The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For September 15, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
=> Special Notes
=> Current Tropical Weather Outlook
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
=> Precipitation Forecast and Excessive Rainfall Forecast
=> USA Flood Report
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
=> USA Earthquake Report
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
=> West Nile Virus Activity --- Northeastern United States, 2000
=> President Declares Major Disaster For California; Napa County Designated
For Earthquake Recovery Aid
=> FEMA Honors Tulsa, Oklahoma As Nation's Leading Floodplain Management
Community
=> Guest Column
=> Flood Zone Info Available Online for Hilton Head Island
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsored by the SandbaggerTM
www.thesandbagger.com
Dan P. Stoye
800-770-SAND(7263).
For all your sand bagging needs
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For September 15, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Thu...115 At Lake Havasu City AZ
Low Fri...25 At Orr MN
=> Special Notes
=> Current Tropical Weather Outlook For The North Atlantic Caribbean Sea And
The Gulf Of Mexico
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm
Florence located about 395 miles west-southwest of Bermuda ...and on
Tropical Depression Eleven located emerging off the north coast of the
Yucatan Peninsula.
Satellite images indicate that a tropical wave located about 600 miles east
of the Lesser Antilles is gradually becoming better organized and a tropical
depression could be forming. Most of the computer model forecasts suggest
that this system will move toward the west and reach the Lesser Antilles in
about 36 hours. All interests in these islands should monitor the progress
of this system. A reconnaissance plane is schedule to be in the area
tomorrow.
Elsewhere...tropical storm formation is not expected through Saturday.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
The current weather warnings are not available
=> 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 a less than a 2% probability of a tornado.
Hail Risk - Slight
There is a 5% probability area for hail 3/4 inch or larger far northeast
Ohio, northeast Pennsylvania, and far southeast New York.
Wind Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots.
Tomorrow's Risk - Slight
There are no risk areas for severe weather tomorrow.
Areas at lesser risk include the northeast 1/2 of Pennsylvania, New York,
western Massachusetts, central and western Connecticut, and central and
northern New Jersey
=> Precipitation Forecast and Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hr precipitation forecast is calling for over an inch of rainfall
over south Florida, Maine east southeastern New Hampshire, and eastern
Massachusetts.
The 24 - 48 hr precipitation forecast is calling for no area to receive over
an inch of rainfall.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is not expected to exceed flash flood values
=> USA Flood Report
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
0930 AM EDT FRI SEP 15 2000
FLOOD SUMMARY
MORE FLOODING IN TEXAS
URBAN AND LOWLAND FLOODING IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS CONTINUES, WHICH SHOULD
MITIGATE THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THAT AREA.
POCKETS OF FLOODING IN THE MID-ATLANTIC
POCKETS OF FLOODING OCCURRED IN PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA AND
VIRGINIA. IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL STREET
FLOODING WITH SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. SEVERAL ROADS WERE ALSO
CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING IN YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.
OUTLOOK
ISOLATED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN NORTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND ON FRIDAY.
FLASH FLOODING:
FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORIES
WERE ISSUED OVER THE LAST DAY FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS (IN ALPHABETICAL
ORDER, BY STATE):
FLORIDA: LEON COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA: FORSYTH AND GUILFORD COUNTIES
PENNSYLVANIA: LANCASTER AND YORK COUNTIES
TEXAS: BEXAR, FORT BEND, HARRIS, LAVACA, MONTGOMERY, TRAVIS, WALLER,
WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES
VIRGINIA: PATRICK COUNTY
RIVER FLOODING:
NO RIVERS AND STREAMS ARE EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE OR EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE
FLOOD STAGE.
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 - 0530 MDT
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL III
CURRENT SITUATION:
Three new large fires were reported, two in the Southern Area and one in
the Northwest Area. Crews reached containment goals on four fires, three
in the Southern Area and one in the Northwest Area. Initial attack
activity was moderate throughout the United States. The majority of the
western states will experience high temperatures and dry conditions over
the next few days. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in
Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona,
Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
All federal employees of the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest
Service are encouraged to complete a questionnaire about the 1995 Federal
Wildland Fire Management and Policy Review. It has been five years since
the Departments of Agriculture and Interior have adopted the policy.
