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National Situation Update: Friday, September 25, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather



Midwest
A stalled front will continue to produce showers and thunderstorms from Kansas to southeast North Dakota and from southern Lake Michigan into the Ohio Valley.  Heavy rain is possible in portions of Iowa and Minnesota.
South
A cold front moving east will produce showers and thunderstorms from Mississippi to Georgia.  
Locally heavy rain is possible in some areas and could lead to more flooding.  Flood Warnings remain in effect across the Southeast.
Northeast
Showers are forecast for Maine and over the southern Mid-Atlantic today.
West
A stalled upper level low over the western Plains continues to produce rain across portions of Colorado and New Mexico.  (NOAA's National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Nationwide Flu Activity



Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators.  During the week of September 6-12, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States compared to the prior weeks. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators: Visits to doctors  for influenza-like illness (ILI) are increasing nationally. Visits to doctors for ILI are higher than what is expected during this time of year and have increased for five consecutive weeks now. This is very unusual for this time of year.  Total influenza hospitalization rates for adults and children are similar to or lower than seasonal influenza hospitalization rates depending on age group, but are higher than expected for this time of year.  The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was low and within the bounds of what is expected at this time of year.  Twenty-one states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time as indicated by the map.  Any reports of widespread influenza activity in September are very unusual.  Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the viruses chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exceptions. (CDC)

Southeast Flooding



Georgia:
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated to Level II.  FEMA-1858-DR-GA was approved on September 24, 2009, providing Individual Assistance for four counties.  Nine (9) fatalities have been confirmed by the state. There are currently 3 shelters open with a population of 272.  Boil water advisories remain in effect in Douglas, Paulding, and Carroll counties.  Joint IA and PA PDA's are continuing for 17 counties in Georgia.

Tennessee:
The State EOC is activated at Level III. There is currently 1 shelter open with a population of 156.  A total of 520 people have been evacuated.  There have been reports of damage to 100+ homes and 7 businesses.  Joint PDA's have been requested for Hamilton and Hardin counties and are scheduled to begin September 28, 2009.

Federal Response
A FEMA LNO is at the Georgia EOC.  The FEMA-NRCC remains at a Watch/Steady State Status, 24/7 Watch.  The Region IV RRCC is activated at Level III from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EDT.

California Wildfires



Guiberson Fire
The Guiberson Fire is burning in Guiberson Canyon between Fillmore and Moorpark (Ventura County).  The fire has burned 17,400 acres and is now 65% contained.  Full containment is expected on September 26, 2009.  There have been 9 injuries reported (first responders) with no fatalities.  Voluntary evacuations are in effect for areas near Santa Paula and Moorpark.  There are 25 homes and 2 commercial properties that remain threatened, and 1 outbuilding is destroyed.  FEMA FMAG-2830-FM-CA was approved on September 22, 2009. (Region IX, NIFC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)



No activity (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook



Atlantic
Area 1
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms located 300 hundred miles west of the Cape Verde Islands are associated with a tropical wave.  Some slow development of this system is possible during the next day or two as it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.  There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Depression NORA
At 5:00 am EDT, Tropical depression NORA is located about 890 miles WSW of the southern tip of Baja, California, Mexico, and is now a remnant low.  Nora continues to move toward the west near 7 mph.  The maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph and the last advisory for this storm has been issued by the National Hurricane Center.

Area 1
A large area of disturbed weather is located about 1,300 miles ESE 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.

Area 2
A large area of disturbed weather is located about 700 miles SSW of Manzanillo, Mexico.  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



Wildfire Activity
National Preparedness Level:  2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, September 24, 2009.  Initial attack activity is light, with 72 new fires reported. There are 2 new large fires, 1 large fire has been contained and 1 large fire remains uncontained.  There are 3 States affected:  CA, OR and MT.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for portions of southern California until 9:00 p.m. PDT Saturday.(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity



The State of Georgia was granted a major disaster declaration (FEMA-1858-DR-GA) on September 24, 2009, as a result of severe storms and flooding occurring on September 18, 2009 and continuing.  Individual Assistance has been approved for four counties, with Hazard Mitigation statewide.(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Friday, 25-Sep-2009 08:21:38 EDT