National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Sunny and dry weather is forecast for most of the region with the exception of lingering snow showers over higher elevations of Colorado.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for portions of southern California due to gusty northeast winds and very low relative humidity.  Wind Advisories are in effect for sections of southern California and New Mexico.  Surface high pressure will build across the Great Basin area today bringing another round of Santa Ana winds to sections of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.  Frost Advisories and Freeze Watches have been issued for portions of southwest Oregon and New Mexico.
Midwest:
Portions of central and southern Nebraska may see significant snowfall of six inches or more this afternoon due to a storm system moving slowly through the region.  This system may also produce gusty winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms.  Numerous High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are in effect throughout the Central Plains.  A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for western and north central Nebraska through Thursday evening.  Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories are in effect for portions of Ohio and Indiana.  A Flood Warning has been issued for the Buffalo River near Dilworth affecting Clay County in Minnesota. 
South:
Much of the region will be dry with the exception of the central Gulf coast and south Florida. Wind Advisories are in effect for portions of Texas and Oklahoma.  Frost Advisories are in effect for parts of eastern Kentucky.  Flood Warning in effect for the Rio Grande at Laredo affecting Webb County in Texas.
Northeast:
Rain is forecast for Upstate New York and New England with light snow possible in higher elevations. 
Snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are forecast for areas in northern Maine; Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for these areas. (NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Omar:

FEMA Region II:

  • Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated at Level III
  • ERT-As deployed to Puerto Rico (PR) and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)

U.S. Virgin Islands (VITEMA):

  • IA PDAs for St. Croix and St. Thomas completed yesterday
  • PA PDAs were completed in St. Croix, St. Johns and St. Thomas on October 19
  • Power restored to 90% of St Croix residents; anticipate full restoration by end of week
  • VITEMA reported no limiting factors or shortfall of resources. (FEMA Region II)

Austin, Texas JFO Update for Hurricane Ike

  • 55 fatalities confirmed
  • Five shelters open with a population of 503 (including 50 special needs)
  • To date, 14,555 individuals have been counseled by Hazard Mitigation Advisor Specialists
  • As of 19 October, a total of 13,397,807 cubic yards (CY) of debris has been removed; overall estimated total is 25,215,878 (CY)
  • As of 20 October, a total of 33,054 Rights of Entry (ROE) have been received; a total of 21,926 roofs have been completed
  • 67 sites for manufactured housing placement have been reviewed by the Environmental and Historical Preservation (EHP)
  • As of  20 October, 468 pads for manufactured housing are available
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 1,632 loans for FEMA-1791-DR, for a total of  $84,815,400

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Area 1 (91L)
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms remain over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and adjacent land areas in association with a weak surface trough.  Significant development appears unlikely due to proximity of land.

Eastern Pacific:
Area 1
A disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms is located a few hundred miles south of Acapulco, Mexico.  Upper-level winds are forecast to become less conducive for development over the next couple of days
as this system moves slowly westward to west-northwestward

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. (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 Tuesday, October 21, 2008:

  • National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
  • Initial attack activity: Light (56 new fires)
  • New large fires: 0
  • Uncontained large fires: 1
  • Large fires contained: 0
  • States with large fires: CA

Fire Weather: A large low pressure system and surface cold front will move into the northwest quarter of the country today.  Precipitation will spread across the Northwest and northern Idaho with windy conditions over much of the West.  Above normal temperatures and low relative humidity will return to southern California as the flow turns offshore by afternoon.  Low relative humidity will continue over much of the East. (NIFC)

New Jersey Forest Fire: As of 6:38 p.m. EDT on 21 October, the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center (NJ ROIC) reported that a wildfire is currently burning on the border of Burlington and Atlantic Counties in southern New Jersey.

  • Approximately 300 acres consumed (media is reporting estimated 1000 acres by the end of the day today)
  • Four structures evacuated
  • No threat to communities or infrastructure
  • No reports of injuries at this time
  • New Jersey EOC is activated and monitoring
  • No federal response requested (Region II)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1802-DR-KY Amendment # 1 was approved on October 21, 2008.  The amendment adds Kenton County for Public Assistance.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Oct-2008 08:19:08 EDT