The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For December 21, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or Significant
Icing Forecast
=> USA Flood Report
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
=> USA Earthquake Report
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
=> Guest Column-
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article National Drought Summary -- December 19, 2000
=> Article Congress Passes Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
=> Article FEMA and other Disaster/Hazard-Related Agencies Funded for
Another Year
=> Article Federal Agencies Recommend New Approach To Wildfires
=> Article EDA Announces Availability of Funds for Hurricane Floyd and
Other Disasters
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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Sponsored by the The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
http://www.disastercenter.com/Rothstein/
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=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For December 21, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Wed...82 At El Cajon CA
Low Thu...26 Below Zero At West Yellowstone MT
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Thursday
Comment: Strong stratospheric minor warming continues. A split
vortex in the lower stratosphere exists with the main center
over Canada and a minor center west of the Baikal Sea
weakening. A warm anticyclone is located over the
Norwegean Sea with the warm air over the Barents Sea.
At 5 and 10 HPa a reversed temperature gradient exists
between 60N and the Pole. Mean zonal wind is very
weak from the west in the upper stratosphere.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Thu Dec 21 11:51:31 2000
Flash Flood
Ohio
* FLOOD WARNING FOR...
COSHOCTON COUNTY IN OHIO
* UNTIL 1000 AM EST FRIDAY
Flood
Puerto Rico
LA ADVERTENCIA DE FUERTES RESACAS PARA LAS COSTAS ESTE Y SURESTE
DE PUERTO RICO DESDE FAJARDO HASTA CEIBA Y PATILLAS...Y PARA LAS
COSTAS ESTE Y SURESTE DE CULEBRA Y VIEQUES...Y PARA LAS COSTAS
NORTE...NORESTE...ESTE...Y SURESTE DE TODAS LAS ISLAS VIRGENES
AMERICANAS HA SIDO DESCONTINUADA...
...CONTINUA EN EFECTO UNA ADVERTENCIA PARA LOS OPERADORES DE
EMBARCACIONES PEQUENAS EN TODAS LAS AGUAS LOCALES DEL
ATLANTICO Y DEL CARIBE...
Non Precipitation
Alabama
...A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR PORTIONS OF
INTERIOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
Arkansas
.ANOTHER ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY AND
BRING FRIGID AIR TO MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND NORTHEAST
LOUISIANA TONIGHT.
California
...STRONG WIND EXPECTED ALONG THE NORTH COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT...
Iowa
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TODAY.
Illinois
ARCTIC WINDS ON THE BACK SIDE OF A WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL BEGIN
VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND STRONG WINDS TO THE ADVISORY AREA
TODAY AND TONIGHT.
Indiana
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS USHERING IN ARCTIC AIR ON THE BACK SIDE OF A
DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND
CHILLS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS THE WARNING AREA.
Kansas
WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINED IN EFFECT TODAY...
Louisiana
ANOTHER ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY AND
BRING FRIGID AIR TO MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND NORTHEAST
LOUISIANA TONIGHT.
Minnesota
VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL KEEP WIND
CHILLS IN THE 35 BELOW TO 65 BELOW RANGE DURING THE REST OF THE DAY.
Missouri
WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINED IN EFFECT TODAY...
Mississippi
..A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR PORTIONS OF
INTERIOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
North Dakota
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND SUBZERO TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS UNTIL MID AFTERNOON.
Nebraska
STRONG WINDS AND BITTER COLD AIR OVER NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA WILL
COMBINE TO KEEP WIND CHILL INDICES IN THE DANGEROUSLY COLD RANGE
THIS MORNING.
Nevada
HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
Oregon
HIGH WINDS TO AFFECT SOUTHERN OREGON COAST...
Texas
HARD FREEZE EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT
Washington
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR
TONIGHT FOR THE CENTRAL CASCADE FOOTHILLS...
Winter Storm
Alabama
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TODAY FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
ALABAMA...
