At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.
We’re in a visual mood at FEMA today, so this week’s What We’re Watching is done primarily “in pictures”:
Severe Weather Outlook
Going into next week, National Weather Service forecasts are calling for the severe drought conditions to continue for much for the U.S., as high temperatures will affect portions of central U.S. If your area may experience summer heat next week, visit Ready.gov/heat for tips on staying cool. For those dealing with the prolonged, extreme drought, make sure to follow any local restrictions on water use and visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website for information on the federal government’s assistance to farmers and ranchers.
Tropical activity heating up
Along with our partners at the NOAA National Hurricane Center, we are closely monitoring several areas of organized storm activity in the Atlantic basin (shown below). Tropical depression #7 is likely to develop into a named tropical storm this weekend and those in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should keep a close watch on its development.
The image below (also from the National Hurricane Center) shows the probability of tropical storm force winds in the areas that may be affected by tropical depression #7 today through August 15. As you can see, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should closely monitor this system through local media or by visiting the National Hurricane Center full and mobile websites. Tropical storm force winds have an average speed of greater than 39 mph per minute.
(Editor's note: image removed on August 14)
Job opportunities at FEMA
Alright, the “visual” theme doesn’t apply to this section, but there are several open positions at FEMA right now. I encourage you to visit our careers page to learn more about working at FEMA or search for current openings now at USAjobs.gov. Here are two openings I wanted to highlight:
- Management Analyst, Denton, Texas - ideal for a candidate who has extensive experience analyzing disaster assistance programs and providing expert advice to key senior managers at the federal, state and local level.
- Training Specialist, Center for Domestic Preparedness, Anniston, Ala. - Provide oversight for daily operational and administrative aspects of an emergency responder training program.
Historical hurricane activity
Yesterday on the NOAA Facebook page, they posted this colorful photo showing the historical hurricane and tropical storm activity in the continental U.S. Each color signifies a different intensity of storm, and you can research how many hurricanes and tropical storms have impacted your community with NOAA’s new “Digital Coast” tool.
The colors below can be dizzying, but it shows that hurricanes and tropical storms impact both coastal and inland areas. Make sure you take steps to prepare your family, home, and business at Ready.gov/hurricanes before the next storm threatens.
With that, have a great weekend and stay safe.
Add new comment