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National Situation Update: Monday, October 26, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

South
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast over central and eastern Texas today. Locally 1 to 3 inches of rain, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding is possible. Tonight rain and thunderstorms in Arkansas and Louisiana are expected; locally heavy showers are possible. A few showers are likely from the Carolina coast to the Florida Peninsula.
West 
Rain will move into western portions of Washington, Oregon and far Northern California, then across the interior Northwest. Snow levels in the Cascades will fall low enough to impact many of the passes; above 4,000 feet accumulation over a foot of snow is possible. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Washington Cascades and Olympics through Tuesday. As the front moves inland tonight, rain will change to snow as snow levels move down across the Intermountain West. Strong, gusty winds will develop over portions of the interior Northwest.
Midwest 
Showers are possible from the Great Lakes to Missouri and eastern Kansas. Rain is forecast for the Ohio Valley, Mid-Mississippi Valley, and southern Great Lakes Tuesday.
Northeast
Some snow or a rain-and-snow mix may impact northern Maine as a weakening upper disturbance moves through. Showers are forecast over the Mid-Atlantic Tuesday as a new system moves in from the South.  (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Puerto Rico Petrochemical Storage Facility Fire

An explosion and fire at a petrochemical storage facility near San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 23 is now extinguished. Located in the City of Cantano, 21 of 40 storage tanks containing diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, and other petroleum products were damaged - 17 burned and 4 collapsed. Damage and safety assessments are ongoing. The smoke plume has dissipated, and U.S. Coast Guard reports no HAZMAT release in the maritime environment. All maritime operations in San Juan Harbor are back to normal. The safety zone has been lifted, and MARSEC Level I has been authorized for all facilities.

Five firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. Evacuation orders have been lifted; and evacuees are being allowed to return to their homes. Some homes incurred minor damage. Evacuated prisoners have been returned to correctional facilities. A multi-agency (USCG, FBI, ATF, US Marshals) investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing. 

Federal Actions
Emergency Declaration FEMA 3306-EM-PR was signed October 24, 2009 for Public Assistance in five Municipalities. Two FEMA LNOs are deployed to the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA). Region II RRCC is returning to normal operations at 7:00 a.m. EDT today. The Region deployed four members of the IMAT team to the Caribbean Area Division (CAD) in Puerto Rico.

Commonwealth/Local Response
The Unified Command Post closed at 6:00 p.m. EDT Sunday and operations returned to PREMA. 353 Puerto Rico National Guard personnel supported recovery efforts over the weekend. No additional federal assistance is anticipated.

President Obama signs an Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu

October 24, 2009: In an effort to proactively address the ongoing pandemic, the President signed a National Emergency Declaration on H1N1 that allows healthcare systems to quickly implement disaster plans should they become overwhelmed. In combination with the Public Health Emergency declared by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) this declaration gives authority for HHS to waive certain regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities in response to the ongoing pandemic. Specifically, health care facilities will be able to submit waivers to establish alternate care sites and modify patient triage protocols, patient transfer procedures, and other actions that occur when they fully implement disaster operations plans. (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 470 miles northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. Neki is moving toward the north near 14 mph, and is expected to accelerate toward the north northeast over the next 48 hours. Neki is forecast to become extratropical by Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected in the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend out 190 miles from the center.
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 fire activity as of Sunday, October 25: National Preparedness is at Level 1. Initial attack activity is extremely light (8 new fires) with no new large fires and only one uncontained large fire reported in Arizona. Since this report was issued a new large fire has been reported in northern California. (NIFC)
Loma Fire, Santa Cruz County, CA
The Loma Fire started in the early hours of October 25 and has consumed 600 acres near Maymens Flat-Highland Road, Eureka Canyon, and Ormsby in Santa Cruz County, California. The blaze is 20% contained. One trailer and 2 outbuildings have been destroyed, and evacuations are ongoing for north Ormsby Cutoff. 160 structures are threatened and 8 roads have been closed. Cause of the fire is under investigation. (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Region IX)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 26-Oct-2009 07:49:20 EDT