The Week in Congress: February 9 – 13, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dominates action in Congress this week. Get the materials you need to stay ahead. The Week in Congress: March 2 – 6, 2009 This week Congress and the administration work on housing and hold hearings on health care and labor, plus voting rights and [...]
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) National Weather West Lower temperatures and higher humidity is expected to improve conditions for the Southern California wild fire for the next couple of days. Temperatures near the fires should be in the middle 90s to near 100 and in the 90s on Thursday, September 3. Humidity levels continue to rise this week in the affected areas. These two slight improvements will also help prevent new fires and allow fire fighters the ability to increase containment. Rain is anticipated for Arizona and New Mexico by the end of the week. South Some rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the Southeast coast, Florida and the Gulf Coast states today and Thursday. Thunderstorms are expected in central Mississippi and central Alabama; some of the stronger storms may contain hail and damaging winds. Midwest The Plains are forecast for scattered thunderstorms today and Thursday; some thunderstorms may produce strong winds and hail. (NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources) Cool weather offers hope in California fire battle Cool weather allowed firefighters to make progress against a deadly wildfire in Los Angeles, CA. The Governor told reporters Tuesday that a total of eight major fires were burning. As well as the two firefighters who died, 14 had been injured. A rise in humidity and a drop in temperatures saw firefighters increase containment lines from 5% percent to 22%, and for the first time evacuation orders in several areas were lifted. An estimated 10,000 people have been evacuated since the fire erupted last Wednesday and flames continue to besiege a critical telecommunications facility as well as a historic hilltop observatory. The Governor had urged residents who received an evacuation order to flee immediately. More than 3,600 firefighters are battling the fire in the Angeles National Forest. The fire threatened communications antennas for numerous television and radio stations, cell phone providers and law enforcement agencies on Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains. Firefighters were creating firewalls and set lines of retardant aimed at protecting the Mount Wilson Observatory. An open source reporting Tuesday evening showed clouds of smoke shrouding the observatory dome. Fire containment estimated by September 15. California is frequently hit by wildfires due to its dry climate, winds, and recent housing booms that have seen home construction spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas. In 2007, the state suffered some of the worst wildfires devastation in its history as eight people were left dead, 2,000 homes destroyed, 640,000 people displaced, and a billion dollars of damage occurred. (LOS ANGELES AFP, Media Sources) Region VIII Utah Wildfire Mill Flat Fire (fema-2831-FM-UT) The Mill Flat Fire is located near New Harmony, Washington County, Utah and was started on July 25, as a result of lightning. The fire has burned 11,180 acres and is 10% contained. Three residences and eight outbuildings have been destroyed. Decreasing temperatures and higher relative humidity are expected to cause a lower level of fire activity. This will help crews work closer to the fire, construct line and make significant progress in line construction. Region IX Wildfires Arizona Wildfires: Water Wheel Fire (fema-2835-FM-AZ) The Water Wheel Fire is located 7 miles northeast of Payson in Gila County, Arizona. The fire has burned 773 acres with 45% containment. The evacuation order for Whispering Pines has been lifted; however, area closure still in place. Some road closures are in effect. The estimated containment date is September 5. California Wildfires: The Governor has proclaimed a State of Emergency for Los Angeles, Monterey, Placer and Mariposa Counties; local Proclamation of Emergency for Big Meadow Fire. Big Meadow Fire: The Big Meadow Fire is located two miles east of El Portal. The fire has burned 5,275 acres and is 55% contained. Three firefighters have been injured. The estimated date of containment is September 10. Oak Glen III Fire: (FMAG -2833-FM-CA) The Oak Glen III Fire is located south of Oak Glen and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County. The fire started August 30, 2009 and has burned 1,012 acres and is 60% contained. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for the community of Oak Glenn. Station Fire: (FMAG-2830-FM-CA) The Station Fire is located in Los Angles River Ranger District, Angeles National Forest. The fire has burned 127,513 acres and is 22% contained. There are two fatalities and three injuries associated with this fire. Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. An estimated 10,000 people have been evacuated since the fire erupted last Wednesday. Multiple evacuation centers have been established. The Mount Wilson Communications is directly threatened. This facility is a major communications hub for all of Southern California. Hawaii Wildfires: Kaunakakai Fire: (FMAG-2831-FM-HI) The Kaunakakai Fire is located 1 mile north of Kaunakakai Town, Maui County, Island of Molokai, Hawaii. The fire has burned 7,800 acres and is 45% contained. The fire is threatening 500 residences, and 90 businesses. One injury has been reported. One outbuilding has been destroyed.(Region IX, NIFC) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) fema-2836-FM-CA was approved September 1, for the Pendleton Fire in Yucaipa, San Bernardino County, CA. The fire has burned over 860 acres with 70% containment. Approximately 400 residences have been threatened and the Wildwood Canyon has evacuated. (fema HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic: Tropical Wave Activity Thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave over the Cape Verde Islands have decreased. Development, if any, is expected to be slow to occur as the system moves to the west or west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Tropical Storm Erika As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Erika was located about 280 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Erika has been moving generally westward near 5 mph. A west-northwestward motion at a slightly faster forward speed is expected over the next day or two. On this track, the center of Erika is expected to pass near or over the northern Leeward Islands during the next day or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the Leeward Islands. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles mainly to the north and east of the center. Erika is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the northern Leeward Islands during the next couple of days, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches. Puerto Rico and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands however are in the cone of uncertainty. Local Statement from the NWS office in San Juan, Puerto Rico states there are no tropical cyclone watches or warnings in effect for the area, however Puerto Rico and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands should remain alert as they are in the cone of uncertainty. Eastern Pacific Hurricane Jimena As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Jimena was located about 65 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. Jimena is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph, and this general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected to continue for the next 24 to 36 hours. On the forecast track, the core of Jimena will be just offshore the West Coast of the southern Baja California peninsula today, and be near or over the central Baja California peninsula on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 105 mph, with higher gusts. Jimena is a Category Two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours but Jimena is still forecast to be a hurricane when it moves inland. