The Interview with John Podesta
John Podesta was President Clinton’s last chief of staff at the White House. Now from the vantage point of heading the Democrat’s favorite think tank, he is an informal advisor to President Barack Obama who is playing high stakes in trying to get his health care plans through. On The Interview Carrie Gracie gets John [...]
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) National Weather Northeast Periods of moderate to heavy rain, gusty winds, and cool temperatures are expected throughout the region. Southern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey will be warm and muggy with a few scattered thunderstorms possible ahead of a cold front.Midwest A storm departing the Great Lakes will impact Michigan and the upper Ohio Valley. Snow is likely in northern Michigan. A new storm exiting the Rocky Mountains will move through the Dakotas later today. Light rain is predicted in the northern Plains, while rain will change to snow over the Dakotas, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan; no significant accumulations are expected.West Rain and snow showers are forecast as a cold front moves through the Rocky Mountains. Snow levels range from 7,500 feet in the morning to 6,500 feet by evening; however, no significant snow accumulation is predicted.South Bands of showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Carolinas, southeast Georgia and northern Florida. A few thunderstorms could be strong-to-severe over eastern North Carolina and coastal South Carolina, where damaging winds and a tornado are possible. (NOAA s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) Puerto Rico Petrochemical Storage Facility Fire A fire sparked by an explosion at a petrochemical storage facility near San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 23 continues to burn. Located in the City of Cantano, 15 of 40 storage tanks containing diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, and other petroleum products are burning. The fire is contained but expected to continue burning for two to four more days. The cause of the explosion is unknown and under investigation. The fire impacted a one mile area, with flames rising up to 40 feet. Smoke is forecast to move out to sea and have minimal impact on the population. Local authorities do not expect a gas shortage as a result of this incident; six out of seven fuel terminals are functional.Evacuations occurred around the affected area, including the housing facilities at Fort Buchanan. The community of Barrio Amelia, which is in the borderline between Cata o and Guaynabo, was evacuated to the Cosme Beitia Coliseum in the Municipality of Cata o. More than 230 evacuees were expected to be sheltered overnight.Federal Actions Two fema LNOs are deployed to the Puerto Rican Emergency Management Agency (PREMA). EPA is monitoring weather patterns & air quality with the assistance of the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMACC). U.S. Coast Guard (USGS) established a port security zone and has a strike team on site to assist EPA with air quality monitoring. USGS Sector San Juan is at a heightened state of Marine Security level (MARSEC Level 2). FAA imposed a one nautical mile Temporary Flight Restriction from the surface to 15,000 feet as a precaution. Federal assistance has not been requested.Commonwealth/Local Response PR Emergency Declaration has been signed by the Governor, declaring a State of Emergency in five Municipalities: San Juan, Bayam n, Cata o, Guaynabo and Toa Baja. The Puerto Rican Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) and PR National Guard 22nd Civil Support Team are activated. 2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update, posted October 23 U.S. Situation Update: Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report during the week of October 11-17, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States from the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators: Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased steeply since last week in the United States, and overall, are much higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons. Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and has been higher than what is expected at this time of year for two weeks. In addition, 11 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 9 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and two were influenza A viruses, but were not sub-typed. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 95 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 7 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined. Forty-six states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu. Almost all of the influenza viruses identified thus far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. (CDC) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) No activity. (fema HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic A broad area of low pressure located between the northern coast of Cuba and the Bahamas is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity as it moves slowly west-northwestward. Some slow development is possible before the system is absorbed by a cold front in the next day or two. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.Eastern Pacific Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.Central Pacific Tropical Storm Neki At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Neki was located about 370 miles west-northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. Neki is moving toward the north-northeast near 5 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is expected to continue through Sunday.Western PacificThere are no threats to U.S. interests. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center) Earthquake Activity No new activity (fema HQ) Preliminary Damage Assessments No new activity (fema HQ) Wildfire Update National Preparedness is at Level 1. National fire activity as of Friday, October 23: Initial attack activity: Light (43 new fires) New large fires: 0 Large fires contained: 0 Uncontained large fires: 1 States Affected: AZ (NIFC) disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (fema HQ)
By: homunculus
Blood Money: Blue Dogs and the medical-Industrial Complex. By: Justinian The argument can be made that there are simply too many people taking up valuable space in this country. People with no wealth or wealth-producing skills are a form of surplus I’d like to hear more. Do you maybe [...]
