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National Situation Update: Friday, September 19, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Presidio, Texas Levee Concerns

Levee is not breached; only leaking and flooding nearby golf course and farmland.

Agencies responding are Texas Forest Service IMT, CBP, US International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) and FEMA Region VI Liaison Officer.

Mexico is releasing water from Luis Leon Reservoir, the only reservoir not above flood control capacity; these releases cannot be turned off or slowed. Mexico intends to continue releases from Luis Leon of up to 1,400 cubic meters per second (cms).

State of Texas declared an emergency and is providing assistance under that authority. USIBWC wants to add 1 foot of height to 3 miles of the levee. CH-47 Chinook helicopters are enroute to assist with floodfighting operations. Governor is sending 170 inmates to assist with floodfighting/sandbagging operations.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from Albuquerque Sector are providing 40,000 sandbags. Customs and Border Patrol is providing: Multiple Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) units, helicopter for air patrols, 6 Special Response Team (SRT) detailed from within Marfa Border Patrol Sector,  El Paso Sector Swift Water Rescue Teams and Additional teams enroute from Tucson, Yuma, and Del Rio Sectors with additional boats and equipment.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for low lying areas; no new mandatory evacuation orders were given. 500 people were evacuated and approximately 20 families refuse to leave Town of Redford. State Highway 170 was shut down due to flooding and traffic re-routed. Up to 4,500 citizens could be affected if the levees fail.  (FEMA Region VI SPOT Report #1D, Sep 18)

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Ike and Midwest Storms

Region IV
Kentucky
State EOC is partially activated at Level II.
1 fatality and 26 injuries were reported.
167,740 customers remain without power. 
A State of Emergency was declared in 20 counties and 13 cities due to power outages, road closures, and damage to buildings.
Eight (8) wastewater treatment systems were impacted by power outages.
No requests for Federal assistance were received.  (Region IV OPS Report, Sep 18)

Region V
Michigan
State EOC is partially activated.
Local assessments are ongoing and approximately 700 homes were affected.
Local emergency declarations were declared in 3 counties.
State and local officials are monitoring river levels along the Huron River in Hamburg, MI (Livingston County).
Residents were advised to evacuate and sandbagging operations are ongoing.
The Kalamazoo River has crested with no significant issues. However, water is reported over the Niles Dam (near Mile 51 (M51) and Pucker Street in Niles, MI).  Local officials are concerned about the dam's strength and have evacuated from the downtown area.
No requests for Federal assistance were received.  (FEMA Region V Operations Report, FEMA Region V MI Incident Report #4)
Illinois
1 fatality has been reported
6 shelters are open with a population of 25. 
The Governor has declared States of Emergency in seven (7) counties.
The Utica, IL water treatment plant is being threatened by flood waters.  Residents south of the Illinois River canal were advised to evacuate.
The Kaskaskia Lock and Dam in Modoc, IL closed September 17 because of an expected crest on the Mississippi River on September 19 (Randolph County).
Ohio
State EOC is activated with 24 hour operations until further notice.
5 fatalities and 1 injury were reported. 
16 shelters are open with a population of 80.
488,900 customers are without power statewide, and complete restoration is expected by Sunday night, September 21.
Several public water supplies are operating on backup generator power.
FEMA Region V has staged one 50-pack generator at the Defense Logistics Supply Center in Columbus. 
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is conducting surveys of sewage treatment facilities that have loss of power to plants and pump stations.
Two FEMA Liaison Officers are active in the Ohio EOC from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT.  (FEMA Region V Operations Report, FEMA Region V OH Incident Report #5, Sep 18, DOE)
Indiana
State EOC is activated at Level III along with selected ESFs.
7 fatalities and 19 injuries were reported.
1 shelter is open with a population of 136.
36,800 customers are without power statewide.
Damage assessments are ongoing and 6 counties have declared States of Emergency.
FEMA Liaison Officers are active in the IN EOC and the Lake County Incident Command Post in Munster.
Water pumping operations are continuing on flooded portions of Interstates 65 and 80/94.  (FEMA Region V Operations Report, DOE)

