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

National Situation Update: Saturday, January 17, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A High Surf Warning remains in effect for the north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui and for the west facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii through this afternoon. High surf above the 15 foot advisory level will persist through Sunday.
Midwest:
A weak storm system will spread from 2-4 inches of snow from the upper Midwest across the Great Lakes.  Highs will range from the teens in the upper Midwest to the 50s in western Kansas.
South:
The southeast will remain dry and chilly but may be at least 10 degrees warmer than yesterday.
Morning lows will range from the single digits in the southern Appalachians to the upper teens and low 20s in northern Florida.  Highs will range from the 30s in North Carolina to the 60s or 70s in Texas. 
Northeast:
The bands of lake-effect snow east of Lakes Erie and Ontario will weaken today.  A new weak storm system will spread snow across the Great Lakes region today with snow reaching western sections of New York and Pennsylvania late in the day.

Morning lows will range from the -20s in Maine to 15 in Norfolk, Virginia.  Highs will range from below zero in northern Maine to around freezing in southern Virginia.(NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Critical Fire Weather for Southern California, Florida and Georgia

California:  the Mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through tonight due to strong winds and low humidity. Mountain areas can expect winds from 15-25 mph with gusts to 45 mph, and humidity at or below 20 percent with isolated locations at or below 10 percent.   (NWS)

Presidential Inauguration Weather Forecast

(NOAA/NWS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-1813-DR-MA (Severe Winter Storm and Flooding that occurred December 11 and continuing) adds Essex and Middlesex Counties for Public Assistance.

Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-3299-EM-NY (Severe Winter Storm that occurred December 11 and continuing) adds nine counties for debris removal and emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance program.(FEMA HQ)