California
SNOW ADVISORY ABOVE 4000 FEET FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY
FOOTHILLS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY...
SNOW ADVISORY ABOVE 4000 FEET FOR THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES
AND SISKIYOUS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY...
SNOW ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN KLAMATH COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH
FRIDAY...
Georgia
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA
TODAY...
Iowa
BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS ALONG WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE MINUS 15 TO MINUS 30 RANGE.
Michigan
SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT
TIMES...PRIMARILY ACROSS EASTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND ALONG THE LAKE
MICHIGAN COAST FROM MANISTEE THROUGH LELAND THIS AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT...AS WINDS SHIFT THE THREAT FOR HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL
SHIFT INTO AREAS BETWEEN GRAND TRAVERSE BAY AND THE STRAITS OF
MACKINAC. FRIDAY...THE THREAT FOR SNOW SHOWERS WILL THEN SHIFT
FARTHER SOUTH AND INTO THE LAKE MICHIGAN SNOWBELT...BETWEEN
CHARLEVOIX...MANCELONA AND KALKASKA.
Minnesota
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE TO
PRODUCE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...
Missouri
WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE
MINUS 15 TO MINUS 30 RANGE.
North Dakota
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE TO
PRODUCE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...
New York
MORE LAKE SNOWS POSSIBLE FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON
Oregon
WINTER WEATHER TO RETURN THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND EAST SLOPES OF THE
SOUTHERN WASHINGTON CASCADES TODAY...
Virginia
WINTER WEATHER STILL EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF THE REGION
Washington
WINTER WEATHER TO RETURN THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND EAST SLOPES OF THE
SOUTHERN WASHINGTON CASCADES TODAY...
Wisconsin
BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS ALONG WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
The forecast probability of an event is by the stated percentage or greater
for the event, within 25 miles of any point for the area described.
Tornado Risk - Slight
There is less than a 2% probability of a tornado.
Hail Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger.
Wind Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots.
Tomorrow's Risk -
There is less than a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over northwest coastal
California, and coastal Oregon.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over northwest
Oregon.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is not expected to exceed flash flood values.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over
northwest and northcentral portions of Michgan's northern peninsula, and
southwest through south
central Michigan.
The moderate probability area is over portions of northwest of Michgan's
northern peninsula.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 12 inches or greater
of snow is low over
central west Oregon and central west south Washington.
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over
Michgan's northern peninsula, western and northwest Michigan, far northeast
Ohio, far northwest
Pennsylvania, southwest New York, north central New York, Rhode Island, and
eastern
Massachusetts.
The moderate probability area is over the northwest portion of Michgan's
northern peninsula, and
southeast Michigan.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
0745 AM EST THU DEC 21 2000
FLOOD SUMMARY
NO NEW FLOODING
MINOR RESIDUAL FLOODING CONTINUES ON A FEW RIVERS IN ARKANSAS,
LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND INDIANA
FLASH FLOODING:
NO FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORIES WERE ISSUED OVER THE LAST DAY.
RIVER FLOODING:
RIVERS AND STREAMS WITH LOCATIONS EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE OR
EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDE:
ARKANSAS: THE CACHE RIVER
LOUISIANA: BAYOU DORCHEAT
INDIANA: THE WHITE RIVER
MISSISSIPPI: THE BIG BLACK RIVER
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
The USA Fire Report and Forecast has not been updated.
