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National Situation Update: Saturday, July 18, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
A strong cold front will move southward into the area this weekend. Heavy rain is expected in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Highs will range from the 70s in the Tennessee Valley to over 100 degrees in the lower Rio Grande Valley.
Northeast
Scattered showers will continue across Upstate New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Sunday will be rain free except for showers forecast east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Midwest
The Midwest will be mainly rain free except for showers in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. Temperatures will remain below average for the area.
West
Thunderstorms are possible in Colorado and New Mexico on Saturday and possibly in parts of the Rockies on Sunday. Temperatures will range from near average to as much as 15 degrees above average. A relatively dry eastbound cold front will cause the Northwest heat to decrease on Sunday.
(NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

WHO Reporting Protocol

The World Health Organization (WHO) will no longer issue global tables showing the numbers of confirmed cases for all countries. Due to the H1N1 flu pandemic being the fastest-spreading pandemic ever recorded, WHO determined that it would be pointless to count every case. Instead, they will issue regular updates in newly affected countries which should report the first confirmed H1N1 cases, weekly figures, and epidemiological details.

Rail Belt Fire Complex, Alaska Update

As of midnight EDT Friday, July 17, 184,284 state acres had burned. Located 12 miles southwest of Nenana, Alaska, the fire is a complex of 3 fires: the Lunch Lake, Minto Flats South, and June Creek fires. The complex is 3% contained; 366 personnel are involved in the firefighting effort.

Favorable wind conditions on Friday allowed fire managers to conduct successful burnout operations on boundaries of both the Minto Flats South and the June Creek fires. Mop-up operations are being conducted in several areas.

The logistical and operational difficulty of protecting numerous scattered remote allotments, structures, the Arctic Wolf drilling rig and its associated camp continue to be a major problem and concern for the Minto Flats Fire. Resources along the Tanana and Teklanika Rivers continue to protect structures; 111 residences, 1 commercial property and 41 outbuildings are threatened.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in effect, closing air space over the June Creek Fire under 6,000 feet within a 5 mile radius of the fire. (Inciweb, NIFC)

Red Rock Fire, Nevada

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG-2822) was approved July 17 for the Red Rock Fire, Washoe County, Nevada. The fire began on July 15, 2009 and has burned approximately 10,000 acres; as of 9:00 p.m. EDT Friday, July 17 the fire was 40% contained.

The fire is located on the California-Nevada state line, approximately 25 miles northwest of Reno, NV.
The communities/areas of Rancho Haven, Red Rock and Cold Springs, north of Reno, are threatened.

Voluntary evacuations for residences along Red Rock Road have been lifted, and media reports that the Red Cross has closed its precautionary evacuation center. Extreme temperatures and single-digit humidity continue to contribute to the extreme behavior of this wind driven fire. (Inciweb, NIFC, FEMA HQ, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Sunday morning.
Western Pacific 
No activity affecting U.S. territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Friday, July 17, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (129 new fires)
New large fires:  6
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  26
States affected:  AK, AZ, CA, CO, LA, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT, & WA (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1831-DR-FL closed on Friday, July 17. The JFO in Tallahassee, Florida continues to support FEMA-1840-FL. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 20-Jul-2009 07:52:12 EDT