake's epicenter was 2 miles NE of Hawthorne, Ca and 10 miles SSW of Los Angeles Civic Center.  The West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center report that no damaging tsunami is expected from this event.  Local media is reporting that Caltech considers this an aftershock of Sunday's 4.7 quake, which was almost in the exact same location as this earthquake.  Local authorities report no damage, and no Federal involvement is expected.  (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

  • National Preparedness Level:  1
  • National Fire Activity as of  Tuesday, May 19, 2009:
    • Initial attack activity:  Light (105 new fires)
    • New large fires:  1
    • Large fires contained:  4
    • Uncontained large fires:  6
  • Fire Weather: Southern California will be warm and dry with winds diminishing. The southwestern states will be very warm with low humidity except for scattered thunderstorms over eastern New Mexico and west Texas. Alaska's Kenai Peninsula will be partly cloudy with light winds.
  • Mule Pass Fire, Bisbee, Cochise County, AZ (FMAG-2821-AZ). The fire has burned approximately 122 acres of Federal, State, and private land and containment is currently at 70 percent.  The fire is threatening 40 homes in the town of Bisbee (population 6,000), schools, a fire station, courthouse, and historical buildings. The fast moving fire started on May 18, 2009, and mandatory evacuations were issued for approximately 200 people the same day.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1820-DR-OK and FEMA-1823-DR-OK; Amendment #2, effective May 18, 2009 amends the notice of a Major Disaster Declaration to appoint Kenneth R. Tingman as the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) and terminates the appointment of Douglas G. Mayne as FCO for both disasters.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:28:26 EDT