=> USA Earthquake Report
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER
GOLDEN, COLORADO
LISTS OF U.S. EARTHQUAKES IN THE LAST 30 HOURS
Prepared by USGS/NEIC 2000 DEC 21 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN WEST CENTRAL UNITED STATES
(35.8 TO 40.3 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2000 DEC 20 01:29:56.00 37.2 N 118.1 W 0 km 3.6
25 miles SE of Bishop, California
Yesterdays California earthquakes
DATE-(UTC)-TIME LAT LON DEP MAG Q COMMENTS
yy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss deg. deg. km
00/12/20 23:39:14 40.99N 121.70W 19.3 4.6Ml NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
00/12/20 23:22:54 40.99N 121.70W 11.2 4.3Ml NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
00/12/20 22:59:38 40.99N 121.69W 14.2 3.8Ml NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
00/12/20 22:55:51 40.99N 121.69W 13.0 3.8Ml NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
No reports received
Hail Reports
No reports received
Wind Reports
No reports received
Fields marked UNK are unknown
All Times UTC
Wind Gusts in MPH
Hail Sizes in 1/100 of an Inch (75 = 0.75")
=> Guest Column
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**** ARTICLES ****
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=> National Drought Summary -- December 19, 2000
The South: After two relatively tranquil weeks, a very active weather
pattern produced not only
widespread moderate to heavy rainfall (2 to 6 inches), but also numerous
reports of severe weather,
including devastating twisters in Alabama. The greatest totals (more than 4
inches) fell from northern
Mississippi northeastward into eastern Kentucky, generally reducing
long-term (hydrological)
drought by one category, and eliminating any short-term (topsoil) dryness
except in extreme
northwestern areas where lower amounts (< 2 inches) occurred. This was also
reflected by the
USGS streamflow information as most Southern sites rose from near-record low
levels a week ago
to near-record high values on Sunday. However, a sustained period of surplus
precipitation is
needed to alleviate long-term drought in the South as large year-to-date
deficits still remain (i.e. New
Orleans, LA 21.22"; Meridian, MS 18.61"; Montgomery, AL 17.99"; Atlanta, GA
14.23";
Memphis, TN 12.87"), major reservoir and lake levels are still below
average, and most streamflows
have already begun to drop below normal levels even after this week's
significant precipitation. In
sharp contrast, drought remained or slightly intensified across Florida with
another week of very
warm weather and light showers (rainfall of 0.1-0.6", highs in the mid-80's,
and temperatures
departures of +8 to +12°F). Accumulated deficits since January 1 have
reached 12 to 18 inches in
central Florida, and 18 to 24 inches in the Panhandle.
The Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic Region: A mixed bag of precipitation, with
weekly totals
exceeding 2 inches, fell on eastern Ohio and extreme western Pennsylvania,
and from southeastern
Virginia northward into Maine, removing abnormal dryness (D0) from much of
this region. Similarly,
substantial precipitation (2 to 4") was reported in western North Carolina
and eastern Kentucky,
improving drought by one category. In the central Appalachians, however,
relief was minimal as a
band of lesser precipitation (0.5-2") was recorded.
The Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes Region: Bitterly cold Arctic air
(sub-zero lows, weekly
temperatures averaged 12 to 18°F below normal), plus a series of winter
storms (liquid equivalent of
0.2 to 0.8 inches), increased the blanket of snow across portions of the
central Great Plains, western
Corn Belt, and Great Lakes region. On Tuesday morning, one-half to two feet
of snow covered
most drought areas of eastern Nebraska, Iowa, and the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan, with nearly
three feet in parts of the latter area. With the ground frozen and snow
covered, drought relief would
not be expected until a prolonged period of thawing (spring) occurs;
however, the 2-3 feet of snow
on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula insured enough future moisture to remove
D1(W) drought
there.
The West: With high pressure entrenched over the Far West, the bulk of the
Pacific storm systems
trekked northeastward into British Columbia, and then dove southeastward
into the northern
Rockies. This storm track brought additional light to moderate snowfall
(liquid equivalent 1-2") to the
northern and central Rockies as October 1-December 19 SNOTEL basin
precipitation stayed or
slightly increased to near normal, alleviating abnormal dryness in parts of
Idaho, Colorado, and
Wyoming. Light to moderate precipitation from a cold core system around
mid-week, plus a
weekend cold front, slightly increased season-to-date SNOTEL basin average
precipitation and
snow water content in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades to between 50 and 75%
of normal.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico: Light, scattered showers (0.5 to 2 inches) were
limited to windward areas
of the Big Island, with lower totals (less than 0.5 inches) on Kauai and the
windward sections of
Oahu and Maui. Little or no rainfall was observed across Molokai, Lanai,
western Maui, and
northwestern Big Island, maintaining the abnormal dryness. In Puerto Rico,
with November statistics
now available, the abnormally dry (D0) area was redrawn to reflect 3-month
deficits between 5 and
15 inches (especially after a relatively dry November). Additionally, the
island has entered its
normally driest time of the year (December-March).
