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National Situation Update: Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
Following yesterdays snow in the northern Rockies much of the region will be dry with below average temperatures under high pressure. Tomorrow, two weather systems will affect the region. A weather system approaching from the north will bring a new round of precipitation to northern mountains and higher elevations could receive several inches of new snow. A system approaching from the south will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the southwest

Midwest:
A storm system pushing out of the Rockies will produce a broad swath of precipitation from the Dakotas to the Great Lakes and southwestward to Texas. Rainfall amounts of one to two inches are possible across northern Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and much of Michigan. Rainfall amounts will be less in the middle Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and lower Great Lakes.

South:
The southern end of the front over the Midwest will produce showers and thunderstorms Tennessee to central Texas. The thunderstorms in central Texas may become severe with large and damaging wind gusts. Scattered precipitation forecast for the remainder of the Region.

Northeast:
Today will start out with partly cloudy skies and generally dry conditions except for a few showers over northern New England, eastern Virginia and eastern Maryland. The major frontal system approaching from the west will bring rain and scattered thunderstorms to the region tonight. Rainfall amounts will be relatively light with most areas picking up less than an inch of rain. (NOAA's National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Tsunami Recovery - American Samoa

On September 29, 2009, at 1:48 p.m. EDT, an 8.0 magnitude undersea earthquake occurred 140 miles southwest of American Samoa generating a tsunami.  At approximately 2:25 p.m. EDT a 5.1 ft tsunami wave struck American Samoa causing significant loss of life and injuries, and damage to the coastal area of American Samoa.

Federal Response
Region IX

  • Region IX RRCC is activated at Level II
  • Region IX Incident IMAT is deployed to American Samoa with DCO, DCE, and MERS support
  • National IMAT-West will provide back-up to Region IX response operations. Region VIII IMAT is currently on a 2-hour recall for possible deployment. Region IX will maintain operational control.
  • FEMA 1859-DR-AS approved on September 29 

FEMA Headquarters:

  • FEMA NRCC has transitioned to Level II; 24 hour operations, with select ESFs
    Current Situation / Status of Response:
  • A JFO has been established in Pago Pago. Personnel are in the process of moving equipment over and activating the JFO with full activation expected by 07 October (Wednesday).
  • Power:
    • The power restoration plan developed between USACE and ASPA continues to be refined. Priority generators at the Government Center, Lee Auditorium, and Pago Pago Microfiltration plants have been installed and energized. Generators to support the eastern district during the initial phase of power system restoration have been ordered and should be delivered in 72 hours.
    • Ten 500kw generators have been procured and will be delivered within 72 hours, these will be installed to relieve strain on the grid
    • Mutual aid from Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) including crews, trucks, and supplies will be provided; FEMA logistics is coordinating transportation
    • Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is donating two trucks to ASPA through mutual aid; FEMA logistics is coordinating transportation
    • Satala Power Generation Plant is not on line. The timeline for full restoration is estimated as 24-36 months. A three-phase plan is being implemented for restoration
  • A village-by-village commodity distribution plan was developed with prioritization based on degree of impact, remoteness, and lack of utilities.
  • Initial distribution began today in Fagamolo, Poloa, and Amanave led by AS Dept of Ed with ARC support. Approximately 250 families are currently registered to receive the materials
  • Approximately 450 families are being supported in 14 shelters
  • USACE 249th Engineering Battalion continues to conduct structural assessments and has completed: the Utulei Government Building; the Lee Auditorium; Fagatogo and Pago Pago Microfiltration plants; Afono Village well, Alofan Booster Pump; Well 105 (Pago Pago pump house), and Well 170 (location not specified)
  • Identification and assessments of destroyed facilities are on-going
  • Lease agreement for DRC space at Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei, AS submitted to AS Government for review and approval - DRC will open on Oct 8
  • Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Small Business Administration specialists arrived on-island 05 October to begin recovery process
  • American Samoa Logistics section has operational control for logistics as of  October 4
  • USGS is preparing to deploy two teams to American Samoa to gather post-earthquake and post-tsunami data
  • Priorities include power restoration, generator support, and the transition of citizens from shelters to homes/temporary housing
  • 32 confirmed fatalities
  • HHS in process of demobilizing assets in consultation with American Samoa Ministry of Health and FEMA
  • NDMS DMAT is providing medical care at LBJ Hospital
  • Red Cross DRO continues to assist clients through Disaster Mental Health, Health Services and registering clients on the Safe and Well website
  • Coordination of Logistics Recovery Planning and retrograde requirements have begun (Region IX)

Southeast Flooding Recovery

Current Situation
Region IV RRCC Status:  Level IV (Watch Unit at 24/7) 
Georgia EOC has returned to normal operations
JFO for FEMA-1858-DR operational on Oct 1
Shelters: 1; Occupants: 126 (Region IV, ARC )

Volcanic Activity

Cleveland Volcano, Aleutian Islands, AK
The October 2 eruption produced a small, detached ash cloud at maximum altitudes of 15,000 to 20,000 feet. Such events are typical of Cleveland activity. While no more events have been detected, further eruptive activity is possible at any time.
No additional eruptive activity has been observed since the brief eruption on October 2, so the aviation color code and volcano alert level have been lowered to YELLOW/ ADVISORY.   (Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Twin Fire - Arizona

FMAG-2840-FM-AZ approved October 3, 2009
921 acres burned; 20% contained
Fire near town of Williams (pop 2,842) on private and Federal land
Estimated containment date is unknown (Region IX, NIFC, FEMA HQ)

Sheep Fire - California

FMAG-2841-FM-CA approved October 4, 2009
7,824 acres burned; 30% contained
Fire located in San Bernardino National Forest near Lytle Creek and town of Wrightwood (pop 4,482) in San Bernardino County
Mandatory evacuations are still in place for Wrightwood, Swarthout Canyon, Lone Pine Canyon and some areas of Lytle Creek
2 shelters open with a population 70
7 structures destroyed
Threatened - 2,000 residences; 20 commercial properties
Estimated containment date is October 8, 2009(INCI Web, FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical Storm Grace
National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on Tropical Storm Grace which merged with a frontal boundary over the far northeastern Atlantic.
Invest 91
Showers and thunderstorms associated with the broad area of low pressure located about 800 miles east of the Lesser Antilles have changed little in organization during past several hours. This system still has the potential to become a tropical depression during the next day or so before upper-level winds become less favorable for development.  There is a medium chance (30 to 50 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Wednesday evening.
Western Pacific
Tropical Storm 19W (Parma) and Typhoon 20W (Melor) pose no threat to any United States 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 Monday, October 5, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity:  Light (64 new fires)
  • New large fires: 2 
  • Large fires contained:  1
  • Uncontained large fires:  7
  • States affected:  CA, WA, AZ, OR, ID, TX & WY(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 06-Oct-2009 06:12:21 EDT