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National Situation Update: Thursday, October 25, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Southern California Wildfires Update

According to its midnight update, the NRCC Planning Section reported the following status to the wildfires in Southern California:

Canyon Fire: Malibu, Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
4,500 acres burned, 100% contained. 
Ranch Fire: Castaic, Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
51,337 acres burned, 10% contained.   
Harris Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
73,000 acres burned, 10% contained.
Witch Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
196,420 acres burned, 10% contained.
Buckweed Fire: Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
38,356 acres burned, 94% contained.
Santiago Fire: Irvine, Orange County (FMAG approved) 
19,191 acres burned, 50% percent contained.
Grass Valley /Slide: San Bernardino County (FMAG approved) 
11,152 acres burned, 0% contained. 
Rice Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
7,500 acres burned, 10% contained.
Rosa Fire: Riverside County
411 acres burned, 100% contained.
Poomacha Fire: San Diego County
25,000 acres burned, 0% contained.  
Ammo Fire: San Diego County
350 acres burned, 0% contained.

There are currently 33,985 structures threatened and 2,205 structures that have been destroyed.  Approximately 427,217 acres have burned with 70% of all acres being in San Diego County.  One death has been confirmed and there have been 38 injuries.  Three deaths were previously being reported but confirmation was received from the San Diego County Coroner that only one of the three deaths was a direct result of the fire.  The latest power outage figures from Department of Energy were as of 3:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct 24.  Total outages were reported to be 25,235, as follows: 
San Diego Gas & Electric - 23,000
Southern California Edison - 2,235. (FEMA NRCC Planning Section, NICC, OES)

Federal Actions

The President has signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1731-DR for the State of California for Wildfires that occurred October 21, 2007 and continuing.  The disaster declaration provides Individual Assistance (assistance to individuals and households), and Public Assistance (Categories A and B) - debris removal and Emergency Protective Measures), for the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.  All counties in the State of California are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA, Region IX)

California Weather

Santa Ana winds that have fanned wildfires in Southern California are forecasted to diminish overnight and become light and variable.  These weakening winds, accompanied by slight cooling, may bring more favorable conditions to the area and help firefighters gain control of the fires.
Humidity is expected to remain low although higher than previous days, which may also bring some relief to the affected areas.
Temperatures will mostly remain above average with highs in the 80s and 90s.  (Media sources, NWS)

Fire Relief

A reprieve may be on the way for one of the most difficult wildfires in Southern California's history.  The fires are still burning in the San Diego area, where California Office of Emergency Services (OES) reports approximately 321,000 evacuees and 19,440 individuals in shelters.  (FEMA Region IX, California Office of Emergency Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department, CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection, NWS)

National Weather

Northeast
Showers are expected to linger from southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey southward.  Morning showers are forecasted for southern New England and Long Island.
Temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s.

Midwest
A stalled upper-air low may bring light, scattered showers to the Ohio Valley, Kentucky and southern Missouri while sunny, dry conditions are forecast for the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.
Highs will range from the 50s and 60s across the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys to the 70s over the western portions of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.

South
A slow moving front across the mid-Atlantic may bring rain to parts of North Carolina and Virginia.  This front may also bring showers and thunderstorms to south Florida.
High temperatures will range from the 50s across lower Mississippi Valley to the 80s in the Florida Peninsula and west and southern Texas.

Northwest
A Pacific cold front will trigger showers from southern Oregon to western Montana, and snow in the south-central portion of Montana.
Highs are expected to be in the 40s and 50s across the Northwest.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a low pressure area located just northeast of the northern Leeward Islands remains poorly organized.  Upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for significant development of this system as it moves slowly westward or west-southwestward during the next couple of days.
Shower activity has decreased this evening in association with the area of disturbed weather over the central Caribbean Sea.  Development of this system, if any, should be slow to occur.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern and Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 05:51 p.m. EDT, an earthquake measuring 7.1 struck Central Sumatra, Indonesia with a depth of 18.6 miles. A local Tsunami watch was issued and ended within an hour. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
There was no significant earthquakes in the United States during the last 24 hours. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, NOAA, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Indiana  - PDAs for Individual Assistance (IA) for three counties to survey damage from the October 18, 2007 severe storm and tornado are scheduled to begin today.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1731-DR was approved on October 24, 2007 for Southern California wildfires beginning on October 21, 2007, and continuing. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:49:25 EDT