FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 10-ENB009 MARSHALL, MICH

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, has expanded its team of disaster assistance employees to include several local hires from the Nashville metro area. Hiring local unemployed individuals provides FEMA and its state and local partners with community-based skills and insight that enhance federal efforts to help local residents affected by recent flooding get back on their feet.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Kansas City, Kan., August 9, 2010) - Washington University in St

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Even though registration for federal disaster aid for the May storms and floods has ended the assistance picture hasn’t faded to black. Federal and state government agencies aren’t powering down anytime soon.

BEAVER, W. Va. -- The two remaining Disaster Recovery Centers will close in the next few days. Centers have helped more than 1,300 West Virginians recover from the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that hit the state in June. Here is the schedule of closings:

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Residents in Carter and Lewis counties who suffered damages during the July severe storms and flooding will be able to get one-on-one information about federal and state disaster assistance programs at Disaster Recovery Centers next week.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers in Marrowbone and Pikeville will no longer be open on Sunday.

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

West
Arizona and Utah are expected to remain dry today, but showers and thunderstorms will continue to move from the Four Corners States into the northern Rockies. By Tuesday, the rain will be in Washington, Northern Idaho and Montana.
Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue as temperatures and humidity increase across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Some storms will have the potential to become severe.
South
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for portions of the lower Mississippi Valley. In Florida, 2-6 inches of rain is possible. High temperatures and humidity will continue through Tuesday.
Northeast
In Upstate New York and New England, scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the day and strong wind gusts and heavy downpours are possible. 
(NOAA and media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

The oil flow was secured and the cement is properly bonded. Monitoring continues with sonar surveys and visual inspections. Future plans for the site include the removal of the capping stack and blow out preventer to permanently seal the site. The impacted area includes approximately 669 miles of coastline with 57,539 miles, or 24 percent, of Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing. 
(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 Colin is now only an elongated trough of pressure north-northwest of Bermuda. Regeneration of this disturbance is not anticipated. Elsewhere, a well-defined low pressure system about 1,000 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands is moving west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Environmental conditions may become more conducive for a tropical depression to form during the next few days. There is a high chance, 70 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Another low pressure system exists about 110 miles east-southeast of Saint Augustine, Fla. Strong upper-level winds and its proximity to land are expected to inhibit significant development of this system for now but that may change when once it moves into the Gulf of Mexico. There is a low chance, 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
On Aug. 8, Tropical Storm Estelle was located approximately 385 miles south-southwest of the southern Tip of Baja California, Mexico moving slowly west near 5 mph. Additional weakening is forecast and it is likely to be a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts and tropical storm force winds extending outward 45 miles. Another large area of disturbed weather is associated with a nearly stationary low pressure system about 250 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. There is a low chance, 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific
On Aug. 8, Tropical Depression 05W was located approximately 140 miles west-northwest of Okinawa, Japan moving north at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph. The storm is expected to intensify over the next 12 hours and reach South Korea by August 11.
Central Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Tuesday afternoon.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred Sunday, Aug 8 at 8:04 a.m. EDT offshore of the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska. The quake was about 90 miles west-southwest of Adak, Alaska at a reported depth of 18 miles. No damages or injuries were reported.
(USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, August 8, 2010:
Initial attack activity: Light (181 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: 17, U.S. States affected: WA, OR, CA, LA, NV, ID, MT, & WY
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 10-ENB008 MARSHALL, MICH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 10-ENB006 MARSHALL, MICH

State officials move forward with program to develop next-generation emergency response systems that integrate text, video and picture services.

(Dallas, Texas – August 8, 2010) The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that preliminary results from air quality monitoring in the Tulsa area indicate no toxics in smoke coming from the North Tulsa Sanitary Landfill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Federal assistance for survivors of Tennessee’s spring storms and floods has topped $301.6 million, according to recovery officials. That amount includes $155.9 million in approved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster grants and $145.7 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency officials today announced the addition of three Kentucky counties to the disaster declaration for July severe storms, flooding and mudslides.

If you are a homeowner, renter or business owner and have been affected by Hurricane Alex, FEMA urges you to apply for assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA); TTY 1-800-462-7585, or by using a web-enabled phone accessed at m.fema.gov.

DENTON, Texas. -- Homeowners, renters and business owners who were directly affected by Hurricane Alex are urged to seek disaster assistance regardless of their citizenship status, say officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).

Secretary Napolitano announced approximately $23 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for an inline baggage screening system at Orlando International Airport (MCO) - enhancing the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) ongoing efforts to bolster airport security while boosting the local economy.

