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

National Situation Update: Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West
A storm system will move into the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday night and Thursday.  Rain and higher elevation snow will result from this system but winds will be much lighter.  To the south, very weak easterly breezes should keep Southern California breezy and warm with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s, even at the coast. 

Midwest
A few light showers across the heart of the Midwest.  Highs will range from the 30s and 40s to the north to the 60s near the Ohio River.  Winds may gust from 30 to 40 mph both ahead of and behind the front. Rain showers will change to lake-effect snow over northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin.

Northeast
Highs temperatures in the upper 40s and 50s over New England, in the 60s over New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey and in the 60s to 70s across Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.  Rain showers moving eastward across the region will make it to coastal areas by late Wednesday night. Winds will be gusty.

South
Cities like Atlanta, Birmingham and Charlotte will have scattered rain.  The front will bring in colder temperatures, especially in northern sections of the region.  Atlanta temperatures will fall from the 70s to a high in the 50s by Thursday.  Houston will cool down from a high near 90 on Wednesday back to the low 70s for Thursday.

Avian Influenza H5 confirmed on Suffolk/Norfolk border

Update 16:00 13 November

Following further test results from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the Acting Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that the strain of Avian Influenza present at the Infected Premises near Diss is the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. Further characterization of the virus is in progress, which may give an indication of the origin of the strain.  

Local authorities and Animal Health are enforcing a 3km Protection Zone, a 10km Surveillance Zone and a wider Restricted Zone covering the whole of Suffolk and most of Norfolk around the Infected Premises.  In these zones, movement restrictions will be imposed and poultry must be isolated from wild birds. In addition, it has been announced that the national general license on bird gatherings has been revoked, and bird shows and pigeon racing will not be permitted for the time being.

A full epidemiological investigation and tracings of any dangerous contacts are underway and all possible sources of the outbreak will be investigated. (United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)    

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern and Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone activity affecting U.S. interests. (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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)