National Situation Update: Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Critical Resources

  • New large fires have been at a level that the system has been able to keep pace with demand for most resources.  Fire activities on existing large fires have increased causing renewed competition particularly for Type I crews and aviation resources.  Type II crew availability is becoming very good but the availability could change very quickly with a renewed threat of thunderstorms.(National Interagency Fire Center)

Update - Montana and Michigan Fire Situation -

  • The blaze 45 miles east of Whitefish near Glacier National Park is at 8,500 acres and five percent contained as of July 31, 2007 with extreme fire behavior reported. U.S. Highway 2 at East Glacier remains closed with some structures threatened and campgrounds and trails closed.  Near-record heat and low humidity also fueled blazes elsewhere in Montana, with similar conditions forecast for August 1, 2007. 
  • Elsewhere, in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan, 500 acres have burned with 40 percent containment.  Residences are threatened and evacuations and road closures are in effect. (National Interagency Fire Center)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

  • No new information to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:

  • Tropical Storm Chantal is located about 260 miles east-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia and about 340 miles southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland as of August 1, 2007.
  • It is moving toward the northeast at 32 mph and the motion is expected to continue with some increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts.  Chantal's force winds extend outward up to 200 miles and it is expected to become a strong extra tropical storm.
  • Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:

  • Tropical Storm Erick has formed and is located 1125 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.  Maximum sustained winds are 44 mph with gusts of 52 mph. It is moving west at 12 mph.  Only modest strengthening is anticipated.
  • A broad low pressure area has developed 500 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico and environmental conditions appear favorable for some slow development during the next 48 hours as the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
  • Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:

  • No significant activity to report. (NOAA, 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 Preparedness Level:   5
  • National Fire Activity as of August 1, 2007:
    • Initial attack activity: Moderate (203)
    • States Most Affected:  ID, MT
    • New large fires: 8
    • Large fires contained: 2
    • Uncontained large fires: 36
  • Weather Discussion Thunderstorms are predicted to increase throughout the week across the western states. Windy conditions will continue across Montana and the northern Great Plains. Thunderstorms will develop over southwest Montana, Great Basin, Sierra Nevadas, and the southern California deserts. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

  • FEMA-3276-EM-FSM was declared on July 31, 2007 for Federated States of Micronesia for drought beginning March 5, 2007, and continuing. Assistance is for six islands within Chuuk State.
  • FEMA-1699-DR-KS amended July 31, 2007, adds one county for Public Assistance
  • FEMA-1709-DR-TX amended July 31, 2007, adds two counties for Individual      Assistance; eight counties for Public Assistance (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 01-Aug-2007 07:51:51 EDT