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles, from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. The government of Mexico has discontinued the Hurricane Warning for the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula south of Agua Blanca on the West Coast and south of La Paz on the East Coast. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Baja California peninsula from Agua Blanca northward to Punta Abreojos on the West Coast and from La Paz northward to Mulege on the East Coast. Jimena is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over the southern half of the Baja Peninsula and portions of western Mexico for the next 48 hours. Remnant Low of Kevin The center of the remnant low of Kevin was located about 840 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph. Dissipation of the low is expected in a few days. This is the last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on this system. Central Pacific No activity. Western Pacific No activity. (NOAA, HPC, 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) Wildfire Update National Preparedness Level 3 National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, September 1, 2009: Initial attack activity: Light (143 new fires) New large fires: 5 Large fires contained: 2 Uncontained large fires: 17 States affected: AZ, CA, CO, OR, TX, UT, & WA (NIFC) disaster Declaration Activity The President approved a major disaster declaration for the state of New York (fema-1857-DR-NY) as a result of severe storms and flooding occurring August 8-10, 2009. Specifically, three counties are eligible for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Jaime E. Forero has been appointed Federal Coordinating Officer.(fema HQ)
By: Daddy-O
It doesn’t take a genius to realize any public option will be a dumping ground for the pre-existing illness folks who won’t be profitable for the private sector insurance industry. As has been pointed out above, a big part of the problem is that anyone who seeks office requires suitcases full of filthy lucre [...]
Fat EMS, Attacks on Responders, and Documenting Refusals
This week, a Massachusetts study released findings that 75% of all first responder candidates (EMS and Firefighters) were overweight or obese. Other stories covered in this episode include a look at a tragic story of an attack on a paramedic in Scotland that prevented care getting to an elderly woman in cardiac arrest. We also talk about patient refusals in light of actress Natasha Richardson’s death last week following a ski accident and refusal of care or transport while vacationing in Canada. Thanks to Lexi-Comp for sponsoring the show. Visit www.Lexi.com/mediccast to find out more about their innovative mobile products for first responders at all levels. While you’re there, register to win free software or an iPod Touch!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) National Weather Midwest Storms with locally heavy rain are forecast from the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley westward to the mid/upper-Mississippi Valley due to a weak cold front moving through the region. A separate front will move into the Upper Midwest today and produce scattered storms from eastern North Dakota to northern Minnesota. Temperatures will range from the 60s and 70s in the upper-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes to the 80s in the mid- Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for southeastern Iowa until 8:45 a.m. CDT. South Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Southeast due to a dry upper low. A separate upper disturbance will produce scattered storms in portions of Oklahoma, Texas and the lower-Mississippi Valley. Highs in the 80s and low 90s will be common throughout the region. West An upper ridge building across the West will produce above average temperatures from the Northwest to the Southwest. Highs in the 80s and 90s will be common across the Northwest and temperatures in the Desert Southwest will rise well into the 100s. An Excessive Heat Warning will be in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. PDT today for the California Deserts and southwestern Arizona. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for southwest and south-central California until 9:00 p.m. PDT Friday. Northeast A cold front lingering in the Mid-Atlantic will produce showers and thunderstorms from southern Pennsylvania to the Virginias. Highs in the 60s and 70s will be common in New England and Upstate New York; from southern New Jersey to the Virginias highs will be in the 80s. (NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) No activity. (fema HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic Tropical Storm Danny At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Danny was located about 370 miles east-northeast of Nassau and about 575 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Danny is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph; this general motion is expected to continue through today and turn toward the north with an increase in forward speed by Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is forecast over the next couple of days. Area 1 At 2:00 a.m. EDT, a tropical wave located over the far eastern Atlantic Ocean about 300 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some slow development of this system is possible over the next couple of days as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Eastern Pacific Tropical Depression Ignacio At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Ignacio was located about 1,060 miles west of the southern tip of Baja, California. Ignacio is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph; this general motion is expected to continue today. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Ignacio is forecast to become a remnant low later today. Area 1 At 2:00 a.m. EDT, a large area of disturbed weather is centered about 950 miles south of the southern tip of Baja, California. Conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system during the next couple of days as it moves generally west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a medium chance, 30 to 50 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Area 2 At 2:00 a.m. EDT, an area of disorganized showers and a few thunderstorms located just in the Gulf of Tehuantepec is associated with a westward moving tropical wave. There are no signs of development at this time and there is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Central Pacific Tropical Depression Hilda At 5:00 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Hilda was located about 450 miles south-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii and about 635 miles southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Hilda is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph and is expected to gradually turn to the northeast over the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Hilda is forecast to gradually weaken over the next 48 hours. Area 1 At 4:00 a.m. EDT, an area of disturbed weather about 1,050 miles southwest of Kauai was moving west near 10 mph. The thunderstorms remain poorly organized and there is a slight chance of tropical cyclone development in this area over the next 48 hours. Western Pacific No activity affecting US territories. (NOAA, HPC, 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) Wildfire Update National Preparedness Level 2 National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, August 26, 2009: Initial attack activity: Light (83 new fires) New large fires: 1 Large fires contained: 1 Uncontained large fires: 4 States affected: AZ, CA, & WA(NIFC) disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (fema HQ)
