LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists continue to offer Kentuckians free advice on making their homes more disaster-resistant.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials and Puerto Rico Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) staff will hold an Applicants’ Briefing meeting related to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP) for the 10 designated municipalities, state agencies and some private non-profit organizations. The meeting will be held on Friday, August 13, 2010, at 10:00 am, at the Puerto Rico State Emergency Management Agency facilities.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- On Monday July 12, 2010, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched an All Hazards Preparedness Campaign in hardware stores to advise people on how to rebuild implementing mitigation measures and prevent future damages. More than 2,000 persons have been reached and this effort will continue in stores located in the 10 municipalities designated to receive federal aid under FEMA’s Public Assistance program for Infrastructure damages, after the May 26-31, 2010 storms and flooding event.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- On August 5, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota signed the first tribal agreement in a six-state region, including Minnesota, which allows a federally recognized tribe to be considered a Grantee for federal disaster assistance. FEMA officials signed the formal agreement with the tribal Board of Trustees, located in Yellow Medicine County, clearing the way for nation-to-nation federal disaster assistance in incidents that are beyond the capabilities of the tribe.

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) Significant National Weather

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley with a few isolated severe storms possible. High temperatures are expected across the Northern and Central Plains into Thursday.
South
Intense heat continues, but isolated thunderstorms could bring brief relief to portions of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina. Heavy rains are forecast across portions of the Florida Peninsula.
Northeast 
Scattered showers and thunderstorms could bring strong winds and hail to portions of New England today. Showers and thunderstorms will develop southward into the Mid-Atlantic region as cooler air enters into the region but severe weather is not likely. Slightly cooler, drier air will bring welcome relief to northern New York and northern New England, but high temperatures and humidity are expected to continue throughout the rest of the region.
West 
Isolated, scattered storms are expected from eastern Washington and Oregon to western Montana. Widespread severe weather is not expected with these storms, although a few could produce locally strong winds. Fire danger will remain high through portions of the Great Basin and a few isolated thunderstorms are possible across the higher terrain of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado through Thursday.
(NOAA and media sources)

Excessive Heat – Forecast and Hazards

NOAA’s National Weather Service Forecast Hazards Assessment indicates that excessive heat conditions will continue in the southern United States during the next three to five days. Heat indices of 105-110 degrees will persist in more than 10 states. The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when the relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature. According to the NWS, heat is actually the number one weather related killer in the United States; ranking higher than floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. The hazards from excessive heat may include sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke or hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is a condition in which the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate and is a major threat for children, adults, and pets in enclosed vehicles. With an outside temperature of 80 degrees, temperatures inside a car can rise to 123 degrees in sixty minutes and leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate.  For more information regarding the products that the NWS Weather Forecast Offices produce to help prepare and plan for excessive heat, as well as details regarding the hazards and effects, please see the National Weather Service article, “Heat: a Major Killer” on their website:  http://www.weather.gov/om/heat/index.shtml.  
(NOAA)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

Well pressure remains stable. Drilling operations are on hold until the passage of Tropical Depression 5. 
On August 10, NOAA reopened 5,144 square miles to finfish harvest only. The area closed to all fishing covers 52,395 square miles or approximately 22% of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone.
(NIC Daily SitRep Update)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (HQ FEMA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico: 
Tropical Depression #5 is located approximately 290 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River moving toward the northwest at 10 mph. On the forecast track, the center of the system will approach the north central Gulf of Mexico by Thursday morning. Slow strengthening is expected and the depression is forecast to become a Tropical Storm later today. Total rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches are possible from southeastern Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle through Friday morning. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Destin, Florida to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans.
Another well-defined low pressure area is located about 750 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and is marginally conducive for development. There is a high chance, near 70 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Finally, there is also a tropical wave located about 625 miles east of the Southern Windward Islands but any development with this system should be slow to occur. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
The remnant low Estelle is located approximately 450 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico moving slowly east-southeastward. Redevelopment of this low is not expected due to strong upper-level winds. Another low pressure area is located about 330 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico but as with the other system, development is not likely due to unfavorable upper-level winds. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. A third area of disturbed weather is located several hundred miles south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec moving slowly westward to west-northwest. Some slow development is possible and there is a low chance, near 20 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western Pacific: 
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours. 
 (NOAA, JTWC) 

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

On August 10, 2010, the President signed major disaster declaration FEMA-1932-DR to provide assistance to Kansas for damages resulting from severe storms, flooding and tornadoes from June 7 to July 21, 2010. The declaration approves Public Assistance for 34 counties will all counties eligible to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster is Michael R. Scott.
(HQ FEMA)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On August 10, 2010, the President signed major disaster declaration FEMA-1932-DR to provide assistance to Kansas for damages resulting from severe storms, flooding and tornadoes from June 7 to July 21, 2010. The declaration approves Public Assistance for 34 counties will all counties eligible to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program. The Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster is Michael R. Scott.
(HQ FEMA)

(NEW YORK, NY) After months of work organizing the New York Hydraulic Fracturing public meetings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the Syracuse meeting, originally scheduled for this Thursday, August 12th at the Oncenter Complex Convention Center, has been cancelled

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for the State of Kansas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal aid has been made available for Kansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes during the period of June 7 to July 21, 2010.

