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National Situation Update: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather



Midwest
Shower and thunderstorm activity is predicted for the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys today and Thursday due to a stalled frontal. Overall rainfall amounts should not be heavy, but individual thunderstorms could produce brief downpours. Other light showers are likely close to an upper level low spinning over the western Plains. Over a two day period rainfall could top one inch over western Nebraska, northwest Kansas and eastern Colorado.  The region will experience a temperature dichotomy the next two days.
South
A stationary front over the Mississippi Valley and eastern Texas brings the threat of locally heavy showers and thunderstorms to those areas through at least Thursday. Some of the rain could be locally heavy especially over portions of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.   Flooding may become an issue later today and Thursday for the lower Mississippi Valley due to ground saturation. Eastern sections have the risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms, but the activity should be more widely scattered.
West
An upper level low keeps the western Plains and central Rockies cool and wet through Thursday. Showers and a few thundershowers are likely in the lower elevations. Snow levels should run around 6,500 feet with some areas expected to pick up over a foot of snow. A winter storm watch has been posted for the mountains around Denver above 6,500 feet. Temperatures under the upper low will run up to 30 degrees below average with highs ranging from the 30s in the mountains to the 50s in the plains. The remainder of the region will be dominated by a giant ridge of high pressure bringing a late season heat wave.
Northeast
A cold front moves in from Canada late in the day Wednesday causing scattered showers and thunderstorms over the region. No severe weather is expected, but some of the stronger storms may contain heavy downpours. Showers and thunderstorms continue to the east and south as the front progresses southeastward.  (NOAA's National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Wildfire burns 8,500 acres in hot, dry Southern California (AP)

MOORPARK, Calif. -- A wildfire stoked by the first Santa Ana winds of the season has spread over 8,500 acres, more than 13 square miles in the hot and tinder-dry Southern California hills of Ventura County. Calmer winds late Tuesday aided firefighters battling the blaze near the city of Moorpark northwest of Los Angeles; winds were expected to pick up early Wednesday, with gusts expected between 12 and 25 mph.  Some evacuations were lifted late Tuesday but numerous homes remained threatened and evacuation orders remain in effect. Air tankers and heli-tankers attacked the flames with retardant and water, while hundreds of firefighters worked on the ground. The forecast Wednesday called for more triple digit temperatures, low humidity and weak to moderate Santa Ana winds, which blow from the northeast, speeding up and warming as they descend through mountain passes and canyons and push seaward. In Southern California, a wildfire that broke out Tuesday in Riverside County, 40 miles east of Los Angeles, burned 160 acres and was about 60 percent contained. No homes had been lost. A fire San Bernardino County burned 17 acres and damaged three unidentified structures. It was fully contained at 6 p.m. Tuesday and was expected to be controlled Wednesday morning. The Station fire burned across 160,557 acres - 251 square miles - of Angeles National Forest after it was ignited by arson on Aug. 26. At its peak it destroyed 89 homes and caused two firefighter deaths. The fire remained 94 percent surrounded Tuesday, the projected date for full containment changed from Tuesday evening to Thursday morning, due to the weather. The weather service also issued "red flag" warnings of fire weather conditions in other parts of California due to a combination of low humidity, high temperatures and wind. A 300-acre wildfire burning in a heavily wooded area of Sonoma County near Geyserville was expected to be contained Wednesday morning.

Southeast Flooding



Georgia
Georgia's governor has declared a state of emergency that includes 17 counties. Georgia has activated to Level II (partial activation) and the Region IV RRCC at Level III (partial activation). Rescue and life safety operations continue in Gwinnett County. There are 5 counties and 3 cities with declared local states of emergency. Georgia DOT reports there are 17 state maintained bridges in 11 counties and 15 state maintained roads closed in 10 counties due to flooding. There are 15 school districts and 3 universities closed at this time. Six Red Cross and partner shelters have been set up in four counties with 206 occupants. There are 9 confirmed fatalities and no reported injuries. Preliminary damage assessments are underway at the state and local levels. There are 15 counties reporting damage to roads and/or bridges. Efforts continue to restore the Toccoa Water Service in Stephen County; a Boil Water Advisory is in effect. The Villa Rica sewage treatment plant in Carroll County remains closed. Efforts are underway for a potable water tanker for Douglas County Hospital. Several wastewater treatment plants in Gwinnett County are closed with sewage being bypassed.(Region IV Incident Report)

