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

National Situation Update: Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:  A trough of low pressure off the northwest coast will produce showers from northern California to western Washington and Oregon in what normally would a sunny and dry time of year. A few severe thunderstorms are possible over northeastern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle and northwest Montana with afternoon thunderstorms possible from eastern Montana to the Rockies and the higher elevations of Arizona and New Mexico. The interior west will have highs in the 90s in eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana, with western Montana possibly reaching 100 degrees. High temperatures will range from the 60s in western Washington and Oregon to over 110 in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

Midwest:  Disturbances from Canada riding along a stationary frontal boundary will bring a few severe thunderstorms to Iowa and northern Illinois along with locally heavy rainfall. While the Central Plains to Missouri will remain dry, the Ohio Valley will have scattered thunderstorms. High temperatures will range from the 70s in the Arrowhead of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to over 100 in southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas.

South: Scattered afternoon thunderstorms will range from eastern Texas to Georgia with thunderstorms in the Florida peninsula. No severe weather is expected.

Northeast: Showers and thunderstorms over most of the Northeast with a few severe thunderstorms with large hail, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall possible. High temperatures will range from the 60s in far northern New England to the 90s in eastern Virginia, but most areas will have highs in the 70s and 80s. (NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
On 18 July at 0500 hours EDT , the NWS stopped issuing public advisories for Tropical Storm Cosme. The TS was located about 1,260 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Present movement is toward the west at 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph with gusts to 52 mph. Based on the current advisory, TS Cosme is expected to weaken to a Depression by 0500 hours EDT tomorrow (Thursday).

Elsewhere tropical cyclone development is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No significant tropical activity. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

There was no significant earthquake activity in the United States or its territories during the past 24 hours.

An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude was recorded on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 2007 hours EDT approximately 850 miles NNE of Auckland, New Zealand, at a depth of 6.2 miles. No tsunami was generated. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Individual Assistance PDA's for nine counties began in Missouri on July 16, 2007, and Public Assistance PDA's for ten counties are scheduled to begin on July 23, 2007.

Public Assistance PDA's for four counties in Vermont began on July 17, 2007.   (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  4
States Most Affected: Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada
National Fire Activity as of Monday, July 17, 2007:

• Initial attack activity: Heavy (426 new fires)
• New large fires:20
• Large fires contained: 5
• Uncontained large fires: 52

Wildfire Outlook:  Increasing wind in combination with thunderstorms will occur this week mainly over the Great Basin. Windy conditions will develop from the Sierra Nevada Mountains eastward over southeast Oregon and the southwest portion of the Great Basin. Thunderstorms will focus over the Northwest and the Great Basin eastward. The driest storms will be across the southern Great Basin. Cooler conditions and higher humidity will begin to increase over the Northwest and northern California. Alaska will see warmer conditions with continued showers and thunderstorms.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center))

Disaster Declaration Activity

Maine: The Governor of Maine has requested an emergency declaration as a result of a severe summer storm during the period of July 11-12, 2007. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance Categories A and B (debris removal and emergency protective measures), including direct Federal Assistance for Oxford County.

North Dakota: The President has signed FEMA-1713-DR-ND for damages caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred June 2-18, 2007.  Eleven counties have been designated for Public Assistance.  All counties and tribes are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Connee Lloyd is the FCO.

Oklahoma: The Governor of Oklahoma is requesting a change in the incident period for FEMA-1712-DR-OK, from the current incident period of June 10, 2007, and continuing, to May 24, 2007, and continuing.  The Governor is also requesting that 17 counties be added for Public Assistance for damage occurring between May 24, 2007 and June 9, 2007. (FEMA HQ)