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Home =BB Emergency Managers =BB National Situation Update: Friday,
September 2, 2005


National Situation Update: Friday, September 2, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Texas Agrees to Take 50,000 More Refugees
The state of Texas agreed Thursday to take in three times more refugees
from Hurricane Katrina than officials initially expected, bringing the
total number of evacuees to nearly 75,000. Texas Gov. Rick Perry
announced that 50,000 more refugees would relocate to Texas, with plans
to house 25,000 each in San Antonio and Dallas. Those people would join
23,000 others who are already being sent from New Orleans to the
Astrodome in Houston.

Late Thursday, however, after accepting more than 12,000 Hurricane
Katrina refugees, officials said the Astrodome was full and began
sending buses to other area shelters and as far away as Huntsville,
about an hour north of Houston. Perry declared an emergency disaster
for the state, freeing up money to provide services for hurricane
victims.

The hurricane "has created emergency conditions in Texas that will
require all available resources of both federal and state governments
to overcome," Perry said. "We will do all we can as a state and a
people to help our neighbors to the east who have lost so much."

A shelter is being created in San Antonio in a huge warehouse at
KellyUSA, a city-owned complex that once was home to an Air Force base.
In Dallas, the refugees will go to Reunion Arena, the former home of
the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. "Whatever we are called upon to do ... we
intend to welcome these people with open arms and to try to give them
some dignity which these circumstances have taken away from them," San
Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said.

The governor asked the state Department of Housing and Community
Affairs to set aside all vacant low-income housing units for refugees.
So far 7,000 units have been reserved for hurricane victims. Texas will
also open its schools and hospitals to some of the hurricane's most
desperate refugees. The state Health and Human Services Department
planned to extend office hours to help people with Medicaid, food
stamps and prescription benefits.

"We're getting calls across the country from people who want to help,"
Perry said. "It's going to be the largest influx of refugees in
American history." The American Red Cross has opened about 20 shelters
in other Texas cities. Texas is a relatively close drive for New
Orleans evacuees, many of whom escaped the city on Interstate 10 and
Interstate 20 before Katrina struck. Tens of thousands of survivors
continued to fill hotel rooms across the state days after the storm.
Some hurricane survivors planned to start over in Texas. Many are poor.
Some lived on the streets of New Orleans. Others lost homes or their
jobs when the hurricane flooded their city.

"I'm not going back. I'm going to rebuild in Dallas," said Thomas
Washington, 46, who arrived in a caravan of cars carrying 26 people.
The group left New Orleans on Sunday and stayed first in motels. They
eventually turned to the evacuee shelter at Reunion Arena in downtown
Dallas. Washington, who worked as a security officer at a Naval
facility, said his home near Lake Pontchartrain is gone. "All I have is
a pair of jeans and a shirt," he said.

Perry, who agreed to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's request Wednesday
to take in the evacuees, said Texas naturally wants to help its
neighbor. "I think we all understand it's by the grace of God that this
terrible tragedy didn't come ashore a few hundred miles west," Perry
said. (Media Sources)

Katrina Response Overview
Coordinated major airlift of evacuees to begin 8:00 a.m. CDT, September
2, 2005.

Evacuees will depart New Orleans Superdome by bus, and be flown at a
rate of 4-5 planes per hour from New Orleans Airport to Lackland Air
Force Base, TX for reception and housing at Kelly AFB.

Simultaneous bus evacuation continues: 12,000 evacuees to be housed at
Houston Astrodome (12,000 evacuees capacity per Fire Marshall); and
10,000 evacuees to be housed at Dallas, TX, Reunion Center.

As of 9 p.m. EDT, September 1, 2005, 10,000 people have been evacuated
from the Superdome (1,500 special needs, 8,500 general population)

American Red Cross/FEMA Family Assistance Planning completed. The 1-800
call-in number for family members to call to locate relatives will be
functional Friday, September 2, 2005. The ARC website
(www.familylinks.icrc.org) was activated September 1, 2005.

Tulane Medical Center evacuated; hospital evacuations still ongoing at
Memorial (45 patients), Methodist (400 people) and Kindred (number
unknown), 194 patients moved by MedEvac from New Orleans International
Airport for evaluation and transport to Houston, TX.

