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Tropical Storm Barry - Updated July 15, 2019

Tropical Storm Barry - Updated July 15, 2019

Created: Monday, July 15, 2019 - 06:46
Categories:
Emergency Response & Recovery, Natural Disasters

July 15, 2019

As of this morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports Barry is moving slowly through north Arkansas (this morning's report is last update from the NHC for Barry - Public Advisories from the Weather Prediction Center will provide updates as long as the system remains a flood threat). The NHC advises that localized flash flooding is likely through today. Barry's motion is expected to continue through today, before turning off to the northeast by Tuesday.

Impacts to critical lifelines sectors:

  • Water and wastewater - No significant impacts reported.
  • Energy - Approximately 100,000 customers are without power (down from a high of approximately 190,000)
  • Communications - No significant impacts reported.
  • Transportation - There are some road closures in Louisiana. For the most up-to-date information on road condition, visit 511LA.

Only Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect for portions of far southeast Texas through much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, and including parts of the mid Mississippi Valley.

Additionally, the NHC reports the following hazards to land:

  • Rainfall - Barry is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches across Arkansas, western Tennessee and Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and northwest Mississippi.
  • Tornadoes - A couple of tornadoes are possible today from the Mid-South toward the Lower Ohio Valley.

FEMA has notified its partners that its National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) has been activated for Barry, with current operating hours of 0800 - 2000 ET daily. Through its Operations Dashboard, the NBEOC provides access to situational awareness updates from federal, regional, state, and private sector partners. Additionally, it offers a venue to share questions or issues through a chat room function. The NBEOC can also be reached at NBEOC@max.gov.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invites partners to attend a Critical Infrastructure Stakeholder Call concerning Tropical Storm Barry’s impact to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The call will be hosted by DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, Private Sector Division.  The teleconference will include an overview of the current situation, brief updates from critical infrastructure sectors, and will conclude with an open forum for questions and information sharing. The agenda will be distributed prior to the call.

The began occuring daily on Friday, July 12 and will likely be conducted for the last time today (WaterISAC will advise here as to the status of the calls going forward).

  • Time:  3:00 pm ET 
  • Dial-In #: 1-888-813-9958
  • Passcode/PIN: 7743515