Looking Ahead: Weather features through December 29 that may impact the
Nation's drought areas
are: 1) A storm system in the upper Midwest on Wednesday is forecast to
bring light snow to the
central Corn Belt and Great Lakes region, then produce light precipitation
in the Southeast on
Thursday, and affect the East Coast by Friday. South Texas may receive
scattered showers
Friday-Monday while lake-effect snow showers should be common in
orographically-favored Great
Lakes locations throughout the 10-day period. 2) Cold conditions are
expected to persist across
much of the country east of the Rockies during the next 10 days. 3)
Precipitation should return to the
Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies through this weekend before drier
weather is predicted for
most of next week. 4) By early next week, a storm should develop in the
central Plains and gradually
move across the South, bringing an above-normal chance for precipitation
during December 26-30
from Colorado and New Mexico eastward to the Carolinas and Florida. 5)
Through Monday, no
immediate relief from dryness is expected as high pressure north of both
Hawaii and Puerto Rico
should keep conditions generally fair.
=> Congress Passes Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
On October 10, in an effort to reduce the growing demand for federal
disaster assistance, Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of
2000. Based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
initiative Project Impact, Public Law 106-390 emphasizes local
community involvement in implementing long-term strategies to increase
disaster resistance. This is the first major change to the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act since that law
was passed in 1988.
In passing the legislation, Congress recognized that a greater
emphasis needs to be placed on identifying and assessing risks from
natural disasters, implementing adequate measures to reduce losses,
and ensuring that critical services and facilities will continue to
function after a natural disaster.
Here are some highlights of that lengthy piece of legislation:
The bill creates a National Predisaster Mitigation Fund and authorizes
funding for the next three years. The act grants the president
authority to provide Mitigation Assistance Awards - technical and
financial assistance to states and local governments that have
identified local risks and have formed effective public-private
partnerships. Each state is to recommend to the president up to five
local governments to receive funding. Assistance awards are to be
based on the extent and nature of hazards to be mitigated, the degree
of commitment by the state or local government to reduce damage from
future disasters, ongoing commitment by states and local governments
for hazard mitigation, the compatibility of hazard mitigation efforts
with state goals and priorities, and other criteria. The federal
government may provide up to 75% of financial assistance for
mitigation activities in most communities, and up to 90% of costs in
small, impoverished communities. The legislation also requires the
creation of "Multihazard Advisory Maps" in no less than five states
subject to recurring hazards, such as floods, hurricanes, and
earthquakes.
The act repeals the Individual and Family Grant Program under the
original Stafford Act and replaces it with a new section specifying
federal assistance to individuals and households. The act also
establishes new requirements for obtaining assistance to repair,
restore, reconstruct, or replace damaged facilities, including a
requirement that private nonprofit organizations that do not provide
critical services must apply for Small Business Administration
disaster loans before they can receive disaster assistance from FEMA.
It also reduces the amount of federal assistance that will be provided
to eligible public or private facilities that have been damaged more
than once in the past 10 years and have failed to mitigate the hazard.
Communities that suffer a substantial loss of tax and other revenues
as a result of a major disaster and have demonstrated a need for
financial assistance in order to perform governmental functions may
still receive disaster loans of up to $5 million.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) remains and still allows up
to 15% of total disaster assistance funds to be used for a specific
hazard mitigation measure. However, a state, local, or tribal
government may be eligible for up to 20% federal funding if the state
has an established mitigation plan in place at the time of a
presidentially declared disaster.