Secretaries Glickman and Babbitt are asking for help in revisiting this
policy to ensure that it will continue to meet our needs. Please take
about 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire before October 15, 2000, by
visiting the NIFC web site at www.nifc.gov/policy_survey.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA LARGE FIRES:
HARRIS, Santa Barbara County Fire Department. This fire is located south
of Santa Maria, CA. Current threat is to residences, oil fields and
ranches.
YUCCA, Los Angeles County Fire Department. This fire is located near Agua
Dulce, CA, and is burning in grass, juniper and yucca plants.
PARADISE, Angeles National Forest. This fire is near Castaic, CA. No new
information was received.
LYONS, Cleveland National Forest. This fire is burning near Lyon's
Valley. No new information was received.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
BILLY BELL, Oklahoma Division of Forestry. This fire is burning on
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company Land 18 miles west of Broken Bow, OK. The
fire exhibited extreme fire behavior with considerable spotting and
crowning. Current threats are to commercial timber.
FISHERMAN'S CORNER, Oklahoma Division of Forestry. This human caused fire
is located five miles west of Keota, OK. High rates of fire spread and
torching has been observed.
AIRPORT, Oklahoma Division of Forestry. This fire is three miles
northeast of Stigler, OK. No new information was received.
NORTHERN ROCKIES AREA LARGE FIRES:
VALLEY COMPLEX, Bitterroot National Forest. A Type II Incident Management
Team (Gauger) is assigned. These fires are seven miles south of Darby,
MT. The complex consists of the Bear, Taylor, Taylor Spot, Hilltop,
Razor, Fat and Mink fires. Fire behavior is still at a low level with no
spreading, however; low level flames are starting to appear in some areas
due to warmer temperatures and lower humidity. Demobilization of
resources continues.
SKALKAHO COMPLEX, Bitterroot National Forest. A Type II Incident
Management Team (Hoff) is assigned. This group of fires is ten miles
southeast of Hamilton, MT. Crews continue mopup and patrolling of
internal hotspots.
MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. A Type II
Incident Management Team (Swope) is assigned. These fires are 30 miles
southwest of Philipsburg, MT. The complex consists of the Falls Creek,
Cougar Creek, Coyote Springs, Medicine Lake, Skalkaho Pass, Lick Creek and
Cooper Creek fires. Crews are making good progress with completion of
direct fireline, mopup and securing existing containment lines.
Rehabilitation is progressing along the fire perimeter.
MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. A Type II
Incident Management Team (Specht) is assigned. These fires are 12 miles
northwest of Wisdom, MT. The complex includes the Mussigbrod and Maynard
fires. A few interior hotspots were observed as rehabilitation continued
on all divisions. Transition back to the District is planned for the
15th.
ALDER CREEK, Lolo National Forest. This fire is 31 miles southeast of
Missoula, MT. Crews continued mopup and building direct fireline.
EASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA LARGE FIRES:
CLEAR CREEK COMPLEX, Salmon-Challis National Forest. A Type I Incident
Management Team (Stam) is assigned. This complex consists of the Clear
Creek, Marlin Springs, Full Circle and Sisters fires. The 3rd Battalion,
2nd Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, commanded by LTC Smith, is
committed. Fire activity has increased significantly. Crews continue
gridding, mopup and rehabilitation.
FONTENELLE, Bridger-Teton National Forest. This fire is 20 miles north of
Kemmerer, WY. No new information to report.
SCF WILDERNESS, Salmon-Challis National Forest. Eleven wildland fires are
currently burning within the Salmon Challis Wilderness Complex: Little
Pistol, Indian Creek, Filly, Butts, Papoose, Parker, Packer Meadow, Shell
Rock, Wilson Creek, Jackass and Jack Creek. Fire behavior has been of low
intensity and recreation trails along Camas Creek and the Yellow Jacket
Area are being reopened.
SOUTHWEST AREA LARGE FIRES:
NAVAJO MT. 1, Navajo Area Office, BIA. The fire has escaped control lines
and resources continue to drop water and construct fireline.
OUTLOOK:
*** FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN TEXAS FOR BRISK NORTHEAST
WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES.***
*** FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA FOR GUSTY NORTH WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITIES. ***
Southern Texas and the Gulf Coast states can expect a cold front to push
offshore, which will bring cooler and drier weather to the region
associated with a high pressure. High temperatures will be in the 80's to
lower 90's. Minimum relative humidity will be 20 to 30 percent inland and
30 to 45 percent along the immediate coast. Northerly winds will be gusty
up to 20 mph along with the dry air.
Across the West, a trough of low pressure along the west coast will bring
a chance of showers and thunderstorms to Washington, western and central
Oregon. The remainder of the west will be sunny and warm under the
influence of a large ridge aloft.
High temperatures in the West will be in the 80's and 90's in the north to
the 90's and 100's in the south. The exception to this will be the
northwest coast where highs will be in the 70's.
Minimum relative humidity in the west will generally range from the teens
to mid 20 percent, with some single digits in the driest areas.
Winds across most of the West will be southwest at 15 mph. The extreme
northwest should see some light northwest to north winds.
=> 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 SEP 15 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
(29.0 TO 35.8 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2000 SEP 14 08:26:20.00 32.2 N 115.8 W 1 km 3.2
35 miles SW of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
2000 SEP 14 11:17:14.00 32.8 N 116.0 W 0 km 3.2
25 miles WSW of Brawley, 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
Time Speed Location County State Lat Lon Comments
0045 UNK SANDY RIDGE STOKES NC 3649 8011 LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED TREES DOWN
(RNK)
0205 UNK BELEWS CREEK FORSYTH NC 3625 8006 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN (RDU)
0205 UNK 4 S MILLINGTON SHELBY TN 3528 8990 TREES BLOWN DOWN. (MEM)
0230 UNK OAK RIDGE GUILFORD NC 3618 7998 LARGE TREE DOWN ACROSS A ROAD IN
THE OAK RIDGE AREA (RDU)
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
No Column Today
=> EIIP Hosts Week-long Series on NFPA 1600 2000 --
The Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity
Programs
What was formerly a "recommended" practice for emergency management programs
by the National Fire Protection Association, has recently attained the
status of a "standard." How did it happen? What does it say? What are the
implications for programs in both the public and private sectors? How does
the standard relate to program accreditation? How will it benefit the
public? How will it benefit the emergency manager or business continuity
planner?
Many of the answers to these questions will play out over time. The standard
is still quite new; however, it is likely to have a major impact on
emergency management and business continuity planning for years to come. For
this reason, the EIIP is pleased to sponsor an introductory, week long
series of "live chat" presentations and discussions with some of the leaders
who have been on the forefront of developing and applying the standard.
This special event will take place in conjunction with the Virtual Fire and
Rescue Exposition, a pioneer with an established track record for cyberspace
conferencing.
The Expo opened September 12, 2000 and background pages are available via
http://www.vfre.com . Pre-registration is requested, although all events are
free. The live chat sessions will take place the week of September 18 - 22,
in the VFRE Room, and the Emergency Management track chat schedule is as
follows (all times are Eastern, please convert to your local time):
Monday, Sept. 18, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Intro to NFPA 1600: Where did it come from
and where is it going? Lloyd Bokman, NFPA Technical Committee Chair and
Robert Fletcher, Technical Committee member
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Core Requirements: What does it say?
Dean Larson, Technical Committee member
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Implications for Business Continuity
Planning: What difference will it make to business? Pat Moore, Technical
Committee member
Thursday, Sept. 21, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Implications for Government EM Programs:
What difference will it make to government? Eric Tolbert and Emily DeMers,
NEMAEmergency Management Accreditation Program and Gunnar Kuepper, IAEM.
Friday, Sept. 22, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Group Discussion with Track Participants:
How will it benefit the public? Amy Sebring, EIIP Moderator
In addition the VFRE offers an outstanding selection of other programs in
the following tracks:
Keynote Speakers
Chief's Officer's Track
Hazmat Track
Trainer's Track
EMS Track
Community Relations Track
National Fire & Rescue Track
=> FEMA Honors Tulsa, Oklahoma As Nation's Leading Floodplain Management
Community
Washington, September 13, 2000 -- Top officials from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) visited Tulsa, Oklahoma, today to reward the city
for its outstanding achievements in reducing flood risks.
At the annual conference of the Oklahoma Municipal League at the Tulsa
Convention Center, Federal Insurance Administrator Jo Ann Howard, who
manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for FEMA, and FEMA
Region VI Director R. L ("Buddy") Young presented Tulsa Mayor M. Susan
Savage with a special plaque recognizing the city's proactive floodplain
management program.
