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National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Except for scattered rain and snow showers in the mountains of central Idaho, southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming, the majority of the region will be dry tomorrow.  Santa Ana winds are forecast to wane rapidly in Southern California today. 
A Red Flag Warning continues for Ventura County and portions of Los Angeles County through this evening for gusty northeast winds and low humidity.  Freeze Warnings are in effect for several areas across Oregon and New Mexico.
Midwest:
Showers and thunderstorms are possible from Michigan and Ohio through southeast Nebraska and eastern Kansas. 
Some parts of southern Iowa, northern Missouri and northern Illinois could receive heavy downpours.
Flood Warnings and Watches are in effect for rivers in Minnesota, Kansas and North Dakota.
South:
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for areas west of the Mississippi River with the heaviest rain possible in southern and eastern Texas.  Flood Warnings are in effect for rivers in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Florida.  A Fire Weather Watch is in effect over the eastern Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend due to possible long durations of relative humidity below 35 percent.
Northeast:
The region will be generally dry except for a slight chance of showers in parts of West Virginia.(NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

Caribbean Severe Weather

  • FEMA Region II ERT-A deployed to St. Thomas, USVI
  • FEMA Region II ERT-A in place in Puerto Rico at JFO for FEMA-1798
  • FEMA Caribbean Area Division continues to maintain situational awareness and working closely with PREMA, VITEMA and NWS
  • 1 shelter in Puerto Rico; population: 22
  • The Red Cross reports existing inventories in the Caribbean of close to 20,000 blankets, 14,000 clean up kits, 13,000 comfort kits and over 4,400 cots.
  • There have been no requests for Federal assistance.

California Wildfire Update

Marin County:
Angel Island Fire

  • Angel Island State Park
  • 380 acres and 90 percent contained
  • 20 State Park and historical structures threatened
  • 1 outbuilding has been destroyed
  • Final report has been issued on this fire.
  • No requests for Federal Assistance have been received (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

 Los Angeles County:
The Marek Fire

  • Angeles National Forest and Upper Marek Motorway - Sylmar
  • 4,824 acres and 80 percent contained
  • 39 homes and 5 outbuildings destroyed
  • 1 injury; 1 fatality (LA County Corner confirmed); media reporting 2 fatalities
  • 2,000 residences, 100 commercial properties and 400 outbuildings threatened
  • 2 shelters; population: 113
  • 1,471 personnel assigned to this incident
  • All evacuations have been lifted except for Lopez Canyon.
  • LA County EOC is active at the duty officer level.
  • 28 strike teams
  • FMAG 2788 was approved on October 12, 2008.
  • No further requests for Federal Assistance at this time. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

LA and Ventura Counties:
Sesnon Fire

  • Browns Canyon
  • 13,285 acres; 20 percent contained
  • 19 homes destroyed
  • 1 injury; no fatalities
  • 3,500 residences and 100 commercial structures threatened
  • 1 shelter; population: 144
  • 2,338 personnel assigned
  • 23 strike teams
  • The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for LA and Ventura Counties.
  • LA County EOC is activated.
  • FMAG 2789 was approved October 13, 2008.
  • No further requests for Federal Assistance at this time.(CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

 San Diego County:
Juliet Fire

  • Camp Pendleton is a Federal Responsibility Area Fire (FRA); burning south-southwest towards the City of Oceanside.
  • 3,980 acres and 60 percent contained
  • 1 injury; no fatalities
  • No residences or structures threatened.
  • 1 shelter; population: 92
  • 719 personnel assigned
  • 5 strike teams on scene
  • No requests for Federal Assistance have been received. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Hurricane Omar
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Omar was about 285 miles south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Omar is moving toward the northeast near 7 mph.  This motion is expected to continue with a gradual increase in forward speed over the next day or two. On this forecast track, Omar would move through the northern Leeward Islands tonight and early Thursday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph, with higher gusts.  Omar is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  Strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Sixteen
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Sixteen was about 95 miles east of Limon, Honduras.  The depression is moving toward the west near 6 mph.  A general westward motion is forecast during the next couple of days. On this track, the center of the depression is forecast to move very near the northern coast of Honduras during the next couple of days. Any deviation to the south of the forecast track would bring the center inland over Honduras.  Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph, with higher gusts.  Gradual strengthening is forecast and the depression could become a tropical storm later today or tonight.

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

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

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, October 14, 2008:

  • National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
  • Initial attack activity: Light (80 new fires)
  • New large fires: 4
  • Uncontained large fires: 5
  • Large fires contained: 1
  • States with large fires: CA

Fire Weather: Santa Ana winds will continue this morning over southern California, but should diminish in the afternoon. Northern and central California will be warm and dry with light winds.(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:32:18 EDT