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

West: 
Monsoonal moisture will bring showers and thunderstorms across the Four Corners region during the day. In the Pacific Northwest, widespread showers and thunderstorm activity will move through portions of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Some storms in northern Idaho and Montana may become severe with strong winds and large hail possible. Increased winds combined with low relative humidity will result in heightened fire weather conditions in Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.
Midwest:
Most of the region will be dry today. Scattered thunderstorms are expected across the Northern Plains by Saturday. In the Ohio Valley, temperatures will remain just below 90 degrees. Across northern portions of Michigan and Minnesota temperatures will be in the 70s.
South:
Temperatures and humidity will remain high across the South. In Texas, the highs are expected to exceed 100 degrees. For the rest of the region, temperatures will be in the low to middle 90s. Scattered thunderstorm activity is possible from Texas to the coastal Carolinas and in the Florida Peninsula. Some storms may become severe in east-central Georgia and central South Carolina.
Northeast:
A cold front moving across the region will bring cooler temperatures from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southern Plains through Sunday. Afternoon showers are possible near the eastern Great Lakes today. (NOAA and media sources)

Moderate Solar Weather Storm

A moderate space weather storm that began on August 3 continues today with no significant impacts reported. Auroras, sometimes known as the Northern Lights, have been visible this week in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Although harmless to life on Earth, auroras can cause power disruptions in satellite communications as well as radio and TV broadcasts. 
(NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel and equipment support. Static Kill operations and cement pumping operations are complete and the oil flow remains secured. The well will be evaluated for 24 hours. Approximately 649 miles of coastline is impacted and approximately 57,539 miles or 24 percent of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing.  
(NIC Daily SitRep Update)

NOAA Tropical Weather Update Released

 

On August 5, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center released an updated seasonal tropical outlook for the Atlantic Basin that continues to predict an active season. The seasonal average for tropical cyclones in this area is 11 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. The new forecast predicts with a a 70 percent certainty that there will be a total of 20 named storms reaching top winds of 39 mph or higher. Of that storm total, they expect eight to 12 storms will become hurricanes, or cyclones reaching top wind speeds of 74 mph or more. They further predicted that four to six of those storms will develop into major hurricanes or storms with winds of at least 111 mph. The latest update slightly lowers the storm numbers from the earlier May outlook because the early part of the season did not see the activity that was anticipated.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical Storm Colin (04)
At 5:00 a.m. Tropical Storm Colin was located 410 miles south-southwest of Bermuda moving north-northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend out 105 miles east of the center. Little change in strength is expected today but some strengthening is forecast tonight and tomorrow. In addition to Colin, a westward-moving tropical wave is located near the east coast of Nicaragua. Development is not expected as the system moves over Central America during the next day or two. There is a low chance, near zero percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. A third low pressure system is also located over the eastern Tropical Atlantic about 800 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Environmental conditions are gradually expected to become more conducive for development during the next few days as the disturbance moves northwestward at around 10 mph. There is a low chance, near 20 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Depression Seven-E is located approximately 130 miles SSW Lazaro Cardenas,  Mexico and 205 miles SSE of  Manzanillo, Mexico. The storm is moving west northwest near 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The storm is expected to continue on this track during next day or two and is forecast to become a tropical storm Friday. One to three inches of rain are possible along the coast of southwest Mexico.
Central Pacific: 
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday afternoon.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Rooster Rock Fire – Deschutes National Forest, Oregon 
The Rooster Rock Fire near Sisters, Ore. has burned approximately 6,000 acres but is now 40 percent contained. Major highways are open and no evacuations are in effect. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, August 5, 2010: 
Initial attack activity: light (171 new fires), new large fires: 4; large fires contained: 2; uncontained large fires: 8, U.S. States affected: WA, OR, CA, NV, ID, MT, WY, CO, &AK(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment #3 to FEMA-1925-DR-KY effective August 5, 2010 adds two counties for Individual Assistance and three counties for Public Assistance.
(HQ FEMA)  

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service today issued its latest forecast for the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season, reaffirming its May forecast of an active Atlantic hurricane season. In light of this latest forecast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reminds Americans living in coastal states that the time is now to ensure their family is prepared for a hurricane or other emergency.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Oklahoma's June 13-15 tornadoes and floods caused extensive damage to public buildings, roads, utility poles and other infrastructure in seven counties. Today, specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working with state and local officials to speed disaster assistance to Oklahoma.