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National Situation Update: Friday, September 7, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South
Scattered thunderstorms will develop over the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. Highs in the upper 80s and 90s for the South from Texas to Southeast. The remnants from Henriette may enhance rainfall in west-central Texas and Oklahoma.

Northeast
The region will be dry and warm. Highs in the upper 60s in the north to 90s for the Mid Atlantic.

Midwest
Severe thunderstorms from the central Plains to the northern and middle Mississippi River Valley.  Thunderstorms in Michigan, northern Indiana and eastern Illinois. Highs will range from the 60s along the Canadian border to the lower 90s in the Ohio Valley.

West
High temperatures across Southern California west of the mountains and the Desert Southwest will average 100 to 113.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP) is authorized under Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act, 42 U.S.C. 5187, as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
FMAGP allows for the "mitigation, management, and control" of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
FMAGP allows State, tribal and local entities to apply to the Grantee for subgrants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
There are on average six Atlantic hurricanes each year; over a three-year period, approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline from Texas to Maine. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. The East Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30, with peak activity occurring during July through September.

Low pressure
Shower activity associated with the non-tropical area of low pressure about 350 miles southwest of Bermuda remains disorganized. While upper-level winds are unfavorable for development, they could become more favorable over the next couple of days. There is still some potential for this system to become a Tropical Cyclone. The low is almost stationary at this time, but is expected to move generally toward the northwest over the next day. 
 
Eastern Pacific:
Shower and thunderstorms associated with the remnants of Atlantic Hurricane Felix extend from the coast of Mexico between Acapulco and the Gulf of Tehuantepec southward for a couple hundred miles.

Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Fitow
Tropical Storm (TS) 10w Fitow made landfall over the Izu Peninsula. It has weakened due to terrain interaction, increased drier air advection, and upper level wind shear. Tropical cyclone activity impacting US interests is not expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Illinois:  Individual Assistance (IA) PDAs began on September 4, 2007; and Public Assistance (PA) PDAs will begin on or about September 9, 2007 for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Lake, LaSalle, and McHenry Counties.  Region I providing staffing support for the IA PDAs.

Indiana:  IA PDA for Lake County began September 5, 2007.

Ohio:  PA PDAs for Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, and Wyandot Counties began on September 4, 2007 (FEMA Regions, FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  4
States Most Affected:  Montana, Idaho.
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, September 06, 2007:

• Initial Attack Activity:  Light with 162 new fires.
• New large fires:  1
• Large fires contained:  7
• Uncontained large fires:  35
• 2007 acres burned to date:  7,222,882

Weather Discussion:  Offshore winds in northern California are expected through the weekend. Offshore flow will continue today in northern California with gusty winds and poor overnight relative humidity recovery. Offshore winds will progress north into Oregon by the weekend. Portions of the Southeast will continue to see very warm temperatures and low relative humidity.    (National Interagency Coordination Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)