The legislation requires the president to establish an interagency
task force, chaired by the FEMA director, for coordinating the
implementation of predisaster hazard mitigation programs. The task
force must include representatives from federal agencies; state,
local, and tribal governments; and the American Red Cross. The
president may require safe land-use and construction practices as a
condition of funding. The legislation also delegates to qualified
states the authority to administer the Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program.
The act authorizes the president to provide grants, equipment,
supplies, and personnel to any state or local government for the
mitigation, management, and control of "any fire on public or private
forest land or grassland that threatens such destruction as would
constitute a major disaster." This section will take effect in one
year, after the president prescribes necessary regulations for its
implementation.
Finally, Congress also requires FEMA to conduct a study of
participation by Indian tribes in emergency management, including
training, predisaster, and postdisaster mitigation, disaster
preparedness, and disaster recovery at federal and state levels. The
study is to assess the capacity of tribes "to participate in [and
administer] cost-shared emergency management programs."
The complete text of this legislation can be obtained from any federal
repository library or from the Library of Congress Web site:
http://thomas.loc.gov. Additional information should be available from
the FEMA Office of Public Affairs, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC
20472; (202) 646-4600; fax: (202) 646-4086; e-mail: eipa{at}fema.gov;
WWW: http://www.fema.gov.
=> FEMA and other Disaster/Hazard-Related Agencies Funded for Another
Year
More than two weeks after the above-mentioned Disaster Mitigation Act
was passed, through Public Law 106-377, Congress provided money to
fund it and keep the Federal Emergency Management Agency operating. It
also funded the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture
through Public Law 106-291, including disaster programs managed by the
Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Forest
Service. The text of these laws, indicating the amounts bestowed on
various programs, is also available on-line at the Library of Congress
http://thomas.loc.gov
http://www.fema.gov
=> Federal Agencies Recommend New Approach To Wildfires
Following the difficult 2000 wildfire season, during which more than
6.8 million acres of public and private lands burned, Congress and the
president directed the U.S. Forest Service to prepare a strategic plan
for reducing wildland fire risk and restoring ecosystem health in the
West. The 2000 fire season was aggravated by a severe drought and a
series of storms that produced thousands of lightning strikes and
windy conditions, as well as by the buildup of brush, small trees, and
other fuels due to decades of wild fire suppression.
On November 9, 2000, the Forest Service announced its new strategy in
the report "Protecting People and Sustaining Resources in Fire-Adapted
Ecosystems - A Cohesive Strategy," most of which is contained in the
Federal Register (Vol. 65, No. 218, pp. 67480-67511). The strategy
maintains that in certain ecosystems, some fire at appropriate
intensity, frequency, and time of year should be used as part of a
forest management strategy to protect and sustain watersheds, species,
and other natural resources, as well as to produce safer forests and
grasslands for firefighters and the public.
The report provides recommendations regarding improving firefighter
readiness, educating the public, rehabilitating watersheds, reducing
hazardous fuels, restoring ecological systems, collaborating with
other levels of government and the public, monitoring effectiveness,
transferring research and technology, and managing the impacts of
wildfires on communities and the environment.
Again, much of the report can be found in the Federal Register on the
pages listed above; the Federal Register is available on-line at
http://www.access.gpo.gov. Additionally, copies of "Protecting People
and Sustaining Resources" are available from the Director, Fire and
Aviation Management Staff, Second Floor, S.W., Sidney R. Yates Federal
Building, Mail Stop 1107, U.S. Forest Service, P.O. Box 96090,
Washington, DC 20090-6090; WWW: http://www.fs.fed.us. A companion
report, "Managing the Impact of Wildfires on Communities and the
Environment: A Report to the President in Response to the Wildfires of
2000," has been made available via the White House Web site:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CEQ/firereport.html.
