National Situation Update: Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South
The region will see scattered showers and thunderstorms with the possibility of heavy rain and lightning. The heavy rain could cause localized flooding on roadways. There is a possibility of some isolated severe thunderstorms over parts of Oklahoma and Texas.
Midwest
A low pressure track will continue to move through the Midwest, mainly central Missouri to western Illinois. Some heavy rains are is forecast for this area. Additional flooding is likely along the Wabash, Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Scattered showers predicted from Minnesota through Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan.
Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms that developed in the Maryland/northern Virginia area on Monday will become more numerous overnight and will slowly move northward on today. Rain will continue moving northward today into New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
West
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the Pacific Northwest. Rainfall amounts will be on the light side. A few afternoon thunderstorms will move over the Rockies today and tomorrow afternoon. (National Weather Service, various media sources)

Hurricane Preparedness Week

Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2009 will be held May 24 through May 30. History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerabilities and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. The goal of National Hurricane Preparedness Week is to inform the public about hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take action. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. Hurricane hazards come in many forms: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. This means it is important for your family to have a plan that includes all of these hazards. Look carefully at the safety actions associated with each type of hurricane hazard and prepare your family disaster plan accordingly. But remember, this is only a guide. The first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense. For information on what you need to include in your families Disaster Plan, please see www.fema.gov and www.redcross.org. (NOAA, Excerpt from: www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml, FEMA HQ)

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak Update May 25, 2009

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will now publish updated information Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week, except holidays. The H1N1 Influenza Outbreak continues to grow in the United States. As of 11:00 am EDT on Monday, May 25, 2009, the CDC reported 6,764 confirmed and probable cases in 48 states including the District of Columbia. The CDC reports 10 confirmed fatalities in the United States. One additional fatality is being reported by the New York City Department of Health but has not yet been confirmed by the CDC.

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - International
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2:00 am EDT on Monday, May 25, 2009, there were 12,515 confirmed cases in 46 countries including 91 fatalities. Mexico has 4,174 confirmed cases and 80 fatalities.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
No activity.
Eastern Pacific:
No 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

On Monday, May 25, 2009 at 3:55 pm EDT an earthquake measuring 4.1 struck 36 miles north of Juneau, AK at a depth of less than 1 mile. There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated.

Over the last several days a series of small earthquakes occurred 6-8 miles SSE of Keeler, in Central California. They ranged in magnitude from 1.5 to 4.7 at depths ranging from .1 to 4.5 miles. There were no reports of injuries or damage. (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 Monday, May 25, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (108 new fires)
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 0
Fire Weather:
No significant activity (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity