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National Situation Update: Thursday, September 24, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

South
A stalled system over the lower Mississippi Valley may produce rain and thunderstorms from eastern and southern Texas east to central Alabama and central Tennessee.  Numerous Flood Warnings remain in effect across the Southeast.
Midwest
A slow moving storm system may produce rain and thunderstorms from eastern and northeastern Colorado to southern Minnesota, then southward through the Mississippi Valley.  Showers and thunderstorms are also possible in the Ohio Valley.
West
A stalled upper level low over the western plains will produce rain and snow showers across the central Rockies.  Rain across the plains of Colorado and into western Nebraska could result in accumulations up to one inch or more.
Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms are possible from Maine south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Heavier showers and thunderstorms may develop across Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland with some areas receiving accumulations of over one inch. (NOAA's National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Southeast Flooding



Georgia:
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated to Level II.  The Governor requested a major disaster declaration on September 23, 2009.  There have been 9 fatalities and 1 injury.  There are 7 ARC shelters open with a population of 355 (the State is reporting an additional 45 occupants for a total of 390).  Joint IA PDAs for 17 counties were scheduled to begin September 23, 2009.   Joint PA PDAs for 17 counties are scheduled to begin September 24, 2009.
Tennessee:
The State EOC is activated at Level III and is monitoring flooding in eastern Tennessee.  There is 1 shelter open with a population of 67.  An earthen dam that provides water to the city of Livingston and Overton County has been significantly damaged.
Federal Response
A FEMA LNO is at the Georgia EOC.  The NRCC remains at a Watch/Steady State Status, 24/7 Watch.  Region IV RRCC is activated at Level III from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EDT

California Wildfires



Guiberson Fire
The Ventura County Cities of Fillmore and Moorpark remain threatened. To date, 16,100 acres have burned and the fire is currently 40% contained. There have been no fatalities and 8 injuries reported. Evacuations of residents and hard closures of roads remain in effect in some areas An Evacuation Center has been set up at the Goebel Senior Center in Thousand Oaks.  There are currently 1,000 structures threatened and 2 outbuildings have been destroyed.  FMAG-2839-FM-CA was approved on September 22, 2009 (Region IX, NIFC)

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 Storm Nora
At 5:00 am EDT the center of Nora was located 720 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.  Nora is moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph; a turn toward the west and a slight increase in forward speed is expected over the next several days.  Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph, with higher gusts.  Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 24-48 hours.
Area 1
A large area of disturbed weather has developed about 1,600 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.  Some slow development of this system is possible over the next couple of days as it moves west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph.  There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Tuesday morning

Western Pacific
No systems affecting U.S. Territories (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, 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 Wednesday, September 23, 2009.  Initial attack activity is light, with 89 new fires reported. There are 3 new large fires, 0 large fires contained and 7 uncontained large fires.  Two States are affected:  CA and OR.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for portions of northeastern Montana until 8:00 p.m. MDT and portions of southwestern California until 9:00 p.m. PDT today.(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity



The Governor has requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Georgia as a result of severe storms and flooding beginning on September 18, 2009, and continuing. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for 17 counties and Hazard Mitigation Statewide. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Sep-2009 08:14:17 EDT