National Situation Update: Thursday, October 8, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
Unseasonably cold air from Canada will continue to pour down the eastern slopes of the Rockies with several bouts of snow expected from Montana to Colorado. Record-breaking cold is forecast for Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, with highs as much as 20 to 40 degrees below average for the next several days.

Midwest:
A front, tropical moisture and upper level system will produce a broad swath of precipitation from Great Lakes to Texas. Rainfall totals of two to six inches with locally higher amounts will produce localized flooding. Thunderstorms are possible this evening from Texas to the Ohio Valley. Behind the front, rain and snow will fall in western portions of Nebraska and South Dakota.

South:
The weather systems discussed above will produce significant precipitation over the western part of the region. Expect localize flooding. Severe thunderstorms will be possible this evening with damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. High-pressure aloft will keep temperatures at near-record levels in Florida the next couple of days with highs in the low to mid 90s.

Northeast:
Under high pressure the region will have generally dry conditions. The storm over the Midwest will bring clouds and precipitation to New York and Pennsylvania tonight and the remainder of the region tomorrow. (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. There have been numerous aftershocks.

FEMA-1859-DR-AS approved on September 29

Federal Response

FEMA Region IX

Region IX Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) at Level II (select ESFs). Further reductions in staffing are anticipated as onsite personnel assume more operational control.

FEMA Headquarters:

NRCC is activated at Level III
All ESFs are deactivated; Logistics continues 24/7 coverage until further notice
The NRCC Watch continues to maintain 24-hour situational awareness

Current Situation / Status of Response:

A JFO has been established in Pago Pago. Personnel are in the process of moving equipment into and fully activating the JFO today.
DRC will open today (Oct 8) at noon SST
FEMA logistics continues to coordinate with ASPA, GSA, and ESF-12 to provide transportation for vehicles, personnel, supplies, and generators related to power restoration
Hawaiian airlines have added an additional flight to Pago Pago on their operations schedule. The new flight will begin operating Wednesday Oct 14, totaling three weekly flights to Pago Pago (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday).
Absorbent boom for oil sheen in harbor has been deployed, being checked 2 x daily
Sunken boats in harbor are being assessed for possible contamination issues by EPA contractor
The power restoration plan developed between USACE and ASPA continues to be refined. A power mission specialist from USACE is now embedded with ASPA to assist with coordinating requirements.
A village-by-village commodity distribution plan was developed with prioritization based on degree of impact, remoteness, and lack of utilities. Distribution is being conducted by AS Dept of Ed with ARC, US Army Reserve, and local volunteer support. Currently 8 villages have received temporary housing materials. A total of 247 registrations have been received by the Red Cross Safe and Well database system in the last 24 hours.
ESF-8 personnel continue to support clinical services in both LBJ hospital and area clinics, including decompression of the Emergency Room, augmenting EMS and assisting with medical outreach. LNOs are providing subject matter expertise to the Samoan government and the FCO while CDC personnel are conducting shelter and public health assessments.
Debris management strategies are being developed by USACE and FEMA Infrastructure Branch. Messaging related to debris clean-up and burning, and hazardous materials are being distributed to the population.
Power
- Satala Power Generation Plant was impacted by the tsunami, is off-line and may have structural damage
- Ten 500kw Generators are scheduled to be delivered to American Samoa on Monday, 12 October 2009 at 8:45 p.m. EDT.
- USACE 249^th Engineering Battalion continues to conduct structural assessments and has completed 17.
- Priority generators are installed at 15 locations
- Power restoration plan:
- Phase 1 (immediate needs): Deliver and install ten 500kw generators at sites identified by ASPA to relieve strain on the power grid
- Phase 2 (long-term temporary power): A scope of work to provide power generation for up to 18 months has been developed and details of contracts and delivery are being finalized
- Phase 3 Repair, replacement, relocation of the Satala Plant.
Identification and assessments of destroyed facilities are on-going
32 confirmed fatalities
Defense coordinating Officer (DCO) Defense Coordinating Element (DCE) continue to support airlift and transportation as requested, and HI NG Civil Support Team members are assisting EPA with HazMat and debris issues

Objectives for Operational Period:

Implement plan for the transition of citizens from shelters to interim housing
Develop housing strategy (Housing Task Force)
Continue long term power restoration planning
Assess HAZMAT conditions, island wide
Issue public messaging on Clearance and burning of HAZMAT, Landslides and other hazards, Expectations about the registration process
Deliver medical assistance
Establish a disaster recovery center
Establish JFO
Continue Search and Recovery operations
Create contingency plan to provide supplies to Division C (Manu'a Islands)
Perform infrastructure Preliminary Damage Assessments
Focus Damage Assessments on water distribution

American Red Cross (ARC)

Support to Department of Education feeding operations continues.
More than 4,200 meals served to date.
Mass Care workers assisted with the assembly of more than 140 tents/yurts (makeshift housing).
8 villages, 215 families have been assisted through bulk distribution.
Local and visiting staff continue to assist clients with assembly of Yurts and/or tents. (Region IX, American Red Cross)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Twin Fire - Arizona

FMAG-2840-FM-AZ approved October 3, 2009
921 acres burned; 60% contained
Fire near town of Williams (pop 2,842) on private and Federal land
Estimated containment date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 (Region IX, NIFC, FEMA HQ)

Sheep Fire - California

FMAG-2841-FM-CA approved October 4, 2009
7,128 acres burned; 85% contained
Fire located in San Bernardino National Forest near Lytle Creek and town of Wrightwood (pop 4,482) in San Bernardino County
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted
All shelters are closed
1 residence and 4 outbuildings destroyed
Estimated containment date: Saturday, October 10, 2009 (INCI Web, FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic

Tropical Depression Henri

At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Depression Henri was located about 165 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph and a turn toward the west with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast and Henri is likely to degenerate into a remnant low within the next 24 hours.

Tropical Wave

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located about 500 miles east of the southern Windward Islands have changed little in organization over the past several hours. Development, if any, of this system should be slow to occur as it moves to the west-northwest at about 15 to 20 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 cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific

No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday evening.

Western Pacific

Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA)

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has issued a TCFA for an area of convection approximately 135 miles northwest of Guam. Winds are estimated to be 23 to 29 mph. The system is moving north-northwestward at 9 mph. The potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is good.

TD 19W and TS 20W

Tropical Depression 19W (Parma) and Extra-tropical Storm 20W (Melor) pose no threat to United States territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

There was no significant earthquake activity in the Continental United States, Alaska or Hawaii during the last 24 hours.

In the South Pacific a total of six earthquakes ranging from 6.1 to 7.8 in magnitude, have occurred in the vicinity of Vanuatu over the last 12 hours. The earthquakes were located approximately 200 northwest of Santo, Vanuatu and 1,300 miles NE of Brisbane, Australia. The earthquakes were registered at a depth of 22 miles through the USGS automated program. The reported earthquakes have been in the vicinity and at the same depth. There were no reports of damages or injuries. No tsunamis have been generated from either event. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1

National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, October 7, 2009:

Initial attack activity: Light (57 new fires)
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 4
States affected: AZ, CA, OR, ID & WA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity