Patient Thanks, Sydney Paramedic Attacks, and Cadets in NYC
This week we look at three stories from the EMS field. First an accident victim whose life was saved by an EMS provider comes back to say thank you.Plus, a look at why we call them the “mean streets.” Paramedics in Sydney, Australia are repeatedly coming under attack by groups of thugs. Find out more [...]
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) Significant National Weather West Winter storm warnings continue for the Utah Wasatch and the Colorado Rocky mountain ranges, generally above 8,500 feet. Snowfall of six to twelve inches or more, and wind gusts from 20 to 30 mph are expected, making travel difficult. High elevation snow is also expected early today in the Cascades, and through much of the day in the Tetons and Bitterroots Mountain Ranges of Montana and Wyoming. South Showers and thunderstorms, some with locally heavy rainfall, are expected in the Florida Peninsula. South Florida will continue to see scattered heavy rain. Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, moving east by Monday morning. Midwest Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across portions of the plains and the middle and lower Mississippi Valley throughout the day; heavy rain is forecast for parts of Nebraska and Kansas. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast from North Dakota to Lower Michigan. Some thunderstorms with up to quarter-size hail may affect parts of Iowa, southern Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. The rain will benefit drought stricken areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Northeast Northern New England and the Tri-State area around New York City may experience light rain. In far northern New York, northern Vermont, and northern New Hampshire snow flurries are possible this morning. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) Federal / State Response for Hurricane Ike FEMA Region VI Update As of Oct 03, nearly all petroleum pipelines had resumed operations. Approximately 48.2 percent of the oil production in the Gulf remains shut-in (626,045 barrels/day); and 3,303 million cubic feet per day remains shut-in, approximately 44.6 percent of the Gulf’s natural gas production. Federal Priorities: support facilities, housing, public infrastructure restoration, and debris management (NWS; TX JFO, SitRep #24). Louisiana GOSHEP is activated at Level III (Emergency Operations). Five fatalities and no injuries are reported. Two shelters remain open with a population of 108 (NSS Report, 12:00 am Oct 4). 11 DRCs and 8 MDRCs are located throughout the affected areas. Texas SEOC activated at Level I, 24/7. 47 fatalities have been attributed to Hurricane Ike. Nine shelters are open with a population of 1,536 (NSS Report, 12:00 am Oct 4). 1,911 customers remain without power; 1,048 customers in Harris County and 651 customers in Galveston County (TX JFO, SitRep #24 10/04/08). Three state-run PODs remain open; FEMA continues to supply product to State-run Resource Staging Areas (RSAs). 36 DRCs / MDRCs / MRICs are located in the State (TX JFO, SitRep #24). 21 Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments have been completed and 11 are scheduled. Six Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments have been completed and one is scheduled. Ongoing river flooding continues across portions of the Texas Big Bend and Del Rio regions.(NWS; TX JFO, SitRep #24) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic/Caribbean: 96L: A broad low pressure area located inland over the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over portions of Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula. This system is forecast to move westward during the next day or so, and could emerge over the southern Bay of Campeche, where some slow development is possible; however, the probability of tropical cyclone formation during the next 48 hours is low. Eastern Pacific: Tropical Storm Marie: At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Marie was located about 830 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Marie has been meandering over the past several hours and the current motion is estimated to be stationary. A slow erratic motion toward the west is expected over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Marie is expected to weaken to a depression and then degenerate to a remnant low over the next couple of days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center. Tropical Storm Norbert: Tropical Depression Fifteen-E became Tropical Storm Norbert south of Mexico Saturday afternoon. At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Norbert was located about 240 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, moving toward the west near 6 mph. This general west to north-westward track is expected to continue for the next 24 to 48 hours, keeping Tropical Storm Norbert well south of the southern coast of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Norbert could become a hurricane on Monday, October 6. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center. Area of Interest: Showers and thunderstorms remain disorganized in association with a broad area of low pressure located over the far eastern pacific ocean, about a hundred miles south of the coast of El Salvador. Upper-level winds are forecast to become a little more favorable for development, with a medium probability of formation during the next couple of days as this system moves westward at about 10 mph. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours. Western Pacific: No tropical cyclone activity is affecting United States 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 Fire Activity as of Saturday, October 04, 2008 was light with 45 new fires. The National Wildfire Preparedness Level is 2. One large fire was contained. Of the eight uncontained fires reported in AZ , CA, KY, UT, and OR, two are large new fires. Fire Weather: Dry and windy conditions will develop in eastern Colorado, eastern New Mexico and northwest Texas. The Southeast saw another day of low relative humidity; however, gradual improvements are forecast to begin today, October 5. (NIFC) Disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Orphaned by the storm pet in Texas (ID: 39098)
Houston, Texas, October 1, 2008 — Hurricane Ike orphaned thousands of pets. The Society for the Protection of Animals (SPCA) recruited volunteers to foster pets while they attempted to reunite them with owners. This dog, fostered for 10 days, is being adopted by a new family. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with government [...]
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