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) National Weather South Moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms can be expected along the Gulf Coast states and into Georgia. Rain will continue to fall along the East Coast from the Mid-Atlantic States to central Florida through Wednesday. Areas from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Carolina coast could pick up 1 to 2 inches of rain, with some areas receiving 3 to 4 inches locally. Localized flooding is possible across the Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, northern Georgia and the western Carolinas. Temperatures will range from the upper 50s to middle 60s in the northern areas while temperatures in the southern portions will be mainly in the mid 70s and upper 80s across Florida.Northeast Showers are expected inland from northern and eastern Virginia northward through eastern Maryland, Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania this morning. 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible from southern Virginia north to southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey through Wednesday morning with up to 3 inches possible along the coast. Rain, sleet and snow showers are possible for northern New York and northern New England. High temperatures will range from the middle 30s in northern and eastern Maine to the lower to middle 60s along the southern coastal plain.Midwest Rain will spread into the middle Mississippi Valley and the Ohio Valley by this afternoon, with some locally heavy rain possible by nightfall in the Ohio Valley. The rain will slowly move northward into lower Great Lakes tonight and Wednesday. On Wednesday a major storm will move into the Dakotas with some light rain showers. Cold air may change the rain over to snow over the western parts of North and South Dakota by Wednesday evening, with accumulating snow possible Wednesday night. The major storm moving out of the Rockies and into the Plains Thursday will bring heavy rain and damaging thunderstorms to a large area from southern Kansas through eastern Texas.West A major storm system will enter the Northwest today producing rain, snow, and very blustery winds across a large portion of the Northwest. Low-elevation rain and mountain snow will continue to spread eastward into the northern Rockies. Widespread snow is expected to impact the western U.S. behind the frontal system now moving inland. More than a foot of heavy snow is expected over the higher elevations of the Washington and Oregon Cascades and Wyoming and Utah. Temperatures will plunge behind the front, dropping the freezing level and creating conditions favorable for widespread snow as far south as central Arizona on Wednesday. Temperatures may drop as much as 30 degrees behind the front. High winds will also be prevalent across much of the desert southwest as a result of this system.Wind advisories and high wind watches have been posted across parts of the region in anticipation of strong winds today and Wednesday. Sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 60 to 80 mph, are possible over parts of Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.(NOAA s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) NOAA Prepares Citizens for Possible El Ni o Impacts in Hawaii and the Pacific NOAA climate experts say the strengthening El Ni o could mean a greater chance of late-season tropical cyclone development in the central Pacific, more high surf and less rainfall for the Hawaiian Islands during the upcoming wet season, which normally runs from October through April. Following the hurricane season, the presence of El Ni o is expected to bring drier than normal conditions for the remainder of the wet season, said Kevin Kodama, senior service hydrologist at NOAA s Honolulu Forecast Office. Drier than normal conditions will worsen existing severe to extreme drought over portions of the State if early wet season rainfall in October and November does not materialize. Current sea surface temperatures and computer models point to a continued strengthening of El Ni o conditions through the upcoming winter season. The central Pacific has already seen an above average number of tropical cyclones during this year s hurricane season. An El Ni o has the potential to create conditions that are ripe for tropical systems to develop near the end of the hurricane season.The Territories of Guam and American Samoa and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands are also subject to weather extremes during El Ni o. (NOAA, Oct 20, 2009) Puerto Rico Petrochemical Storage Facility Fire Final Update An explosion and fire at a petrochemical storage facility near San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 23 was extinguished October 25, 2009. Located in the City of Cantano, 21 of 40 storage tanks containing diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, and other petroleum products were damaged - 17 burned and 4 collapsed. fema-3306-EM-PR was approved Oct 24 for Public Assistance (Category B).Current Situation All fires have been extinguished and recovery operations are underway. Shelters are closed; evacuees have returned to their homes; and evacuated inmates have been returned to their correctional facilities. All schools are scheduled to be open today. Maritime operations in San Juan Harbor have returned to normal. Ongoing Actions/objectives: A Joint Field Office (JFO) is being established in Hato Rey, PR. A Public Assistance Applicant Briefing is scheduled for October 27, 2009. Two fema Liaison Officers, four RII IMAT personnel and the Caribbean Area Division are supporting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA). Environmental monitoring and containment is being coordinated through a Unified Command Group (UCG) of EPA, USCG, and PR Environmental Quality Board (PREQB). The UCG will be operating 24 hours a day with 12 hour operational periods. Caribbean Petroleum Corporation (CaPeCo) will implement oil spill containment and recovery operations to prevent additional oil and oily waste discharge. UCG will monitor CaPeCo oil containment operations and assess the current/potential impact to the surrounding wetlands, streams, and ponds in the affected area. Cause of the explosion and fires remains under investigation. (Region II, JFO) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) No activity. (fema HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.Eastern Pacific Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.Western Pacific There are no threats to U.S. interests.Central Pacific Tropical Depression Neki Final Advisory At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of TD Neki was located about 665 miles north-northwest of Lihue, Hawaii, moving toward the north-northeast near 36 mph. TD Neki is dissipating, and remnants will continue to move rapidly north-northeast over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gust. Weakening is expected to continue until dissipation.Tropical Storm 23W TS 23W has passed north of Guam and Rota and is moving away from the Mariana Islands. At 11:30 p.m. EDT, Tropical Storm 23W was located 85 miles west-northwest of Rota and 100 miles northwest of Guam, moving west-northwest at 17 mph. This motion is expected to continue over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph, and extend outward up to 85 miles north and 40 miles south of the center. TS 23W is expected to continue tracking west-northwest and intensify over the next 24 hours. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center) Earthquake Activity No new activity (fema HQ) Preliminary Damage Assessments No new activity (fema HQ) Wildfire Update National fire activity as of Monday, October 26: National Preparedness is at Level 1. Initial attack activity is Light (10 new fires) with two uncontained large fires in Arizona and California, and no new large fires reported on Monday.(NIFC)Loma Fire, Santa Cruz County, California Final Update The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports the Loma Fire has consumed about 485 acres of brush and timber and is 55% contained. The fire broke out about 6:00 a.m. EDT Sunday near California Route 17, on the border of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara. Authorities ordered residents to evacuate approximately 150 homes; however, evacuations have been lifted and all roads have reopened. CAL FIRE reports 4 injured in connection with the blaze. One trailer and two outbuildings were destroyed. There is no further threat to structures or personnel; and full containment is expected today. (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, Region IX) disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (fema HQ)
