National Situation Update: Friday, October 2, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
Another area of low pressure will produce rain and mountain snow across parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana today. Red Flag Warnings will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. PDT for portions of southwest California due to an extended period of low relative humidity. Numerous Freeze Warnings in effect through late morning from southeastern Idaho to the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for portions of Hawaii for strong winds and low humidity until 6:00 p.m. HST today.
Midwest:
Scattered showers and mostly light rain will progress eastward across the Northeast today. A cold front associated with a new low pressure system will slowly move through the Northeast over the weekend. Rain will end across the Mid-Atlantic but continue from eastern New York to New England; totals could exceed one inch.
South:
Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms possible across the Southeast today as a cold font continues to weaken and move eastward. Thunderstorm activity may increase over portions of the southern Plains and Texas on Sunday and Monday.
Northeast:
Scattered showers and mostly light rain will progress eastward across the Northeast today. A cold front associated with a new low pressure system will slowly move through the Northeast over the weekend. Rain will end across the Mid-Atlantic but continue from eastern New York to New England; totals could exceed one inch.(NOAA's National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Tsunami Recovery American Samoa

A tsunami was generated as a result of an 8.3 magnitude earthquake September 29 at 1:48 P.M. EDT 140 miles southwest of American Samoa. At approximately 2:25 P.M. EDT a 5.1 ft wave struck American Samoa and caused significant damage to the coastal area.

Federal Response
Region IX:

RRCC at Level 1 (24/7) with all ESFs supporting

FEMA Headquarters:

FEMA NRCC is at Level 1 (24/7) with selected ESFs

Status of Response:

Governor Togiola Tulafono's priorities:
- Search and rescue (2 confirmed missing)
- Power restoration
- Complete damage assessments
32 confirmed fatalities on American Samoa.
12 shelters open with 1,912 occupants.
129 injured were treated at LBJ Medical Center, which is currently open and operational.
Five generators are on the ground in American Soma. Four generators are currently enroute from Hickman Air Force Base in Hawaii and an additional flight is scheduled to depart at 2:00 P.M. EDT October 2 with two additional generators.
One of two power plants is operational. Approximately 6,000 customers remain without power in the Eastern District. Local power authorities are anticipating temporary power restoration within two weeks.
Water systems are nearly restored island wide.
Most major roads are open and passable. Bridge to Leone is open to one way traffic.
FAA reports that Pago Pago Airport has reopened with operational limitations.
Seaport is operational with no restrictions.
Western District of Tutuila schools are open.
Cellular telephone service is available with limitations.
Gasoline and Diesel Fuel supplies are plentiful. No immediate aviation fuel shortages anticipated, however Pago Pago Airport requested next scheduled delivery of aviation fuel (October 20) be moved up to next week. (Region IX, FEMA HQ)

Southeast Flooding

Current Situation
Recovery efforts in the Atlanta metro area continue.

Federal Response
HQ FEMA:

The NRCC continues to monitor the situation.
FEMA NRCC is at Level 1 (24/7) with selected Emergency Support Functions due to the tsunami in American Samoa.

FEMA Region IV:

RRCC Status: Level III from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EDT; Watch Unit is 24/7
The Region IV RRCC transitioned operations to the JFO on 10/1/09
PA PDAs have been completed in all counties except for Clayton
Disaster Recovery Centers: 14 DRC's are operational

State and Local Agencies
Georgia:

Georgia EOC has returned to monitoring level of activation.
Fatalities Reported To Date: 10
Shelters: 4 Occupants: 181 (ARC)

Critical Infrastructure (CI) Key Resources (KR)
Georgia

Wastewater:
Repair to water treatment facilities are ongoing
Boil water advisories remain in effect for many communities
Dams:
Total of 110 Class 1 Dams in impacted areas require inspection by GA Safe Dams

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Area 1
Shower activity associated with the non-tropical low near the Azores has diminished. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Area 2
Cloudiness and showers located about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles are associated with a westward-moving tropical wave. Upper-level winds are currently not conducive for development.
There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
As of 5:00 a.m. PDT, Tropical Storm Olaf is located about 490 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California. Olaf is moving north near 12 mph and a turn toward the northeast is expected during the next two days. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph and little change in strength is forecast during the next 12 hours, followed by gradual weakening.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday afternoon.

Western Pacific
Typhoon 20W (Melor)
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Typhoon 20W (Melor) was located about 335 miles east of Saipan and 400 miles east of Guam. Melor is moving slowly west-northwest at 5 mph and an increase in forward speed is expected during the next 6 to 12 hours. Melor has maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, with gusts to 167 mph. Melor is expected to continue intensifying and may become a Super Typhoon in the next 24 hours, with the first winds affecting CNMI within 32 hours. A Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian. A Typhoon watch remains in effect for Rota, Agrihan, and Guam. Typhoon force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center; Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 240 miles from the center.
Super Typhoon 19W (Parma)
Super Typhoon 19W (Parma) is not expected to affect U.S. Territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

"A 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at 9:07 p.m. EDT offshore approximately 55 miles southeast of Hihifo, Tonga and approximately 235 miles southwest of Pago Pago at a depth of 6.2 miles. There are no preliminary reports of damage or injury and no tsunami has been reported.

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 6:01 a.m. EDT approximately 7 miles south of Keeler, California at a depth of 3.5 miles. There have been more that 100 aftershock ranging from 1.2 to 3.5 since the 5.0 earthquake occurrence. There have been no reports of damage or injury. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, October 1, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (80 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 5
States affected: AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, WY(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity