Skip to content

National Situation Update: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
Periods of moderate to heavy rain, gusty winds, and cool temperatures are expected throughout the region. Southern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey will be warm and muggy with a few scattered thunderstorms possible ahead of a cold front.
Midwest
A storm departing the Great Lakes will impact Michigan and the upper Ohio Valley. Snow is likely in northern Michigan. A new storm exiting the Rocky Mountains will move through the Dakotas later today. Light rain is predicted in the northern Plains, while rain will change to snow over the Dakotas, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan; no significant accumulations are expected.
West 
Rain and snow showers are forecast as a cold front moves through the Rocky Mountains. Snow levels range from 7,500 feet in the morning to 6,500 feet by evening; however, no significant snow accumulation is predicted.
South 
Bands of showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Carolinas, southeast Georgia and northern Florida. A few thunderstorms could be strong-to-severe over eastern North Carolina and coastal South Carolina, where damaging winds and a tornado are possible. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Puerto Rico Petrochemical Storage Facility Fire

A fire sparked by an explosion at a petrochemical storage facility near San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 23 continues to burn. Located in the City of Cantano, 15 of 40 storage tanks containing diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, and other petroleum products are burning. The fire is contained but expected to continue burning for two to four more days. The cause of the explosion is unknown and under investigation. The fire impacted a one mile area, with flames rising up to 40 feet. Smoke is forecast to move out to sea and have minimal impact on the population. Local authorities do not expect a gas shortage as a result of this incident; six out of seven fuel terminals are functional.

Evacuations occurred around the affected area, including the housing facilities at Fort Buchanan. The community of Barrio Amelia, which is in the borderline between Cataño and Guaynabo, was evacuated to the Cosme Beitia Coliseum in the Municipality of Cataño. More than 230 evacuees were expected to be sheltered overnight.

Federal Actions
Two FEMA LNOs are deployed to the Puerto Rican Emergency Management Agency (PREMA). EPA is monitoring weather patterns & air quality with the assistance of the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMACC). U.S. Coast Guard (USGS) established a port security zone and has a strike team on site to assist EPA with air quality monitoring. USGS Sector San Juan is at a heightened state of Marine Security level (MARSEC Level 2). FAA imposed a one nautical mile Temporary Flight Restriction from the surface to 15,000 feet as a precaution. Federal assistance has not been requested.
Commonwealth/Local Response
PR Emergency Declaration has been signed by the Governor, declaring a State of Emergency in five Municipalities: San Juan, Bayamón, Cataño, Guaynabo and Toa Baja. The Puerto Rican Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) and PR National Guard 22nd Civil Support Team are activated.

2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update, posted October 23

U.S. Situation Update:
Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report during the week of October 11-17, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States from the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:
• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased steeply since last week in the United States, and overall, are much higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons.
• Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and has been higher than what is expected at this time of year for two weeks. In addition, 11 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 9 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and two were influenza A viruses, but were not sub-typed. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 95 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 7 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined.
• Forty-six states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified thus far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. (CDC) 

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
A broad area of low pressure located between the northern coast of Cuba and the Bahamas is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity as it moves slowly west-northwestward. Some slow development is possible before the system is absorbed by a cold front in the next day or two. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
Tropical Storm Neki 
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of  Neki was located about 370 miles west-northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. Neki is moving toward the north-northeast near 5 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is expected to continue through Sunday.
Western Pacific
There are no threats to U.S. interests. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center) 

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness is at Level 1.
National fire activity as of Friday, October 23:
Initial attack activity: Light (43 new fires) 
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires: 1
States Affected: AZ (NIFC) 

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 26-Oct-2009 07:25:36 EDT