43 National Disaster Medical System Teams with 1,196 personnel
deployed.

National Guard has a total of 27,000 troops arriving over the next 5
days. More than 70 Federal Protective Services Officers and 100 Border
Protection Officers assisting operations in Louisiana.

28 Urban Search and Rescue Teams staged in Louisiana and Mississippi
- operations have ceased in New Orleans until National Guard can
assist teams with security.

Planning to move 4 million MREs daily for the next three days.

76,000 people being sheltered.

13 assessment teams for hazardous materials have been deployed.

Coordinating with Amtrak on 1,500-passenger train for evacuation.

Developed and now implementing a National Communications Response Plan
in partnership with industry.

Coordinating a strategic National Priority Plan for provision of fuel
to responders.

Coordinating with Union Pacific for use of 60-75 tank cars for fuel
movement.

Public Safety in New Orleans
Critical needs:

High-water vehicles
Additional portable radios because no power to charge current ones

Rescue operations have never been suspended except for NDMS and FEMA
(ERT-A) employees in the Superdome area. They will return once get go
ahead from LTG Honore that area is secure.

Currently have lost connectivity and visibility of operations at
Superdome so they cannot determine if security issues have been
resolved.

Commodity distribution continued - deliveries made to Superdome and
throughout state.
2,000 law enforcement officials should arrive today.

Search and rescue continues, although team members have expressed
concern about safety.

Working with ESF #13 to get appropriate Federal armed agents to
support.

JOC established at LA State Police headquarters.

Temporary jail facility being established, need plastic handcuffs and
shackles.

FBI Special Agent in Charge providing air support and special weapons
teams.

Public Safety in Mississippi
Isolated incidents, but nothing widespread.
Important to have a strong showing of National Guard forces to deter
unrest. 10,000 National Guard troops are being assigned to the area;
4,000-5,000 are there now.

Housing
FEMA is leading housing plan

Looking to secure cruise ships for housing support; have identified 3
ships with 6,500. Need approval to move them close to New Orleans.
1600 dorm rooms identified
400 hotel room identified
45,000 mobile homes and trailers identified - need to find site to
place them

Logistics
Searching alternate sources for meals
2 million MREs are going into the affected area

MS EOC
Critical issues:

No communications on the coast, push-to-talk with counties will be
available later today (have asked ESF #2 for help)
Health issues on the coast - looking at declaring a public health
emergency
Attempting to get trucks to Chevron to refuel
Issue of releasing fuel to local governments
Shortages of MREs and getting food to shelters

Search and rescue - 11 teams there now, 19 will eventually be there.

NGOs and faith-based organizations are arriving, but still having
problems providing meals.

8 refrigerator trucks have arrived and have requested additional body
bags from FL.

Expect to have 100,000 people in shelters across the state.

Electricity is improving

AL EOC
Critical issues

Steady flow of commodities
Vouchers from ARC for workers
Movement of fuel

232,000 without power.

15 shelters are open and housing 1670 people.

20 distribution sites in 6 counties (1.9 million pounds of ice
distributed; 460,000 MREs distributed).

7 fueling stations for first responders.

8 mobile kitchens are in place and 7 more to arrive.

LA EOC

Additional 7,500 National Guard coming into State, working on how to
best integrate them into the response.

TX EOC
Critical needs:

Buses, drivers, and security.
Locations to shelter additional folks from LA (have spoke to mayor of
San Antonio and worked out plan).

81 shelters available for 44,258 people; 44 are open and housing 9,346
people.

Have deployed all TX search and rescue assets to LA.

Have 10 helos available plus 2 fixed wing air ambulances; 60
ambulances; 1 blimp; EMS personnel, nurses, and doctors.

1,232 TX National Guard are in LA. (FEMA HQ)

National Forecast
Northeast: After a moisture-starved secondary cold front and vigorous
upper-level system pop a few showers from the Adirondacks to interior
Maine today and tomorrow, a sprawling area of high pressure will take
total control of the weather across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
This will mean plenty of sunshine and no rain region-wide from Sunday
and Labor Day right through midweek. High temperatures from the 70s in
northern Maine to the 90s in Virginia will be replaced with highs from
the 60s across Upstate New York and northern New England to the 80s in
Virginia by Sunday.

