GOHSEP DAILY OPERATIONAL REPORT
7 October 2011
As of:  1230 Hours
STATE EOC ACTIVATION LEVEL: Level 4 (Normal operations)

1. TROPICAL WEATHER UPDATE:

As of 0800 hours 7 October 2011, the NWS/NHC is reporting on the tropical features listed below.  These systems will not pose a threat to Louisiana

Hurricane Philippe is centered at 29.6N 56.3W moving east-northwestward near 17 mph. Maximum sustained wind speed is 90 mph with higher gusts.  

An Atlantic Ocean Tropical wave is along 38W from 4N to 12N.

More information can be accessed from The National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

2. STATE WIDE EVENTS: 

 STATEWIDE PARISH BURN BANS / DROUGHT 2011:

WebEOC Incident 010-11 Statewide Parish Burn Ban

Cease and Desist on Outdoor Burning: 

Due to the extremely dry conditions in certain Parishes within the state, State Fire Marshal, H. Butch Browning and, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Mike Strain have issued a cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1563.  Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government.

This order was effective as of 0900 Hours, August 24, 2011, and shall remain in effect until rescinded for the following Louisiana parishes: Allen, Acadia, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Desoto, Evangeline, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, Vermillion, Vernon, Webster and Winn

The following parishes have a current Parish State of Emergency Declaration on file with GOHSEP:

Natchitoches

Bossier

Caddo

Sabine

The following parishes had Parish State of Emergency Declaration on file with GOHSEP for this incident:

Allen

Vermilion

National Weather Service Drought Assessment Graphic:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/drought_assessment.shtml

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Burn Ban Graphic:

http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/portal/Portals/0/FOR/publications/forest%20fire/laburnban.pdf

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Stain, D.V.M., said the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has installed a new emergency hotline phone system to better serve the public.  “We are here to protect the consumer,” Strain said. “Remember; call the LDAF for any emergency involving agriculture, pesticides, and wildfire detection and suppression. The number is 1-855-452-5323.” This hotline will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

EMAC SUPPORT 

On September 25th, a member from the GOHSEP Planning Section was deployed to assist the state of Vermont at the Joint Field Office with EMAC coordination and requests. 

3. LOUISIANA WEATHER:

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA: Today and Saturday will be mostly sunny and partly cloudy in the evenings.  Sunday through Tuesday is forecast to have a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms throughout the day, each day.

Temperatures: Today: 87/67, Saturday: 87/67, Sunday: 85/65, Monday: 86/65, Tuesday: 84/65.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER:  No hazardous weather to report

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA: Today and Saturday will be mostly sunny and partly cloudy in the evenings.  Sunday through Tuesday is forecast to have a 20-30 percent chance of thunderstorms throughout the day, each day.

Temperatures: Today: 87/62, Saturday: 85/65, Sunday 84/64, Monday: 82/63, Tuesday: 82/64.

Hazardous Weather:   Easterly winds will strengthen to around 20 mph over most of the coastal waters today and through the weekend. A small craft advisory will remain in effect through Sunday for all coastal waters with the exception of the tidal lakes and Mississippi sound. Small craft should continue to exercise caution.  This advisory may need to be expanded with later forecasts to include the tidal lakes and Mississippi sound, and possibly extended through at least Monday as wave heights rise to 7 to 10 feet.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorm activity will be possible through the middle of next week. Thunderstorm activity will initially be confined to the coastal waters and adjacent coast of Louisiana Friday and Saturday. However, the activity will spread further inland for early next week. The persistent easterly winds over the weekend are likely to cause tide levels to rise to 1 to 2 feet above normal by Sunday or Monday.

CENTRAL LOUISIANA: Today and Saturday will be mostly sunny and partly cloudy in the evenings.  Sunday through Tuesday is forecast to have a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms throughout the day, each day.

Temperatures: Today: 87/62, Saturday: 88/63, Sunday: 85/61, Monday: 85/61, Tuesday: 84/61.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER:  No hazardous weather to report

NORTHERN LOUISIANA: Today through Sunday is forecast to be mostly sunny and cloudy, each day.  Monday has a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms throughout the day. Mostly sunny skies return on Tuesday.

Temperatures: Today: 90/63, Saturday: 90/64, Sunday 86/64, Monday: 85/63, Tuesday: 83/62.

Hazardous Weather:   No hazardous weather to report

4. HAZMAT: None

5. FIRE: None 

6. MEDICAL: None 

7. NTAS (National Terrorist Advisory System): Currently there are no active alerts. 

For more information go to following link; http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm. 

8. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR, EXPLOSIVE: None