They announced that because of the city's efforts, beginning next month
Tulsa property owners will enjoy the lowest flood insurance rates in the
country.
"On October 1, Tulsa will become the nation's first Class 3 community under
the NFIP's Community Rating System," Howard said. "This will give flood
insurance policyholders a 35 percent discount on their premiums."
Under the Community Rating System, flood insurance premiums are adjusted to
reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from programs that focus on public
information, mapping and regulations, flood preparedness and flood damage
reduction. The discounts are in five percent increments from Class 9 (five
percent) to Class 1 (45 percent).
Last year, Tulsa and two other communities were rated Class 5 and enjoyed 25
percent discounts. Now, as the country's sole Class 3 community, Tulsa will
qualify for a 35 percent reduction, which will result in total savings of
about $200,000 in premiums among the city's 2,408 flood insurance policies
currently in force.
But more important than the premium savings are the savings of lives and
reduction of property damage that the citizens of Tulsa will experience as a
result of the city's ambitious, creative and bold floodplain management
efforts," Howard said.
In the aftermath of the devastating Memorial Day Flood of 1984---14 inches
of rain flooded 6,800 homes and businesses and killed 14 people---Tulsa
established a stormwater protection program with a stable funding mechanism
for the maintenance and management of a stormwater utility. The city set up
a watershed-wide floodplain management program and its citizens approved
more than $100 million for flood control projects that are now complete.
Among the particular activities that earned Tulsa the Class 3 rating were
the acquisition of nearly a thousand flood-prone properties and the
preservation of more than a quarter of its floodplain as open space; strong
building codes, including the requirement of a two-foot safety factor
(freeboard) in floodplain construction; and community outreach to advise
residents of flood hazards and offer mitigation solutions and technical
assistance.
Today in Washington, FEMA Director James Lee Witt added his praise for
Tulsa's flood mitigation achievements. He said the city has also been at the
forefront of increasing disaster awareness through FEMA's Project Impact:
Building Disaster-Resistant Communities.
"Tulsa epitomizes the type of natural hazard management that we are trying
to foster and provides an example to the nation of what a community can do
to protect its residents from becoming disaster victims," Witt said.
Other Project Impact communities in Oklahoma are the cities of Miami, Durant
and (just announced today) Lawton.
=> President Declares Major Disaster For California; Napa County Designated
For Earthquake Recovery Aid
Washington, September 14, 2000 -- Federal disaster aid was made available
today for earthquake victims in Napa County under a major disaster
declaration issued for California by President Clinton, according to the
head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA Director James Lee Witt said the President's action authorizes the use
of federal funds to help meet the recovery needs of county residents and
business owners who sustained damage from the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that
hit the area on September 3. Witt designated the county eligible for the aid
immediately after the declaration.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay
for temporary housing, emergency home repairs and other serious
disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business
Administration also will be available to cover residential and business
losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Additionally, Witt said the declaration makes cost-shared funding available
to the state for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He
indicated that additional forms of assistance for state and local government
agencies may be made available later if warranted by the results of further
damage assessments.
Mark Ghilarducci of FEMA was named by Witt to serve as the federal
coordinating officer for the recovery. Ghilarducci said affected residents
and business owners in Napa County can begin the disaster application
process by calling 1-800-462-9029, or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing
and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will be available
starting Friday, September 15, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PT) seven days a week
until further notice.
=> West Nile Virus Activity --- Northeastern United States, 2000
Surveillance data reported to CDC indicate intensified transmission and
geographic expansion of the West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreak in the
northeastern United States. Increasing reports of WNV infections in American
crows, other avian species, and mosquitoes are being accompanied by reports
of neurologic disease caused by WNV in humans, horses, and other mammals.
This report updates human data through September 12 and animal data through
September 8, 2000.
Since July 20, 12 persons have been hospitalized with serious central
nervous system infections caused by WNV; eight had encephalitis, and four
had meningitis. Patients ranged in age from 40 to 87 years; seven were men.
Eight resided in Richmond County (Staten Island), New York, two in Kings
County (Brooklyn), New York, and one in Hudson County, New Jersey. One
person spent substantial time both in Brooklyn, New York, and Bergen County,
New Jersey. Diagnoses were confirmed by ELISA for WNV-specific IgM in
cerebrospinal fluid. Subsequently, a four-fold rise in plaque-reduction
neutralization antibody titer was demonstrated in four of these patients.