South: The southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley will remain hot
with highs in the 90s right through the Labor Day weekend while the
Southeast will see highs in the 90s gradually give way to the more
pleasant 80s by Labor Day. High pressure will dominate much of the
region, keeping most areas rain free. A few isolated thunderstorms
could pop west of the Mississippi, but otherwise thunderstorms will be
confined to the immediate Gulf Coast and the Florida Peninsula.
Thunderstorms could be particularly torrential in Florida, the South's
potentially wettest spot this holiday weekend.

Midwest: Low pressure north of the Great Lakes could pop a few showers
across northern Michigan before high pressure over the Plains begins a
slow slide eastward for the Labor Day weekend, keeping most of the
Midwest dry. The Plains will heat up this weekend with high
temperatures approaching 100 degrees (near record levels) in parts of
South Dakota tomorrow. A few isolated clusters of thunderstorms could
roam west of the Mississippi from time to time although most places in
the Plains will be rain free. By Labor Day, a cold front will swing
eastward across the Dakotas, possibly providing a better focus for
scattered strong thunderstorms.

West: A new Pacific cold front will move across the Northwest this
weekend, bringing a few showers to western Washington and a few
thunderstorms to the northern Rockies. The 90s in eastern Montana will
be replaced with 70s by Labor Day. Meanwhile, moisture will be on the
increase across the Southwest. The risk for isolated-to-scattered,
mainly p.m. thunderstorms over southern Colorado and New Mexico will
gradually extend westward across Utah, Arizona, easternmost Nevada and
southeast California over the next few days. Temperatures in the
Southwest will be 5 degrees either side of average. (NWS, Media
Sources)

Tropical Depression Fourteen Remains Over The Open Tropical Atlantic
At 5 pm ast...2100z...the center of tropical depression fourteen was
located near latitude 19.6 north longitude 46.6 west or about 1085
miles (1740 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands.

The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19
km/hr) and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 Hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/hr) with higher gusts.
Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).

The depression has changed little in organization during the afternoon
with an exposed low-level circulation southeast of the main area of
deep convection. The upper-level low causing the southeasterly shear
over the system is expected to move westward over the next day or two
which should place the depression under a slightly more favorable
environment with less shear.

Model guidance continues to show a large split in forecast intensities.
With all of the global models except the UKMET model dissipating the
system in 48-72 hours while the ships intensity guidance bringing the
system to near hurricane strength in about 72 hours. The forecast
intensity will be very similar to the previous package which keeps the
system below tropical storm strength for 12 hours followed by slow
strengthening. Needless to say, this is a very low-confidence forecast.

The initial motion is 300/10 -- slower and slightly to the right of the
previous motion. The depression is moving around the southwestern
periphery of a deep-layered ridge over the eastern Atlantic. The system
is expected to make a gradual turn to the northwest over the next few
days as the high builds to the east and an upper low remains near 65w
between Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Due in large part to the change in the
initial motion, the track is shifted slightly east of the previous
forecast and remains in close agreement with the dynamical model suite
through 48 hours. Beyond this time the forecast track follows a general
motion to the northwest and north-northwest between the high to the
east and
the upper low to the west. ( National Hurricane Center)

Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level 4

CURRENT SITUATION:
Initial attack activity was light nationally with 92 fires reported.
Two new large fires were reported, one each in the Rocky Mountain and
Northern Rockies Areas. Four large fires were contained, one each in
the Northern Rockies, Rocky Mountain, Southern and Western Great Basin
Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California,
Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming.

A Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on 8/27 for Hurricane
Katrina in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. An Area Command Team
(Williams-Rhodes) is deployed to the Regional Response Coordination
Center in Atlanta, GA. for Hurricane Katrina Support. Numerous
resources are being mobilized as part of the relief effort. In
recognition of current and predicted support levels to Hurricane
Katrina, the National Preparedness Level has been elevated from PL-3 to
PL-4.
OUTLOOK: Weather Discussion: Warming and drying conditions will move
over much of the West as a high pressure ridge builds aloft. Afternoon
wet thunderstorms are possible over the higher elevations of Colorado
and New Mexico.

Colorado
NEW Blowout (Western Slope Center, Grand Junction, Bureau of Land
Management): 426 acres at 10 percent contained. The fire is located
five miles south of Palisade. Residences, structures, cultural
resources, and a watershed are threatened. Steep terrain and limited
access are hampering containment efforts. Extreme fire behavior was
reported.

