National Situation Update: Monday, September 29, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Midwest
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, some severe, are forecast from the Great Lakes to Missouri as a frontal system moves eastward from the Great Plains.  Flood Warnings continue for numerous rivers in Illinois and Indiana.  Highs will range from the upper 40s in northern Minnesota to the mid 80s in the lower Ohio Valley.
Northeast
With the exception of a few showers, dry weather is forecast for most of the Northeast today.  High temperatures will range from the upper 50s in northern Maine to the mid 80s in south-central Virginia.
South  
Heavy rain is possible in the southern Florida Peninsula.  The rest of the South will be dry.  Numerous Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana.  High temperatures will range from the 70s in the southern Appalachians to around 90 in the Deep South and Texas.
West  
Dry weather is forecast for most of the region and temperatures are expected to be well above average.
Red Flag Warning in effect from 3:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. PDT today for critically dry and unstable conditions along with gusty east winds for the central Oregon Cascades.  Temperatures will range from the 50s in the higher Colorado Rockies to the 100s in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.(NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Puerto Rico Heavy Rainfall

  • PREMA EOC remains activated
  • 5 fatalities; no injuries reported
  • 10 shelters; population 262 (Region II Sitrep, Sep 28)
  • All power restored (Region II Sitrep, Sep 28)
  • 9,150 without sewer services due to broken pipeline; restoration unknown (Region II Sitrep, Sep 28, FEMA HQ)

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Ike

FEMA Region VI
Louisiana

  • GOSHEP activated at Level III (Emergency Operations).
  • 5 fatalities; no injuries
  • 6 shelters; population 327 (NSS as of 9:00a.m. EDT Sep 28)
  • 11 DRCs and 10 MDRCs (3 open) located throughout affected areas.
  • No critical issues or shortfalls at this time. (Region VI)

Texas

  • SEOC activated at Level I, 24/7
  • 44 Shelters; population of 3,606 (NSS as of 7:00a.m. EDT Sep 28)
  • 265,661 customers remain without power. (DOE  as of 2:00 p.m. EDT Sep 28)
  • 19 fatalities; no injuries
  • There are 32 Rights of Entry (ROE) collection sites open, and 18,687 ROEs have been received to install Blue Roofs.  (USACE as of 9:00 p.m. EDT Sep 28)
  • 3 state-run PODS remain open; FEMA continues to supply product to State run Resource Staging Areas (RSAs).
  • 13 DRCs and 30 MDRCs, including 4 MRICs, (20 open) located throughout affected areas. (FEMA DAD)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Subtropical Storm Laura
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Laura was located about 1015 miles west of Fayal Island in the western Azores.
Laura is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph.  A gradual turn toward the northwest and north accompanied by an increase in forward speed is expected on Tuesday. Laura is not forecast to affect any land areas and the system is only a threat to shipping interests over the far North Atlantic Ocean.  Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph, with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Laura could transition into a tropical cyclone later today and possibly become a hurricane by Tuesday.
Kyle
Kyle has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm and is losing tropical characteristics as it passes Nova Scotia.  As of 11:00 p.m. EDT, The National Hurricane Center issued the last forecast/advisory on this system.

                                                                                  
Eastern Pacific:
91L - Medium Potential for Tropical Cyclone Development
A large area of disturbed weather located about 400 miles south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec is showing signs of improved organization.  Upper-level winds are expected to become a little more favorable over the next couple of days for a tropical depression to develop as the system 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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Sunday, September 28, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (72)
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 1
States with large fires: CA, OR  (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 29-Sep-2008 08:28:24 EDT