Nine patients improved and were discharged from the hospital; three remain
hospitalized.
Surveillance detected epizootic activity (15 WNV-infected dead birds and
five infected mosquito pools in Staten Island; 10 infected dead birds in
Hudson County; and two infected dead birds and one infected live hatch-year
bird in Brooklyn) before onset of human illness on July 20 (first Staten
Island case), August 6 (Hudson County), and August 15 (first Brooklyn case).
The most recent onset of human illness was September 2.
Veterinary surveillance has detected WNV infection in five horses with
severe neurologic disease (one horse each in Middlesex County,
Massachusetts; Atlantic and Cape May counties, New Jersey; Staten Island,
New York; and Washington County, Rhode Island). Onset of illness in these
horses ranged from August 17 to 29. WNV infection has been confirmed in six
bats (four live big brown bats [Eptesicus fuscus] from Albany County, New
York, and two dead little brown bats [Myotis lucifugus] from Ontario County,
New York) that originally were submitted for rabies testing. WNV infection
was confirmed in a dead raccoon from New York County (Manhattan) that was
found on August 19.
Mosquito surveillance has detected WNV in 237 mosquito pools in 15 counties
in four states (223 pools in New York, eight in New Jersey, and three each
in Connecticut and Massachusetts); 84 (36%) were from Staten Island. Of the
237 reported WNV-infected pools, 137 pools were Culex pipiens/restuans, 44
were Culex pipiens, 25 were Culex salinarius (23 from Staten Island, one
from Bronx, and one from Queens, New York City), three were Culex restuans,
three were Aedes japonicus (Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties, New
York), three were Aedes vexans (Brooklyn and Staten Island), two were Aedes
triseriatus (Staten Island), and one was Anopheles punctipennis (Staten
Island).
Avian surveillance has identified 1471 WNV-infected dead birds from 79
counties in six states (586 birds in New Jersey, 536 in New York, 241 in
Connecticut, 103 in Massachusetts, four in Rhode Island, and one in New
Hampshire). Since 1999, WNV has been identified in 56 avian species in the
United States, 48 of which are native. In New York state, all types of
submitted avian species are tested for WNV; of the 536 birds infected with
WNV in 2000, 347 (65%) were American crows, 82 (15%) were blue jays, and 107
(20%) were other species. WNV antibody was documented in a serologic
specimen collected August 4 from a previously seronegative sentinel chicken
in Westchester County, New York.
=> Flood Zone Info Available Online for Hilton Head Island
Poring over paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to determine which flood
zone a building is located in can be a difficult and time-consuming process.
Until recently, that process has been an unavoidable fact of life for the
insurance agent who sells flood coverage and for the land surveyor who
certifies a building's elevation above the floodplain.
But now, with just a few clicks of a computer mouse, insurance agents, land
surveyors, and even prospective home buyers who want to learn about a
property's risk for flooding can use the new flood zone identification
service available on the Internet at the Town of Hilton Head Island's web
site.
Since August 1999, visitors to http://www.ci.hilton-head-island.sc.us have
been able to find a range of information about Hilton Head Island. To access
flood preparedness information, visitors to the web site select "Our
Environment" on the home page and then choose "Flood Awareness" from the
subsequent list of options. The next screen offers visitors three choices.
By selecting "The Flood Hazard," users can access an overview of flood risks
found on Hilton Head Island as well as information about the town's
emergency response procedures, suggested actions that property owners can
take to protect against flood damage, information about flood insurance, and
a summary of local floodplain regulations.
Searches for flood risk information about specific property addresses can be
conducted by selecting "Check for Your Flood Hazard Zone." Details about
building requirements in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are given in
"Requirements When Structures are Located in Flood Hazard Zones."
According to Trudie Johnson, Commercial Division Director of the Building
and Fire Codes Department for the Town of Hilton Head and the town's
floodplain administrator, putting flood zone determination information
online has made a big difference to area insurance agents, real estate
agents, home builders, and surveyors. Because 80 percent of the island is in
one of the high-risk "A" Zones, flood insurance is a requirement for many
area residents who have federally backed mortgages. When a building is sold
or remodeled, updated flood zone information is required on insurance and
inspection forms. With more than 26,000 National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) policies in force on Hilton Head Island, the online flood hazard
determination service has made life easier for the public officials in
charge of providing zone determinations. Before going online, Johnson's
office was overwhelmed by 30 or more daily requests for flood zone
determinations. Now these requests have dropped to!
about 5 per day.