G20 Summit

The G-20's economic weight and broad membership gives it a high degree of legitimacy and influence over the management of the global economy and financial systems. The G-20 Summit scheduled for September 24-25, 2009 in Pittsburg, PA, has been declared a National Special Security Event (NSSE) by the Secretary of Homeland Security.  President Obama will chair this event being attended by leaders representing 85 percent of the world's economy and 90 percent of the global gross national product. Region III remains at Level III, 24/7 at this time for the event.  The Region III IMAT BRAVO deployed to USSS MAC located in Pittsburgh. The Region III IMAT DELTA is supporting RRCC functions. The Region III DCE deployed to USSS MAC and the MERS unit is on site in Pittsburgh. Region III DCO and staff are on location at US Secret Service MACC/Allegheny County EOC. Units have arrived and have set up and checked communications. (Region III DSAR)

California Wildfires

Station Fire
Located in the Angeles National Forest, investigation reveals that arson caused the fire. Fire crews continue to mop up, patrol areas, and continue fire suppression repair. 160,557 acres burned; 94% contained. Estimated containment date has been moved forward to Thursday, September 24, 2009. FMAG-2830-FM-CA approved August 28, 2009. (Region IX, NIFC)

Guiberson Fire
Located in Ventura County near the Fillmore and Moorpark communities, this fire started on September 22 with 6000 acres burned with 0% containment. Fillmore has 25,000 residents and Moorpark has 25,000 residences that are threatened by the fire. Approximately 1000 residences have mandatorily evacuated and 1500 residences have voluntarily evacuated. Also another 1,000 residents and 50 businesses are threatened along with Edison 220 kw power lines; a 36 inch natural gas line; oil fields; large citrus and avocado groves. The fire is currently all on State land. (Region IX, Cal Fire)

Oregon Wildfire



South County Complex Fire
This fire was previously named Siskiyou Fire. The Siskiyou Boulevard Fire in Ashland and the Deer Ridge Fire near Medford has been declared conflagrations by the Governor of Oregon (South County Complex Fire). The Siskiyou Fire threatens 200 homes and the Deer Ridge Fire threatens 120 homes. A major communications center on Roxy Ann Mountain east of Medford is threatened. A major power transmission line was shut down for a short time and has been restored; however, the line is still at risk. 140 homes have been evacuated and a Red Cross shelter has been setup at the Ashland Armory. (Region X DSAR)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)



FEMA-2839-FM-CA was approved September 22, 2009 for the Guiberson Fire. The fire has burned 6000 acres with 0% containment. Fillmore has 25,000 residents and Moorpark has 25,000 residences that are threatened by the fire. Approximately 1000 residences have mandatorily evacuated and 1500 residences have voluntarily evacuated. Also another 1,000 residents and 50 businesses are threatened along with Edison 220 kw power lines; a 36 inch natural gas line; oil fields; large citrus and avocado groves. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Depression Seventeen-E
At 2:00 a.m. EDT the center of tropical depression Seventeen-e was located about 625 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California .The depression is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. This motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours followed by a gradual turn toward the west-northwest and then the west on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is expected during the next 24 hours and the depression is forecast to become a tropical storm on Wednesday.

Central
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday afternoon.

Western Pacific
No activity.(NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, NWS Tiyan, GU, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Region IX)

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 Tuesday, September 22, 2009:
Initial attack activity:  Light (81 new fires)
New large fires:  3
Large fires contained:  2
Uncontained large fires:  4
States affected:  OR, MT, AZ and CA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity



The Governor of Georgia requested an Emergency Declaration as a result of severe storms, record rains, and flooding beginning on September 18, 2009. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance and Public Assistance (Cat A&B) including direct federal assistance for 17 counties. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Sep-2009 07:50:58 EDT