Friday, December 16, 2011

Progress Made!

All:
The CC has been instructed by FSD Mike Scott to stand down from employee notifications regarding the possible furlough.  He received an email from Deputy Assistant Administrator (Acting) Scott Johnson stating “…due to progress made on the Hill, TSA will be proceeding with normal operations.

Memorandum for DHS Employees

December 15, 2011

Memorandum for DHS Employees

As many of you are aware, the current Continuing Resolution funding the Federal Government for the fiscal year expires this Friday, December 16 at midnight.

While Congress continues to consider an omnibus appropriations bill and extensions to the payroll tax cut and Unemployment Insurance benefits, there is no guarantee that it will finish all of its work before Friday at midnight. The President has urged Congress to complete its work on the budget and has made it clear that he does not want a Government shutdown. Given the realities of the calendar, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress fail to complete its work or to pass another short-term continuing resolution that would give it more time to take up these important matters.

The uncertainty of the current situation puts federal employees in a difficult position, and we are very much aware that a shutdown would impose hardships on many employees as well as the groups and individuals our agency serves. As we approach the expiration of the current appropriation, we will continue to provide you with updated information as soon as it becomes available. For now, we want to provide you with information on how the potential funding lapse – should it occur – would impact Federal employees.

If funding lapses on December 16, the affected Federal departments and agencies would not be permitted to incur further financial obligations for activities funded by annual appropriations, except those related to the orderly suspension of operations or performance of excepted activities. This means that some employees would be furloughed and unable to work. Our contingency planning for the potential funding lapse includes determining which agency functions and employees are excepted from a furlough. Should it become necessary to implement our contingency plans, you will receive informal notice from your manager no later than Friday, December 16 and formal notice no later than Monday, December 19 regarding the designation of your position and furlough status.

Additional information is available at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website, http://www.opm.gov/furlough/. As needed, OPM will provide additional pertinent information for federal employees as the week progresses.

Situations like these are always difficult, particularly for the employees who provide critical services to the American public. Thank you for the work you do every day to keep our nation safe and for your continued service to the Department and the country.

Monday, August 29, 2011

More MTA News

Notification issued 8/29/11 at 5:40AM. MTA resuming limited service today with the exception of Metro North Railroad which remains suspended this morning.  Visit http://www.mta.info/ for updates.

MTA News

Per the MTA,
Service Plan for Monday Morning Subways: With limited exceptions, service will resume across the subway system at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. Service will be less frequent than normal, and customers should expect longer waits and more crowded trains. Frequency of service will improve over the course of the day. The MTA’s regular fare policy will resume Monday morning at 5:00 a.m.
· Exceptions:
-3 trains will operate between
137th Street
/City College and New Lots Avenue; Substitute bus service will be provided between Harlem
148th Street
and
135th Street
connecting with the 2 train.
-C trains suspended; A trains will make all local stops from
207th St.
to
Lefferts Blvd.
-No service in the Rockaways. (
Rockaway Blvd.
to Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park)
-6 trains runs local in the Bronx
-7 trains run local
-
S Franklin Avenue
Shuttle (FAS) Suspended
-N trains terminate at
Kings Highway
. Shuttle bus service between
Kings Highway
and Stillwell Terminal.

· The Staten Island Railway will resume normal service at midnight tonight.

Buses: Limited bus service was restored in all five boroughs of New York City earlier this evening. Service levels will continue to increase but may not reach normal levels Monday.

Bridges and Tunnels: All MTA Bridges and Tunnels are open as of 7:00 p.m Sunday. The MTA’s toll policy will resume Monday morning at 5:00 a.m.
Access-a-Ride and Able Ride: Are expected to be operating normal service beginning at noon Monday. In the morning, these services will help return evacuees to their homes.

Metro-North and LIRR: Additional details on Metro-North and LIRR service will be provided as soon as they become available

Sunday, August 28, 2011

A Message From Mr. Scott About Monday August 29th


Good afternoon,

I am pleased to report that all TSA personnel who volunteered to maintain the high level of security at our Checkpoints throughout the Hurricane Irene period have done an excellent job!

