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National Situation Update: Monday, November 9, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:
Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are forecast along the Gulf Coast today from Louisiana eastward to the Florida Panhandle, as Hurricane Ida moves toward the coast.  Rain accumulations of 1 to 4 inches or more are possible by this evening from New Orleans east through Mobile to Tallahassee.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the northern Gulf coast from Pascagoula, MS east to Indian Pass, FL.  A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch is in effect for the northern Gulf coast from Grand Isle, LA eastward to west of Pascagoula, MS, including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers throughout Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Midwest:
A cold front may produce showers and thunderstorms from eastern Michigan southwest to southern Kansas.  The heaviest activity will be across Kansas and central Missouri; where up to an inch of rain is possible.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of Illinois.
West:
A cold front moving through the Northwest today will produce snow in higher elevations and rain in lower elevations.  Areas above 5,000 feet may receive snow accumulations up to 18 inches.
Northeast:
Mostly sunny skies are forecast throughout the region today.  (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Hurricane Ida

At 4:00 am EST, November 9, 2009, the center of Hurricane Ida was located about 375 miles south of Pensacola, Florida.  Ida is moving toward the north-northwest near 16 mph. This general heading, with an increase in forward speed, is expected over the next 48 hours.  A turn toward the north and an increase in forward speed are expected during the next 24 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts.  Ida is currently a Category One hurricane, and additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.  It is still expected to be a hurricane when it approaches the Gulf Coast tonight or early Tuesday.  Total storm accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with isolated maximum storm totals of 8 inches will be possible through Tuesday from the eastern Gulf Coast northward into the eastern portions of the Tennessee Valley and the Southern Appalachians.  

Federal HQ Coordination
FEMA NRCC
• Level III activation effective Monday, Nov. 9 at 09:00 a.m. EST with select activation team members supporting 24-hour operations
• MERS support detachments are on alert
• FEMA Regions I, III, V, and VII IMATs and ERT-As are on alert to serve as back up to any affected regions
FEMA Logistics Management Directorate (LMD)
• FEMA Logistics Management Center activated
• Stock levels verified
• Staff and distribution centers are on alert
• No shortfalls reported

FEMA Regional Coordination
Region IV
• RRCC will go to Level III at 07:00 a.m. EST on Nov 9, 2009
• Region IV IMAT deploying to Mississippi
• FEMA Liaison enroute to the Florida state EOC
• PDA teams (IA & PA) on standby
• No shortfalls

Region VI
• RRCC at Watch/Steady State and monitoring.  Region VI will activate to Level III at 07:00 a.m. CST on Monday, Nov 9
• Region VI IMAT deploying to Louisiana EOC
• Some ESFs have been put on alert
• PDA teams (IA & PA) on standby
• No shortfalls

State Coordination:
Louisiana
• State activated its Crisis Action Team at noon on Sunday, Nov 8
• The state EOC is activated for 24/7 operations
• Select state agencies are present in the EOC
• Governor Jindal declared a State of Emergency for parishes in southeastern Louisiana with the impact potential
Mississippi 
• Mississippi state EOC activated
• Reviewing evacuation plans and orders
Alabama
• Alabama EOC activated
• EOC is preparing for potential evacuations
Florida
• State EOC is activated
• 5 SERT Liaisons are prepositioned to support affected counties in Florida
• High water vehicles have been identified for deployment
• Working in coordination with the states of Alabama and Mississippi

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Hurricane IDA
• Ida continues to move North through the Gulf of Mexico as a Category One storm.

Eastern Pacific
• Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
• No tropical cyclones are expected through Sunday afternoon.

Western Pacific 
• No activity threatening 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:  1
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, November 8, 2009
Initial attack activity:  Light (36 new fires)
New large fires:  2
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires:  2
States affected:  None (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)