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National Situation Update: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Omar

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) is activated at Level II (24/7 operations), along with Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 1,3,5,6,8,13 and 15.  Three (3) National Level Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams and two (2) Health and Human Services Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) have been placed on alert.

The American Red Cross (ARC) has opened three (3) shelters, deployed staff and staged resources including comfort kits, cots, blankets, and clean up kits on Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Johns and St. Croix. (FEMA HQ)

FEMA Region II
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated at Level I (24-hour operations) with all ESFs activated and present, as well as requesting FEMA Region IVs Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) Situational Awareness Unit to provide on-scene reports for post-landfall video teleconferences (VTCs).
Two Emergency Response Team - Advance Elements (ERT-As) have been deployed; one each to St. Thomas, USVI and Puerto Rico.  (Region II)

US Virgin Islands:
The US Virgin Islands Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is activated with 24-hour operations.  The Governor issued a State of Emergency and enacted a 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. EDT curfew.

The Virgin Islands National Guard has activated their 24-hour Joint Operations Center in response to Hurricane Omar and the Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) Virgin Islands has coordinated with JFHQ Puerto Rico for 2 UH-60s/aircrews for post-hurricane operations.

There are 3 shelters currently open, with a population of 0. (FEMA HQ)

Puerto Rico:
The Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) is activated with 24 hour operations, and the Governor of Puerto Rico has declared a State of Emergency for the entire island and has partially activated the National Guard.

There are 2 shelters currently open, with a population of 57.  (FEMA HQ)

California Wildfire Update

Los Angeles County: 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
  • 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
  • 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, October 16, 2008, Hurricane Omar was located approximately 70 miles north of St. Martin.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 25 mph, and this motion (with a gradual increase in forward speed) is expected to continue during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph, with higher gusts.  Omar is a Category three (3) hurricane.  Stronger winds, especially in gusts, are likely over elevated terrain.  Some weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.  St. Maarten recently reported a wind gust to 70 mph.

The latest minimum central pressure estimated from a US Air Force reconnaissance plane data was 964 mb (28.47 inches).

Hurricane Omar is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of five-to-ten-inches (5 - 10), with maximum amounts up to 20 inches, across the northern Leeward Islands.  These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

Coastal storm surge flooding of four-to-six-feet (4 - 6) above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near (and to the right of) the path of Hurricane Omar.  Coastal storm surge flooding should gradually subside along the coasts of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Hurricane Omar could still produce large swells that will affect the west-and south-facing-coasts of the Islands of the Lesser Antilles.  These swells could cause beach erosion and damage to coastal structures.

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 Wednesday, October 15, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: Light (79 new fires)
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 4
Large fires contained: 1

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

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of the Virgin Islands requested a Pre-Landfall Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Omar, beginning October 13, 2008 and continuing.  He is requesting Public Assistance, Individiual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for the entire territory.

Amendment #2 for FEMA-1800-DR for Illinois adds four counties for Public Assistance (Cook, Dupage, Grundy and LaSalle).

The Governor of Ohio requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of a Severe Wind Storm that occurred on September 14, 2008.  The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance (Cat A-G) for 33 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:32:17 EDT