FEMA Region VI
Louisiana
The Governor's Office of Security and Homeland Security and Security Preparation (GOHSEP) is activated at Level III.
18,804 customers are without power statewide.
12 shelters are open with a population of 810.
5 fatalities were reported.  (FEMA Region VI Operations Report, DOE)
Texas
State EOC is activated at Level I, 24/7
8 fatalities were reported.
1,605,695 customers remain without power.
213 shelters are open with a population of 22,215. 
556 medical special needs patients are located at either Federal (FMS) or State Medical Stations.
15 hospitals are on back up generators, with 35 closed (1 in Houston).
16 counties are under mandatory evacuations and 6 counties are under voluntary evacuations.
USS Nassau has been deployed to Galveston for emergency healthcare/humanitarian aid, sustainment for emergency response force, and deployment of heavy equipment/workforce to address the most immediate public works needs.  (FEMA Region VI Operations Report, DOE)

Region VII
Missouri
4 fatalities and 2 injuries were reported.
Currently, the focus of the state is on monitoring water levels along the Mississippi, Missouri and Meramec Rivers.
1 shelter is open with a population of 9.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) requested Joint State-Federal PDAs to support a potential request for Federal Assistance, which is expected to begin September 19.
No requests for Federal assistance. (FEMA Regional VII Incident Report #7, NSS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
A westward-moving tropical wave, located across the Lesser Antilles, is producing widespread cloudiness and disorganized showers over the Lesser Antilles and adjacent Caribbean and Atlantic waters.  Some additional organization of this system is possible over the next couple of days as it moves slowly across the eastern Caribbean Sea.  Locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds will be possible over portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands and the eastern Caribbean Sea today.

Eastern Pacific:
A broad area of disturbed weather is located several hundred miles south-southeast of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.  Slow development of this system is possible over the next couple of days as it moves slowly westward.

Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting United States Territories.(NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

At 3:43 p.m. EDT, September 18, a 4.7 earthquake occurred 34 miles west-northwest of Nanwalek, AK.  No tsunami, damages or injuries were reported. (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Assistance PDAs began September 18 for seven (7) counties in Illinois.

Joint PDAs began September 18 for twelve (12) counties in Indiana.

Individual Assistance PDAs, beginning September 15, for four (4) counties Oklahoma were completed.  Public Assistance PDAs began September 18 for twenty-two (22) counties.

Individual Assistance PDAs will begin on September 19 and Public Assistance PDAs will begin on September 22 for Missouri.

PDAs began September 16 in Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, and Jefferson Parishes, Louisiana.  PDAs are occurring for the 14 currently designated parishes (for all categories of work); 19 northern parishes for flooding. (FEMA HQ, FEMA Region V, FEMA Region VI, FEMA Region VII)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Thursday, September 18 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (92)
New large fires: 2
Uncontained large fires: 5
Large fires contained: 4
States with large fires: CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WY

Predictive Fire: Thunderstorm activity will generally occur over the eastern Great Basin and Rockies.  Temperatures will gradually cool from the west along with increasing humidity.  A low pressure system will move into northern California with widely-scattered showers and wet thunderstorms over northern California, Oregon and the Great Basin.   (NIFC, NICC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On September 18, 2008 the President signed Disaster Declaration FEMA-1793-DR for Severe Storms and Flooding associated with Hurricane Gustav in Arkansas that occurred September 2 to September 8, 2008.  18 counties are eligible for Public Assistance, including Direct Federal Assistance and Hazard Mitigation, statewide.  The FCO will be Kenneth M. Riley.

On September 18, 2008, the Governor of New Hampshire requested an expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 3 counties (Hillsborough, Merrimack and Strafford) for additional heavy rains and flooding that occurred September 6 - 7, 2008.  Specifically requested is Public Assistance for the three listed counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

On September 18, 2008, the Governor of Ohio requested a Major Disaster Declaration for Ohio for high winds resulting from Hurricane Ike, occurring September 14 and continuing.  Specifically requested is Public Assistance (Category B), including Direct Federal Assistance, statewide (88 counties).

On September 18, 2008, FEMA-1792-DR-LA amendment # 2 was added for 14 parishes to add Emergency Protective Measures (Category B), including Direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance Program (already designated for Debris Removal [Category A] including Direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance Program).

On September 18, 2008, FEMA-1786-DR-LA amendment # 7 was added for 17 parishes to add Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance and Debris Removal and Emergency Protective Measures [category A and B], including Direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance Program); 3 parishes for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance and Emergency Protective Measures [category B], including Direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance Program).

On September 18, 2008, FEMA-1787-DR-NH amendment #1 was added for 1 county for Public Assistance.  (FEMA HQ)