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National Situation Update: Friday, October 17, 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) was deactivated at 4:00 p.m. EDT, October 16, 2008.  (FEMA HQ)

FEMA Region II
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated at Level II (24-hour operations), with two (2) ERT-As deployed to Puerto Rico (PR) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) that are preparing to demobilize. (Region II)

US Virgin Islands:
The Virgin Islands Territory Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) reported that their EOC is no longer activated.

The Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance, Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for the entire territory.

The Hovensa refinery sustained no significant damage to processing equipment.  Startup activities for the refinery have begun, which will take several days because of the large number of processing units in the refinery and the fact that many of them have to be started up in series.

Power & Water Restoration:
Electrical power has been restored to 45% of St. Croix, VI by the Water and Power Authority (WAPA).  WAPA expects to increase this to 75% today.  Although they do not have a timeline for full restoration, WAPA continues to work towards that goal.

All water service for the entire island has been restored.

A request from St. Croix will be forwarded to the Governor for an extension of the 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. EDT curfew tonight, should the power not be restored.  (FEMA HQ)

Puerto Rico:
The Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) EOC is not activated.  There was one (1) confirmed death on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico, and there have been no reports of damages received to date.  (FEMA HQ)

California Wildfire Update

Los Angeles County: Marek Fire

• Angeles National Forest and Upper Marek Motorway - Sylmar
• 4,824 acres and 92 percent contained
• 41 homes, two commercial and 22 outbuildings destroyed
• Full containment expected by this evening
• 1 injury; 1 fatality (LA County Corner confirmed); media reporting 2 fatalities
• 2 shelters; population: 113
• All evacuations have been lifted except for Lopez Canyon.
• LA County EOC is active at the duty officer level.
• 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; 50 percent contained
• 15 homes destroyed and 47 outbuildings
• 1 injury; no fatalities
• 3,500 residences and 100 commercial structures threatened
• 1 shelter; population: 144
• Previously evacuated citizens are being allowed to return to selected areas
• Resources are expected to demobilize later today
• 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.
• 4,026 acres and 90 percent contained; full containment expected by this evening
• 1 injury; no fatalities
• 1 shelter; population: 92
• Residential area on Camp Pendleton have reopened
• No requests for Federal Assistance have been received. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Storm Omar
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm (TS) Omar was located about 670 miles southeast of Bermuda and no longer poses a threat to US interests.

TS Omar is moving toward the northeast near 25 mph and this general motion, with a gradual decrease in forward speed, is expected during the next day or two.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph, with higher gusts.  Some additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles, mainly to the southeast of the center, with an estimated minimum central pressure of 992 mb (29.29 inches).

Area 1
Cloudiness and showers, associated with a westward moving tropical wave, are located about 650 miles east-southeast of the southern Windward Islands.  There are no signs of organization and development, if any, will be slow to occur.

Area 2
The remnant circulation of former Tropical Depression (TD) 16 is centered inland over Central America.  This system is nearly stationary, and will continue to produce locally heavy rains across portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala during the next couple of days.  These rains could cause flash floods and mud slides.

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 16, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
Initial attack activity: Light (75 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 5
Large fires contained: 0

Fire Weather: Red Flag Warnings conditions for extended periods of low humidity are expected to continue through Friday evening for the greater portion of southern California. (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On October 16, 2008, Amendment #12 for FEMA-1785-DR for Florida adds Madison County for Individual Assistance; Bradford, Clay and Taylor Counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance); and Charlotte County for Public Assistance. 

On October 16, 2008, Amendment #9 for FEMA-1786-DR for Louisiana adds ten (10) counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance).

On October 16, 2008, Amendment #9 for FEMA-1791-DR for Texas adds Aransas, Burleson, Nueces and San Patricio Counties for Public Assistance; Rusk County for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); and Cherokee, Harris, Houston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, San Augustine and Trinity Counties for Public Assistance [Categories C - G] (already designated for Individual Assistance and debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A - B], including Direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance Program).

On October 16, 2008, Amendment #4 for FEMA-1795-DR for Indiana adds Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Harrison, Jefferson, Jennings, Lake, Porter and Switzerland Counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); Fayette, Ripley and Wayne Counties for Public Assistance; Scott and Washington Counties for Individual and Public Assistance; and Floyd and Perry Counties for Individual Assistance.

On October 16, 2008, Amendment #3 for FEMA-1798-DR for Puerto Rico adds Ponce Municipality for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance).  (FEMA HQ)