I have met with most of you, our volunteers,  and observed first hand that you  are in great spirits, well motivated, and continuing to maintain the sterility of our Terminals. You  have taken great care to protect all TSA equipment and although we had some minor roof leaks, your special efforts paid off and all equipment is ready to calibrate and testing is well underway.

The airport roadways are clear, minor tree branches and leaves are being cleaned up and we should see the resumption of air operations Monday morning.

All TSA Screening Personnel should report to duty starting Monday  at 0700 for the am tour unless directed otherwise by your Terminal Manager.  It is the responsibility of each TSA Officer to make any alternate transportation arrangements to get to work, if their normal mode of commuting is expected to be cancelled or delayed. Any Officers who are RDO on Monday and would like to work are encouraged to contact their Manager as soon as possible.

I am very proud and sincerely appreciative of the dedication and professionalism of each of you  who volunteered to assist us during the past days during this very difficult weather emergency

Michael A. Scott
Federal Security Director
JFK International Airport
U. S. Department of Homeland Security
Transportation Security Administration

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Hurricane Irene Update 8.27.2011 0800

Please note JFK will close today August 27th at noon. It will remain closed until Monday August 29th. Please see our posting from FSD Michael Scott about this here http://tsajfkemergencystatus.blogspot.com/2011/08/jfk-to-be-closed.html


BULLETIN
HURRICANE IRENE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  28A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL092011
800 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...CENTER OF IRENE MAKES LANDFALL NEAR CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH
CAROLINA...


SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...34.7N 76.5W
ABOUT 5 MI...10 KM NNE OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 60 MI...100 KM SW OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...952 MB...28.11 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* LITTLE RIVER INLET NORTH CAROLINA NORTHWARD TO SAGAMORE BEACH
MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO...ALBEMARLE...AND CURRITUCK
SOUNDS...DELAWARE BAY...CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF DRUM POINT...NEW
YORK CITY...LONG ISLAND...LONG ISLAND SOUND...COASTAL CONNECTICUT
AND RHODE ISLAND...BLOCK ISLAND...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO LITTLE RIVER INLET
* CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT NORTHWARD AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC
* NORTH OF SAGAMORE BEACH TO MERRIMACK RIVER

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* MERRIMACK RIVER TO EASTPORT MAINE

INTERESTS IN NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA SCOTIA CANADA SHOULD MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF IRENE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER INDICATES THAT THE EYE OF IRENE
MADE LANDFALL NEAR CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA AROUND 730 AM
EDT...1130 UTC.  THE ESTIMATED INTENSITY OF IRENE AT LANDFALL WAS
85 MPH...140 KM/H...CATEGORY ONE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE
WIND SCALE. 

AT 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 34.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.5 WEST.  IRENE IS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  ON THE
FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF IRENE WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA TODAY.  THE HURRICANE IS FORECAST TO MOVE NEAR OR OVER THE
MID-ATLANTIC COAST TONIGHT AND MOVE OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ON
SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 85 MPH...140 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  IRENE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE.  SLIGHT WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS IRENE CROSSES
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...BUT IRENE IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A
HURRICANE AS IT MOVES NEAR OR OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES AND NEW
ENGLAND.

HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES...150 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO
260 MILES...415 KM.  A SUSTAINED WIND OF 59 MPH WITH A GUST TO 84
MPH WAS RECENTLY MEASURED AT CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM DATA FROM AN AIR
FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS 952 MB...28.11 INCHES. 
A COASTAL MARINE OBSERVING SITE AT CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA
RECENTLY REPORTED A PRESSURE OF 954.0 MB...28.17 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS SHOULD SPREAD NORTHWARD ALONG THE
MID-ATLANTIC COAST LATER THIS MORNING WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS
EXPECTED BY THIS AFTERNOON.  HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS SHOULD SPREAD
NORTHWARD THROUGH THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA DURING THE DAY.  
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND TONIGHT WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY.