Major Disaster Declaration number 1932 declared on Aug 10, 2010

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Federal assistance may be available to help Nebraska communities rebuild infrastructure to higher, more disaster-resistant standards and state officials are encouraging local governments to take advantage of that funding.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- State and local officials, county agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations in 53 Nebraska counties have only about one week remaining to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) for federal funds to support the recovery from the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that began June 1.

Release date: 08/10/2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 10-ENB0010 MARSHALL, MICH. – The EPA-hosted telephone media briefings regarding the ongoing response to the Enbridge oil spill in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River will shift to twice weekly beginning Thursday, August 12

As part of the Obama administration's ongoing commitment to smart, effective border security, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced that the Secure Communities program has been deployed to all 25 U.S. counties along our Southwest border.

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) Significant National Weather

Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue across the northern and central Plains, upper Midwest valley, and Great Lakes. Some of these storms will have the potential to become severe with damaging winds and hail. Temperatures and humidity are expected to increase across the region.
South
High temperatures and humidity are expected to continue and thunderstorms are possible for portions of the lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and North Carolina.
Northeast
Across the Northeast, scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the day with strong wind gusts and heavy downpours possible.
West 
Widely scattered thunderstorms are forecast from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains. A few scattered thunderstorms could occur across the mountains of the Four Corners states with a few becoming severe across the Northern Rockies.
(NOAA and media sources)

Latest Seasonal Drought Assessment

The latest seasonal drought assessment was just released from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. Drought is forecast to continue across western Wyoming, Arizona, northeast California, Nevada, and the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands (moderate to exceptional drought levels). An ongoing heat wave, along with below normal rainfall, has created drought conditions in the lower Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys and is expected to persist and expand into parts of Missouri and Arkansas. Drought also expanded from moderate to severe levels in portions of the eastern U.S. with the Mid-Atlantic seeing the largest increases. On the other extreme, unseasonable wetness and a very active monsoon resulted in the removal of drought across the Rockies and in New Mexico. In the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region major drought relief occurred during the past two months (from extreme drought to moderate drought levels), and is forecast to continue. La Nina conditions may bring improvement for some areas during the 2010-2011 winter season.
(NOAA)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

Situational Update:
Well pressure remains stable, which indicates a successful cement plug. Future plans include the removal of the capping stack and blow out preventer to permanently seal the site. Approximately 669 miles of coastline have been impacted and shoreline cleanup efforts continue. Approximately 76% of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain open to commercial fishing.
(NIC Daily SitRep Update)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No Activity(HQ FEMA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:
A well-defined low pressure area is located about 825 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands moving west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a high chance, near 70 percent, of this system developing into a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Another weak low pressure system is located over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico about 75 miles southwest of Naples, Florida. This system is becoming better organized and there is a medium chance, near 50 percent, that this system will develop into a tropical or subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical Depression Estelle is located approximately 420 miles south of Baja California, Mexico moving west near 5 mph. Additional weakening is forecast and it is forecast to be a remnant low by late Tuesday. Another low pressure area about 200 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico has a low chance, near 20 percent, of development into a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

On August 10, 2010 at 1:23 a.m. EDT offshore near Vanuatu, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred at a reported depth of 41 miles. No damages or injuries were reported but a tsunami was created. The West Coast/Alaskan Tsunami Warning Center issued a report stating no tsunami was expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coasts.
(USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, August 9, 2010: 
Initial attack activity: light (152 new fires), new large fires: 1, large fires contained: 6
Uncontained large fires: 10, U.S. States affected:  CA, ID, LA, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY, & NJ.
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

New York, NY - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved its three public meetings on its hydraulic fracturing study to the Oncenter Complex Convention Center in Syracuse, New York. The date and times of the three meetings remain the same: the 3 sessions will be held 8 a.m

(Dallas, Texas - August 9, 2010) The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continued to monitor air quality in the Tulsa area throughout the weekend following a fire that started Wednesday night at the North Tulsa Sanitary Landfill

DENTON, Texas -- Residents in eight Texas counties who have registered for disaster assistance due to damages from Hurricane Alex should expect a house inspection, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).