=> EDA Announces Availability of Funds for Hurricane Floyd and Other
Disasters
In the November 24, 2000, Federal Register (Vol. 65, No. 227,
pp. 70639-70642] (see: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html)
the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of
Commerce announced "the availability of $55.8 million for economic
adjustment assistance to support disaster recovery programs designed
to assist affected states and local communities recover from the
consequences of Hurricane Floyd and other recent disasters. Eligible
activities include planning assistance, construction grants, and
capitalization of revolving loan funds (technical assistance, if
incidental, may be appropriate) to assist in the recovery efforts of
communities impacted by [such disasters]. Of the appropriated funds,
$49.9 million (which includes $30 million for New Jersey) will be
available to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Floyd. (The most
serious economic impacts of the hurricane were concentrated in the
States of North Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia.) Funds in the
amount of $5.9 million will be available to assist communities
impacted by other recent disasters. EDA will consider projects dealing
with local, regional or statewide issues that are related to disaster
response and recovery from Hurricane Floyd as well as such projects
responding to other recent disasters."
Proposals and applications in response to the Hurricane Floyd disaster
will be accepted on a continuous basis until the funds have been
expended. Proposals for other recent disasters must be received by May
21, 2001 to be considered for funding. Interested parties should
contact the appropriate EDA regional office. Contact information is
available from the Federal Register pages at the Web site listed
above.
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=> Links Area
ASH CLOUD IN MEXICO
Mexico
The GOES-8 movie loop was produced by subtracting channel 5 (12 micron) from
channel 4
(11 micron which often enhances the signature of airborne silicate
particles. Volcanic
ash (depicted by the yellow arrows is depicted over Southern Mexico, across
the Gulf
of Mexico, and into the Yucatan Peninsula.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Mexico/VSHpopo355_G8.avi
ASH CLOUD IN MEXICO
Mexico
TOMS
Sulfur Dioxide Plot 12/19/2000
Northern Hemisphere
The upper left image is a false color multispectral image processed from
data taken by GOES-8 at
16:15 UTC, December 20, 2000. Ash from a continuing eruption of
Popocatepetl is spreading east
over Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, but is difficult to distinguish from
meteorological clouds in the
area. The upper right image was processed from infrared data taken by
GOES-8 simultaneously
with that used to produce the false color image. Subtracting channel 5 (12
micron) from channel 4
(11 micron) often enhances the signature of airborne silicate particles,
such as volcanic ash. This
technique, with others, is used by the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory
Center to issue advisories
of volcanic hazards to aircraft. The lower left image was processed from
data taken by NASA's
Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument, which can detect sulfur
dioxide particle
injected into the atmosphere by many volcanic eruptions. The red and yellow
area east of the
volcano indicates an area of increased concentration of sulfur dioxide
aerosols from the emissions of
Popocatepetl.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Mexico/VSH2popo355_G8.jpg
ASH CLOUD IN MEXICO
Mexico
The GOES-8 image was produced by subtracting channel 5 (12 micron) from
channel 4 (11
micron which often enhances the signature of airborne silicate particles.
Volcanic
ash (depicted by the yellow arrows is depicted over Southern Mexico, across
the Gulf
of Mexico, and into the Yucatan Peninsula.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Mexico/VSHpopo355_G8.jpg
WINTER STORM SYSTEM IN MIDWEST US
Midwest US
This GOES-8 image shows a winter storm system in the Plains and the Upper
Midwest. Snow
cover
over the Ohio River Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast states is visible.
Snow cover (depicted
by the yellow arrows) spreads as far south as Georgia.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/US_Midwest/STMusMW355_G8.jpg
FIRES IN ARGENTINA
Argentina
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Argentina.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Argentina/FSMHSarg355_N4.jpg
Popocatepetl activity can be found at the CENAPRED web site:
http://www.cenapred.unam.mx/
Reports are also available through the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program
Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity,
http://www.volcano.si.edu/gvp/gvn/world/index.htm
Volcano World,
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/popo/mar5popo.html
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