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National Situation Update: Saturday, May 19, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Possible Flooding in New England Saturday

Northeast:
A storm system is expected to dump up to 4 inches of rainfall in the area from eastern Connecticut to Maine during Friday evening and early Saturday. The Cape Cod area will be hard hit.

The heavy rainfall in the Northeast may lead to flooding in the area from eastern Long Island to Maine.

Highs in the Northeast on Saturday will range from the 50s-70s.

West:
Widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms are forecast Saturday for the area stretching from west Texas, southern New Mexico, and southeast Arizona to the Canadian border. 

Severe weather is possible in Montana during the weekend where there is the threat of hail, high winds, and tornadoes.

Midwest:
Thunderstorms are possible in the area stretching from northern Michigan to northwest Iowa on Saturday, otherwise the region will have dry and seasonal temperatures.

South:
Parts of Tennessee and North Carolina will experience lows in the 30s early Saturday, however the rest of the South will have warm and sunny weather during the weekend.

Widely scattered thundershowers are possible on Saturday over parts of Texas and South Florida.    (NWS, Media Sources)

Florida Wildfire Overview

Florida Bugaboo Fire: The fire is 70% contained and covers approximately 120,000 acres.  The fire is two miles east of Taylor, FL. Residences remain threatened in several communities. Extreme fire behavior was reported with torching and spotting.

Dairy Road Fire: The fire is 80% contained and covers approximately 15,000 acres. The fire is 16 miles northeast of Gainesville. Some residences are threatened.

Deland Complex: The fire complex is 85% contained and covers 10,025 acres. The complex consists of the Airport Road, Lee House, and Red Oak fires. Fire activity has decreased significantly.

BICY Complex (Big Cypress National Preserve) - the fire is 40% contained and covers approximately 18,800 acres. The complex includes the Strickland, FT6, Midrest, and Trail fires. Fire activity increased Thursday. One community, isolated structures, and petroleum equipment are threatened.  (National Interagency Fire Center)

Georgia Wildfire Overview

Sweat Farm Road (Georgia Forestry Commission): 46,264 acres at 82 percent contained. This fire started on private land 10 miles southeast of Waycross. The state park remains threatened.

Big Turnaround Complex (Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge): 105,418 acres at 45 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles southeast of Waycross. Folkston and other surrounding communities remain threatened.

Bugaboo Scrub (Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge): 156,455 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is burning 16 miles west of Folkston. Numerous structures are threatened.

Bugaboo Scrub 2 (Georgia Forestry Commission): 3,768 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is five miles east of Fargo. Some structures remain threatened. (National Interagency Fire Center)

New Jersey Wildfire

Warren Grove: 17,270 acres is nearly contained. The fire is located 11 miles northwest of Atlantic City. Evacuations and road closures were lifted. (National Interagency Fire Center)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean: No significant activity to report.

Eastern Pacific: No significant activity to report.

Western Pacific: At 11:00 pm EDT May 18, Typhoon (TY) 02W (Yutu), located approximately 880 miles southwest of Iwo Jima, has tracked north-northwestward at 14 mph over the past six hours.  Based on the current forecast Typhoon Yutu poses no threat to U.S. interests.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Nebraska:  Public Assistance PDAs for 19 counties are scheduled to begin the week of May 21-25, for the Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding that occurred on May 4, and continuing.
Iowa:  PA and IA PDAs are continuing for Severe Storms and Flooding on May 5, and continuing.
Alaska:  Joint PDA for winter storm ice damage to the Kenai Peninsula Borough will start May 21.
Missouri: IA PDAs in 24 counties and PA PDAs in 32 counties are continuing.
Oklahoma:  PA PDAs for 20 counties began on May 16.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Initial attack activity on Friday was light with 129 new wildfires reported. There were 3 new large fires. Four (4) large fires were contained and firefighters continued fighting 17 uncontained large fires.

There are currently five Type 1 Incident Management Teams committed. Florida and Georgia are using four of the teams.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center indicates the areas of northern Florida and southern Georgia will continue to be critical fire weather areas this weekend as sustained winds around 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 20 miles per hour are expected as well as relative humidity readings from 25-35 percent, and little rainfall.  (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Major disaster declaration FEMA-1699-DR-Kansas is amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the catastrophe declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 6, 2007:  the counties of Barton, Osborne, Ottawa, and Phillips for Individual Assistance; Barton County for Public Assistance; and Edwards, Pratt, and Stafford Counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance.)    (FEMA HQ)