National Situation Update: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Federal / State Response for Hurricane Omar:
FEMA Region II:
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated at Level II, with ESFs 3, 7 and DoD. Staffing is limited during the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), with hours of operation 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT.
The FEMA Region II DCO is currently working with the US Virgin Islands USVI National Guard to provide situational awareness for the power outage issue.
Region II ERT-As are deployed to Puerto Rico (PR) and the USVI.
Joint PDAs started October 17, 2008 on St Croix and ESF 3 Power Planning and Response Teams (PRTs) are deployed to St. Croix.
U.S. Virgin Islands:
The Virgin Islands Territory Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) EOC is not activated.
The Governor requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration, specifically requesting Public Assistance, Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for the entire territory.
The Hovensa Refinery on St. Croix is beginning their startup procedures which is going to take several days to complete, due to the large number of processing units and due to the fact that the startup process must be done in a series.
A curfew for St. Croix is in effect from 1:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. EDT.
Power and Water Restoration:
Out of a total population of 53,234 residents, electrical power has been restored to approximately 23,955 residents of St. Croix, VI.
The major limiting factor to total power restoration is downed power lines, mostly located on the east side of St. Croix.
The Hospital and Medical Center on St. Croix back on commercial power.
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 775 miles east of Bermuda (about 1,420 miles west of the Azores) and poses no threat to US interests.
Area 1:
The remnants of former Tropical Depression 16 are centered inland over Central America. This system is nearly stationary, will continue to produce locally heavy rains and development of this system is not anticipated.
Area #2:
A large and disorganized area of cloudiness and showers is associated with a tropical wave about 550 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.
Further development of this system is not likely during the next two days as it moves toward the west at about 10-to-15-mph.
Area #3:
A small area of disturbed weather has formed over the central Caribbean Sea, about 175 miles east-southeast of Jamaica.
Upper-level winds are currently unfavorable for additional development to occur.
Eastern Pacific:
Area #2:
An area of disturbed weather, southwest of the remnants of Tropical Depression 16, is located several hundred miles south of the coasts of Guatemala and southeastern Mexico.
Although thunderstorm activity remains limited, some slow development of this system is possible as it remains nearly stationary during the next couple of days.
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 Friday, October 17, 2008:
- National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
- Initial attack activity: Light (78 new fires)
- New large fires: 0
- Uncontained large fires: 3
- Large fires contained: 2
Fire Weather: Warm and dry conditions will continue in southern California and the southern Great Basin. Southwest winds will begin to increase across the southern Sierras and the southern Great Basin. Relative humidity will improve significantly across the Southeast as scattered showers move across the region. (NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 20-Oct-2008 08:18:28 EDT