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National Situation Update: Sunday, October 25, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
Clouds and stray showers along the New England coast are possible this morning. Clouds will move into western sections during the afternoon with a few showers possible Monday evening. More widespread rain activity is forecast overnight.
Midwest
Low pressure moves out of the northern Plains through Minnesota with a cold front through the eastern Plains into the Mississippi Valley. Light rain accompanies the system as it moves east. There may be enough cold air for the rain to mix with or change to wet snow at times. No snow accumulation is expected; rainfall amounts should be less than 1/4 inches. Tonight and Monday eastern Kansas and Missouri may see increasing rainfall. Light showers are possible over Michigan.
West 
An area of rain showers and mountain snow showers will move from Wyoming this morning through Colorado by tonight. Accumulating snow levels should be around 6,000 feet with several inches possible above that level by evening. A storm system over the northern Pacific Ocean will impact the Pacific Northwest this afternoon bringing another round of rain to the region. Snow levels start around 5,500 feet but will rise to near 8,000 feet as the cold front nears this evening.
South 
Two separate systems will bring the threat of rain to portions of the South today. A stalled frontal boundary over Florida will bring showers and thunderstorms to the southern half of the State and to coastal portions of the Carolinas. A cold front dropping through the Plains will cause scattered showers and thunderstorms over Kansas and isolated activity over Oklahoma. This system will move into Texas Monday pulling in Gulf of Mexico moisture and bringing rain to the southern Plains, Texas and lower Mississippi Valley. Some of the rain may be heavy.  (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, 18 of 40 storage tanks containing diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, and other petroleum products are damaged; 5 tanks remain on fire and 4 tanks have collapsed. The status of activity in the region is as follows:
• 10 people were treated at the hospital with explosion/fire related injuries.
• The community of Barrio Amelia was evacuated to the Cosme Beitia Coliseum in the Municipality of Cataño. Three shelters housed over 300 evacuees; one shelter is scheduled to close.
• 365 firefighters including (150 PR fire dept) and (215 PR National Guard) are combating the blaze.
• 25,000 gallons of firefighting foam was delivered from St. Croix. The area is contained but expected to continue burning for another day or two. PREMA indicates the additional foam should be sufficient for containment of the fire. 
• The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Security is increased at both the incident site and the shelter locations.
•  Smoke is forecast to move out to sea and have minimal impact on the population.
Federal Actions
• FEMA 3306-PR Emergency Declaration was signed October 24, 2009 for five Municipalities.
• Region II deployed an advance element of the regional IMAT team, 4 people at the CAD in PR.
• 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: Vessels are allowed into the port of San Juan on a case by case basis.
• Marine Security level (MARSEC Level 2) remains in effect for the ports of: Yabucoa, Tallaboa, Guyanilla and Guayama until the fires burn out.
•  FAA imposed a one nautical mile Temporary Flight Restriction from the surface to 15,000 feet as a precaution.
Commonwealth/Local Response
• The Puerto Rican Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) and PR National Guard is activated.

2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update

On October 24, 2009 President Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency.
Forty-six states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. The amount of widespread activity is unprecedented during seasonal flu. Almost all of the influenza viruses identified thus far is 2009 H1N1 influenza 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
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 345 miles northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. Neki is nearly stationary, but expected to begin moving slowly northward this morning through Monday, when movement will accelerate toward the north-northeast over open water. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend out 115 miles from the center. Neki may begin to transition into an extratropical system as it accelerates north-northeast.
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 Saturday, October 24:
Initial attack activity: Light (26 new fires) 
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires: 1
States Affected: AZ (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On October 24, 2009 the President signed FEMA-3306-EM an Emergency Declaration for five Municipalities in Puerto Rico: San Juan, Bayamón, Cataño, Guaynabo and Toa Baja.
The declaration designates Emergency Protective Measures (category B) and direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance Program. (FEMA HQ) 

Last Modified: Monday, 26-Oct-2009 07:33:48 EDT