Idaho
Frank Church (Payette National Forest): 26,948 acres. This
lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident, comprised of the
Bear Creek, Root Creek, West Fork/Joe, Missouri Ridge and several other
fires is 50 miles northeast of McCall. The fire is being managed to
accomplish resource objectives. Commercial property, residences and
historical structures are threatened; structure protection is in place.
Smoldering and creeping was observed.

Montana
Signal Rock (Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest): 7,650 acres at 10
percent contained. The fire is 17 miles southwest of Philipsburg and is
burning on both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead/Deerlodge National
Forests. Structures remain threatened and a protection plan is being
developed. Torching and spotting was reported.
Seepay #2 (Flathead Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 6,000 acres at
40 percent contained. The fire is two miles southwest of Perma. A
microwave communications site, structures, and cultural sites are
threatened. Road closures are in effect. Torching with short crown runs
and spotting were observed.

Selway-Salmon Complex (Bitterroot National Forest): 14,839 acres. This
lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) complex, comprised of the El
Capitan, Wapiti, Beaverjack, Reynolds Lake and numerous other fires, is
26 miles southwest of Hamilton. This complex, burning on both the
Salmon-Challis and Bitterroot National Forests, is being managed to
accomplish resource objectives. A campground, historic ranger station,
and a lookout are threatened. Structure protection remains in place.
Magruder Corridor Road will reopen today. Creeping and some active
surface fire was reported.

Hazard Lake (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 750 acres. This
lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fire is 33 miles near Choteau.
This fire is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. Private
land and a cabin are potentially threatened. Structure protection is in
place. Creeping and smoldering was reported. This will be the last
report unless significant activity occurs.

Oregon
Granite Complex (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest): 32,556 acres. This
lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is 30 miles east of
Enterprise. This complex is being managed to accomplish resource
objectives. Structure protection is currently being reassessed. Fire
activity increased in heavier fuels. (National Interagency Fire Center,
National Interagency Information Center)

FEMA Regional Activity
Typhoon Nabi passed through the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands August 30-31, 2005. Reporting indicates the eye of the storm
passed approximately 35 miles north of Saipan. Reporting of damage from
the CNMI Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been received [via
Pacific Area Office (PAO)].

Preliminary reporting from the CNMI EOC includes: Saipan - homes
destroyed and homes with both major and minor damage; Tinian also
reported homes with damage (unspecified); Saipan - overflow of sewage
along roads and "major debris" reported throughout island with some
road washouts (up to 3 feet deep). No damage information was received
from Rota by the time of CNMI EOC reporting. Rota has 100% of its
power. Tinian has 90% of its power restored and Saipan has 40% power
restoration. Full power is predicted to resume in Tinian and Saipan
within 3-4 days. Two (2) debris collection sites have been identified
and are in use by public works for debris removal in Saipan.

Saipan EOC was activated. Shelters were opened in anticipation of the
typhoon with 675 evacuees occupying the shelters. Preliminary damage
assessment by CNMI EMO was conducted. Debris removal has been
initiated. Electrical power restoration efforts are underway.

A FEMA representative from the PAO was liaison to CNMI EOC during
landfall of the typhoon. Request for joint CNMI/FEMA IA/PA PDAs was
requested by CNMI. A five member PDA Team (IA/PA) is leaving for CNMI
from PAO, Hawaii today. PAO,

An earthquake occurred today at 2127 EDT today, September 01, 2005. The
magnitude of 4.8 event has been located in Southern California, 1 mile
ESE from Obsidian Butte, CA and 7 miles WNW from Calipatria, CA at a
depth of 3.7 miles. No report of damage or injuries. There is no state
action anticipated and no request for Federal assistance has been
received. (FEMA Region IX)

Other Tropical Cyclone Activity
In the Eastern/Central Pacific, no storms threaten land or any U.S.
interests.

At 11:00 pm EDT, Typhoon (ty) 14w (Nabi)position near 15.7N 145.8E, or
approximately 35 nm northeast of Saipan. Typhoon Nabi has tracked
west-northwestward at 10 mph over the past six hours. Maximum sustained
winds - 103 mph, gusts 127 mph, and significant wave height is 35 feet.
(National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity
No additional earthquake activity occurred during the past 24 hours.
(USGS National Earthquake Information Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs)
No significant change during the past 24 hours. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity
No new information during the past 24 hours. (FEMA HQ)


Last Updated: September 02, 2005 10:21 AM
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