Feedback from the site's users has been universally positive. Instead of
having to wait 24 hours or more for local officials to provide paper flood
zone determinations, visitors to the web site can make accurate, electronic
determinations at their own convenience within minutes, says Johnson.
Some island properties still require flood zone determinations by local
officials - for example, buildings located within 500 feet of a zone change,
vacant parcels, and properties occupied by mobile homes. Johnson's office
has "blanked out" these properties on the online maps because determining
their flood zones often requires interpretation of the applicable FIRM by
local officials.
Offering flood zone determination service online has helped the Town of
Hilton Head Island fulfill some of its goals as a participant of the NFIP's
Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS was implemented ten years ago to
recognize and encourage community floodplain management activities that
exceed the minimum NFIP standards. Under the CRS, flood insurance premium
rates are adjusted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from
community activities that meet the CRS goals: reduce flood losses;
facilitate accurate insurance rating; and promote awareness of flood
insurance.
There are ten CRS classes: class 1 requires the most credit points and gives
the largest premium reduction (45 percent); class 10 receives no premium
reduction. The CRS recognizes 18 creditable activities, organized under the
categories of public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage
reduction, and flood preparedness. The Town of Hilton Head Island has
achieved a class 6 rating for its CRS activities. This means that residents
who own property in SFHAs receive a flood insurance premium discount of 20
percent. Property owners outside of SFHAs receive a 5 percent discount on
their flood insurance premium. Altogether, participation in the CRS is
saving Hilton Head Island property owners an estimated $1.3 million each
year.
According to Johnson, who also is the local CRS Coordinator, offering the
flood zone determination service online has been an effective way for her
community to earn CRS points and discounts. Putting the service onto the
Internet was not difficult, says Johnson, since the necessary geographic
information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) software
already were in place in her community.
As Internet use increases across the country, more NFIP communities will
turn to it as an option for spreading awareness of flood insurance.
Community officials who would like more information about the Town of Hilton
Head Island's online flood zone determination service are invited to contact
Trudie Johnson at trudiej{at}ci.hilton-head-island.sc.us.
=> Classified Ads
You can support The Disaster Center's Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
You can support The Disaster Center's Daily USA Disaster Situation Report by
using The Amazon link below to purchase Books, Music, DVD, Video, Toys,
Video Games, Electronics, Software, Tools & Hardware, Lawn & Patio, Kitchen
products
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thedisastercente
FREE 30 days of StormWarn by Email, Pager, PCS/GSM Phone, Business Fax at no
cost*
Sign up today and you'll receive no obligation, no commitment StormWarn . If
you find it helpful, you can then decide to continue service at very low
rates. Your account is held in strictest confidence and you won't keep
hearing from us if you decide not to keep the service. We believe in the
value of StormWarn, and we think you will too.
*Direct pages and faxes are limited to 50 bulletins during the trial period.
http://www.stormwarn.com/index.asp?a=10296
=> Links Area
Tropical depression 11 has formed and was located over the Yucatan near
20.0N 87.5W at 15:00 UTC. 11W has been moving in a northwesterly direction
at 9
knots with maximum sustained winds estimated at 25 knots, gusts to 35 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/Atlantic/TRCtd11258_G8.jpg
Saomai was located between Okinawa and the coast of China near 28.4N 124.2E
at 12:00 UTC. Saomai has been moving in a northerly direction at 2 knots
with maximum sustained winds estimated at 90 knots, gusts to 110 knots. TD
25W has formed and was located near 22.4N 139.8E at 12:00 UTC. TD 25W has
been moving in a northeasterly direction at 7 knots with maximum
sustained winds estimated at 30 knots, gusts to 40 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/W_Pacific/TRCsaomai258_GM.jpg
W.Atlantic
Florence was stationary off the coast of South Carolina near 29.5N 73.4W at
15:00 UTC.
Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 45 knots, gusts to 55 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/Atlantic/TRCflorence258_G8.jpg
Bolivia
Heat signatures and smoke are visible from numerous fires burning in
northeastern Bolivia and western Brazil in this NOAA-14 image. Cloud cover
may be obscuring
additional fires in Bolivia and Brazil.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Bolivia/FHSbol257_N4.jpg
Several heat signatures are visible in Idaho and eastern Oregon. These may
be hotspots from the earlier wildfires.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/US_Northwest/FHSusID257_N2.jpg
Several heat signatures are visible in southwestern New Mexico in the Gila
National Forest. These appear to be heat signatures from fires but have not
been
verified via the National Interagency Fire Center list.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/US_Southwest/FHSusNM257_N2.jpg
September 15, 2000 ASCII text edition of the Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report is enclosed. View this week's MMWR as a web page at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr
and
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm4936.pdf
September 15, 2000/Vol. 49/No. 36(file size 188,101 bytes)
* Human Ingestion of Bacillus Anthracis-Contaminated
Meat --- Minnesota, August 2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936a1.htm
* Public Health Dispatch: Outbreak of Acute Febrile Illness
Among Participants in EcoChallenge Sabah 2000 --- Malaysia,
2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936a2.htm
* Screening With the Prostate-Specific Antigen Test ---
Texas, 1997
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936a3.htm
* Update: West Nile Virus Activity --- Northeastern United
States, 2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936a4.htm
* Notice to Readers: Satellite Broadcast on HIV Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936a5.htm
* Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly
Information
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4936md.htm
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
If you have report or notice that you think would be of interest to the
readers of the SitRep please send an email to: host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
Since 1994, The Sandbagger Corp. has manufactured sandbag filling
machines used by civilian and military agencies the world over for flood
control and back flooding from hurricanes. The United States Air Force,
Army Corps of Engineers and many of the cities in Florida have our
machines for this very purpose. The State of North Carolina bought four
of our machines during Hurricane Floyd. Our machines are currently being
used in Kosovo and have produced over 2,500,000 sandbags to date. We
have two types of machines, gravity fed and motorized. This is a
description of our MA Motorized Auger Model II,
System Components:
Sandbag filling machine to include four (4) filling stations
Safety Grid
Safety Shield
Auger and Agitator
Gas Engine
Hydraulic Motor
Vibrator (optional)
Description: This automated sandbag filling system is used to fill four
(4) sandbags simultaneously. It requires four (4) men to fill sandbags
and one (1) man to operate the front-end loader to keep the 2 cubic yard
hopper full. This unit is capable of filling at least 1600 bags per hour
using unskilled labor. It is also lightweight and pick-up truck
portable. This Sandbagger is equipped with a hydraulic driven
bi-directional auger and agitator to keep wet materials flowing.
Optional towing package available.
www.thesandbagger.com
Dan P. Stoye
800-770-SAND(7263).
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The information presented here is not authoritative.
It contains preliminary and partial information reports. It is intended to serve as a general daily digest of disaster related reports. Any other use is not intended or authorized.
The Disaster Center is a partner with CASI - Central Atlantic Storm Investigators. CASI is a group of over a thousand amateur and professional meteorologists, storm spotters, and weather observers from around the world dedicated to the observation and documentation of weather events
http://www.weatherwatchers.org
The Current Report can be accessed at:
http://www.disastercenter.com/current.htm
If you wish to send a report please use our Disaster Center Situation Report Form form located at:
http://www.disastercenter.com/email/formSR.htm
To subcribe or unsubscribe to this list send an e-mail to:
sitrep-request{at}disastercenter.com
with the word
subscribe
or the word
unsubscribe
only, in the body of the message.
If you wish to contact the list owner send an e-mail to: host{at}disastercenter.com
Copyright The Disaster Center
Please feel free to to pass this e-zine along to your friends.
However we ask that keep it intact and forward it along in its entirety.
===================================================
CASI StormReports Email List
TOO MUCH StormReport EMAIL?
Set yourself to "Digest" to receive only ONE Email per day!
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
CASI StormReports Administration Addresses:
Post message: stormreports{at}casi-internal
UNSUBSCRIBE: stormreports-unsubscribe{at}egroups.com OR
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
ReSubscribe: stormreports-subscribe{at}egroups.com OR
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
List owner: stormreports-owner{at}egroups.com
TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE THEN RESUBSCRIBE
Posting Suggestions URL:
http://www.weatherwatchers.org/members/casisr.html
===================================================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Sep 30 2000 - 20:08:37 EDT
