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National Situation Update: Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Excessive heat is forecast for much of the Midwest region over the next couple of days, with temperatures ranging into the 90s to the 100s.  St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, are under excessive heat warnings and heat index values will be well over 100 degrees in many locations.  Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are forecast for today and these storms (some severe) may impact areas from northern Nebraska and South Dakota, northeastward to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
South
Areas from the Southern Plains to the lower-Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast will continue to experience excessive heat and humidity today, with temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees, putting Tulsa, Oklahoma under an Excessive Heat Warning.  Possible isolated thunderstorms are expected over the region and scattered thunderstorms are forecast across the state of Florida.
Northeast
An area of low pressure off the East Coast will continue to affect the weather across the coastal Northeast over the next couple of days, with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms forecast from New England southward to portions of eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula.
West
Parts of New Mexico, eastern Arizona and Colorado may see scattered thunderstorms, with temperatures forecast for the 100s across the deserts of Arizona, southern Nevada and southeastern California.

Metro Train Collision - Washington, DC

Two (2) Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro trains collided shortly after 5:00 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2009.

The Washington, DC Fire and EMS Department spokesman reported one (1) train collide with the rear of another train that was stopped due to its earlier derailment.

76 injuries and nine (9) fatalities were confirmed.  At least one (1) car remains "unclear" due to the extent of injuries and rescuers have not yet been able to determine if anyone remains inside.

The accident impacted Metro, commuter and freight rail services in the area, pending an investigation involving WMATA, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies located at a Unified Command Post near the scene of the collision.

Region III Actions
The Region is not activated, but is working under extended hours to cover emergency.

State/Local Actions
The Maryland Joint Operations Center (MDJOC) is activated to Level 2 for the emergency and the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) is also activated for emergency. (FEMA Region III SPOTREPs, DC Fire Department)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
Showers and thunderstorms, associated with an area of low pressure over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, have changed little during the past few hours.  Development of this system, if any, is expected to be slow to occur as it moves slowly northwestward.  There is a low chance (< 30%) of this system becoming a Tropical Cyclone during the next 48 hours.  Locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of east-central and northeastern Mexico during the next couple of days.

Elsewhere, Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific: 
No activity affecting US territories.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Storm Andres 
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Punto San Telmo to Cabo Corrientes.  A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch remain in effect for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Lazaro Cardenas to Punto San Telmo.

At 2:00 a.m. EDT, June 23, 2009, the center of Tropical Storm (TS) Andres was located about 160 miles southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.

TS Andres is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 - 36 hours, with a slight increase in forward speed.  On the forecast track, TS Andres should pass very close to, or over, the southwestern coast of Mexico within the warning area today.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph, with higher gusts.  TS Andres is forecast to become a Hurricane today.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center and the estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.35 inches).

TS Andres is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 - 8 inches over portions of west-central Mexico, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches.  Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 - 3 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, are possible in the warning area. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Starting at 3:28 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 22, 2009, a series of 11 earthquakes, measuring in magnitudes from 1.9 - 5.4, and depths between 18.5 - 46.4 miles, have occurred 58 miles north-northwest of Anchorage, AK.  There were no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated.

At 3:55 and 5:05 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 22, 2009, two (2) earthquakes measuring 5.5 in magnitude and at depths between 15.2 - 25 miles occurred 80 miles west-southwest of Adak, AK. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Monday, June 22, 2009:

• Initial attack activity:  Light (68 new fires)
  
• New large fires:  6
  
• Large fires contained:  0
  
• Uncontained large fires:  6
  
• States affected:  AK, AR and FL

Predictive Services Discussion:  Thunderstorms will continue mainly across northeast Washington, northern Idaho and Montana associated with an exiting storm system.  Elsewhere, isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the central Sierra Nevadas and portions of the southern Great Basin.  Drier conditions will develop across the Southwest while breezy conditions are expected to continue across the southern Great Basin and Arizona, while winds will be on the increase across the Rocky Mountains.  Alaska will see strong winds in the Alaska Range and cool and showery conditions across the south.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of California requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of Severe Drought conditions beginning April 14, 2009, and continuing.  Specifically requested were Individual Assistance (IA) for nine (9) counties, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Food Commodities, Crisis Counseling and Legal Services for Fresno County.  (FEMA HQ)

FEMA-1819-DR-Arkansas, Amendment #4 (effective June 20, 2009) is amended to change the Federal Coordinating Officer to Gerard M. Stolar.

FEMA-1834-DR-Arkansas, Amendment #3 (effective June 20, 2009) is amended to change the Federal Coordinating Officer to Gerard M. Stolar.

FEMA-3301-EM-Arkansas, Amendment #2 (effective June 20, 2009) is amended to change the Federal Coordinating Officer to Gerard M. Stolar.