STORM SURGE...AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM TIDE WILL RAISE WATER
LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 5 TO 9 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN THE
HURRICANE WARNING AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE ALBEMARLE
AND PAMLICO SOUNDS.  STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH
AS 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA
FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER NORTHWARD TO CAPE COD
INCLUDING SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES.  NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY
LARGE...DESTRUCTIVE...AND LIFE-THREATENING WAVES.  STORM SURGE
VALUES ARE VERY LOCATION-SPECIFIC...AND USERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES.

RAINFALL...IRENE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF
6 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...FROM
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA NORTHWARD THROUGH THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES
INTO EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.  THESE RAINS
COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

SURF...LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY IRENE ARE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
COAST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.  THESE SWELLS WILL CAUSE
LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS.

TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER EXTREME EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA TODAY.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM EDT.

[Image of 3-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene Update 8.26.2011 2300

Please note that JFK will CLOSE tomorrow Saturday August 27th at noon. Please see blog post about JFK closure below.


BULLETIN
HURRICANE IRENE ADVISORY NUMBER  27
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL092011
1100 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...IRENE MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD SOUTHEASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS LASHING THE CAROLINA COAST...


SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...32.6N 76.9W
ABOUT 140 MI...225 KM S OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 195 MI...315 KM SSW OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...160 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* LITTLE RIVER INLET NORTH CAROLINA NORTHWARD TO SAGAMORE BEACH
MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO...ALBEMARLE...AND CURRITUCK
SOUNDS...DELAWARE BAY...CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF DRUM POINT...NEW
YORK CITY...LONG ISLAND...LONG ISLAND SOUND...COASTAL CONNECTICUT
AND RHODE ISLAND...BLOCK ISLAND...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA TO LITTLE RIVER INLET
* CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT NORTHWARD AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC
* NORTH OF SAGAMORE BEACH TO MERRIMACK RIVER

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* MERRIMACK RIVER TO EASTPORT MAINE

INTERESTS IN SOUTHEASTERN CANADA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
IRENE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 32.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.9 WEST. IRENE IS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/H...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CORE OF THE HURRICANE WILL APPROACH THE
COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT AND PASS NEAR OR OVER THE NORTH
CAROLINA COAST SATURDAY MORNING.  THE HURRICANE IS FORECAST TO MOVE
NEAR OR OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOVE OVER
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ON SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  IRENE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE.  NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS
FORECAST BEFORE IRENE REACHES THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA.  SOME
WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER THAT...BUT IRENE IS FORECAST TO REMAIN
A HURRICANE AS IT MOVES ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST ON SUNDAY.

HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES...150 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 290
MILES...465 KM.  DURING THE PAST HOUR...A WEATHERFLOW AUTOMATED
STATION REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 48 MPH...78 KM/H...AND A GUST
TO 64 MPH...104 KM/H AT THE FORT MACON STATE PARK NEAR ATLANTIC
BEACH NORTH CAROLINA.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY AIR FORCE RESERVE
AND NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 951 MB...28.08 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD INLAND
OVER THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA TONIGHT.
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO FIRST REACH THE HURRICANE
WARNING AREA BY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.  TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY MORNING
WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  TROPICAL
STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
SATURDAY NIGHT WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY.

STORM SURGE...AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM TIDE WILL RAISE WATER
LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 6 TO 11 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN THE
HURRICANE WARNING AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE ALBEMARLE
AND PAMLICO SOUNDS. STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH
AS 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA
FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER NORTHWARD TO CAPE COD
INCLUDING SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY
LARGE...DESTRUCTIVE...AND LIFE-THREATENING WAVES.  STORM SURGE
VALUES ARE VERY LOCATION-SPECIFIC...AND USERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES.

RAINFALL...IRENE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF
6 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...FROM
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA NORTHWARD THROUGH THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES...
NEW YORK...AND NEW ENGLAND THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.  THESE RAINS
COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

SURF...LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY IRENE ARE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
COAST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.  THESE SWELLS WILL CAUSE
LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS.

TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER EXTREME EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORIES...100 AM EDT AND 300 AM EDT.
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 AM EDT.
[Image of 5-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]