• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Tropical Depression Alberto

At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Depression Alberto was located near latitude 33.5 north, longitude 81.4 west or about 35 miles south-southwest of Columbia South Carolina.

The depression is moving toward the northeast near 21 mph an increase in forward speed is expected over the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Alberto is forecast to lose tropical characteristics later this morning. However, some re-strengthening is possible during its transition to an extratropical cyclone.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb/29.62 inches.

Storm total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts to 6 inches are possible through this evening from central and eastern north Carolina into southeastern Virginia.

Coastal storm surge will subside today.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over north coastal South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina today.

All tropical storm warnings have been discontinued.

Gale warnings are in effect from South Santee River South Carolina to Currituck Beach Light North Carolina.

Gale warnings are in effect along portions of the Carolinas in anticipation of Alberto's re-strengthening as an extratropical cyclone.

Alberto is quickly losing tropical characteristics, and extratropical transition should occur in the next 6-12 hours with additional intensification forecast once the system re-emerges over water. The official forecast is similar to the previous advisory with only a slight shift to the north and west in the early periods.

PREPARATIONS AND PREPAREDNESS

Per FEMA Region IV SITREP #01:

• FL has requested PDAs for IA and PA in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Levy, Pasco, Pinellas, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties.
• Due to dry soils and low river levels, significant inland flooding is not expected, although smaller creeks could flood.
• Shelter populations have dropped significantly, from a peak of 342 people in 27 shelters to 24 people in 2 shelters.  (Note:  Keep in mind that shelter figures generally fluctuate, especially in the course of a night.)
• 11K customers were reported without power Tuesday evening, but with the expectation that most of these would be restored by midnight Tuesday.

The Region IV RRCC has closed down for the night, but staff are on call if needed.

The RRCC will resume operations at 0700 EDT Wednesday morning with the Planning Section and ESF 6 and continue operations until 1200 hours unless conditions indicate a need to remain activated longer.

The Florida State EOC also went to a reduced activation level Tuesday night. A FEMA State Liaison will remain on duty at the EOC.

Region IV objectives for Wednesday June 14 are:

• Monitor potential impacts of TS Alberto
• Prepare for response efforts
• Assess need for commodities
• Evaluate deployment of PDA teams (Source: USDOC/NOAA/National Weather Service, FEMA Region IV, FEMA HQ)

Significant National Weather

West:

• Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Washington and Oregon eastward to North Dakota. This evening severe thunderstorms are possible eastern Montana and western North Dakota.
• Windy conditions in the Four Corners will keep the fire danger high.
• Most of the Southwest will be hot and dry with temperatures over 110 in southwest Arizona.

Midwest:

• Most of the Midwest will enjoy a pleasant day under a high pressure system centered over the Great Lakes
• Highs temperatures will range from the 60s in the upper Great Lakes to over 100 in western Kansas and portions of southwest Nebraska. Most of the Midwest will enjoy highs in the 70s and 80s on Wednesday.

South:

• Alberto will continue to move northeastward through the Carolinas before moving offshore The result heavy rain across the eastern Carolinas and Virginia may produce localized flooding. (see the National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ latest information on Alberto).Isolated tornadoes are possible over north coastal South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina today.
  
• Elsewhere, hot, dry weather will prevail. High temperatures are expected to range from the 70s in eastern North Carolina to near100s in much of western Texas and western Oklahoma.

Northeast:

• Except for a few isolated thunderstorms, much of the Northeast will experience a mild day. (National Weather Service, Media sources)

Tropical Activity

• Atlantic: No tropical storm activity - but the remains of Alberto are expected to move off the East Coast tonight.
  
• Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea: No tropical storm activity.
  
• Pacific: No tropical storm activity.(USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
  

Earthquake Activity

• In the latest in a series of earthquakes, a Strong earthquake occurred at 12:46 am EDT on June 14, 2006. The magnitude 6.3 event was located near Rat Island in the Aleutian Island chain some 1220 miles west of Anchorage Alaska at a depth of 25.6 miles. There have been over 25 aftershocks.
  
• The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center reported: "Evaluation  an earthquake has occurred with a magnitude such that a tsunami is not expected. In coastal areas of intense shaking locally generated tsunamis can be triggered by underwater landslides."(Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)
  

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)