National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Southern California Wildfires Update

In a report received at 9:40 p.m. EDT, on October 23, 2007, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) reported on the status of the following wildfires in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Bernadino, Orange, and Riverside counties:

Canyon Fire: Malibu, Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
4,500 acres burned, 75% contained. 
900 structures threatened; 14 damaged, 8 destroyed.
Ranch Fire: Castaic, Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
47,420 acres burned, 10% contained.
600 structures threatened; 0 damaged; 7 destroyed.  
Session Fire: Los Angeles County
35 acres burned, 0% contained.  85 structures threatened.
Sedgwick Fire: Santa Barbara County
710 acres burned, 100% contained.  0 structures threatened. 
Harris Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
72,000 acres burned, 10% contained.  1,500 structures threatened; 250 damaged; 200 destroyed.
Witch Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
196,420 acres burned, 1% contained.  6,800 structures threatened; 375 damaged; 650 destroyed.
Nightsky Incident: Ventura County
35 acres burned, 20% contained.   230 structures threatened.
Buckweed Fire: Los Angeles County (FMAG approved) 
37,812 acres burned, 27% contained.  59,000 structures threatened; 3 damaged; 32 destroyed.
October Incident: Los Angeles County
25 acres burned, 10% contained.
85 structures threatened.
Sierra Fire: San Bernardino County
300 acres burned, 100% contained.
Roca Fire: Riverside County
269 acres burned, 100% contained.
300 structures threatened; 0 damaged; 2 destroyed.
Santiago Fire: Irvine, Orange County (FMAG approved) 
19,161 acres burned, 30% percent contained.
3,000 structures threatened; 20 damaged; 14 destroyed.  15 evacuations.
Grass Valley Incident: San Bernardino County (FMAG approved) 
1,000 acres burned, 0% contained. 
Green Valley Incident: San Bernardino County
50 acres burned, 0% contained.
Coronado Hills Fire: San Diego County
300 acres burned, 0% contained.  1,000 residences evacuated. 
Rice Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
7,500 acres burned, 10% contained.  2,000 structures threatened; 248 destroyed.
Magic Incident: Los Angeles County
1,500 acres burned, 40% contained.  950 structures threatened.
Rosa Fire: Riverside County
411 acres burned, 70% contained.  175 structures threatened.  
Ammo Fire: San Diego County
350 acres burned, 0% contained.  50 structures threatened.
McCoy Incident: San Diego County
300 acres burned, 95% contained.  2 structures destroyed.
Poomacha Fire: San Diego County
20,000 acres burned, 0% contained.  2,000 structures threatened; 50 destroyed.
Wilcox Fire: San Diego County
13 acres burned, 0% contained.  100 structures threatened.
 
The California OES reported three confirmed deaths and 32 injuries attributed to the wildfires.  Approximately 13,570 people are currently housed in 38 shelters.  A total of 362,812 acres have burned.  2176 structures have been destroyed or damaged, and 87,600 structures are threatened.  The U. S. Fire Administration estimates that more than 300,000 residences have been evacuated. 

Federal Actions:
The President signed an Emergency Disaster Declaration, FEMA-3279-EM, for the multiple wildfires occurring in the state of California.  Emergency Protective Measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

FEMA NRCC -
Activated to Level I, October 23, 2007, 24-hour operations.  All ESFs activated.

FEMA Logistics - 
Movement of Supplies authorized.  Coordinating with American Red Cross for movement of supplies. 

FEMA Region IX -
Activated to Level II with selected ESFs, October 21, 2007.  JFO is scheduled to open in Pasadena, CA on October 24, 2007.  ERT-A Activated, October 22, 2007.

FEMA is providing water, meals, cots, and blankets from distribution centers at Moffiet Field, CA and Fort Worth, TX, and the Defense Logistics Agency.  FEMA has also sent a liaison to the State Emergency Operations Center in Sacramento to work with the state's response and recovery staff.

California Weather

High temperatures will continue across Southern California today, although not as hot as Tuesday.  The Santa Ana winds should begin to subside later today.  However, above-normal temperatures and low humidity will continue to fuel the wildfires.  High temperatures are expected to be around 90 in the Los Angeles area and in the mid 80s in the San Diego area. (FEMA Region IX, Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center; Los Angeles County Fire Department; CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection, NORAD-USNORTHCOM; NWS)

Flooding in New Orleans

On October 22, 2007, residents in the city of New Orleans, LA received more than 8 inches of rain, closing schools and flooding streets.  The city's drainage pumps were unable to keep up with the severe rain.  According to the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, the city pumps can handle one inch in the first hour of rainfall and half inch every hour thereafter; in some areas, more than two inches of rain fell in an hour.  The flooding caused the city to close schools and City Hall early.  To minimize seepage and overtopping, the Army Corps of Engineers closed a floodgate on the Harvey Canal.  Many of the businesses that were flooded had just reopened after being damaged by 2005's Hurricane Katrina.  The flood watch was cancelled on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, as the rains over portions of Southeast Louisiana through costal Mississippi had diminished. (New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Media Source)

National Weather

Northeast
After a day of record highs along the East Coast, temperatures should be cooler today.  Lingering showers could remain in New England through the day.  Highs should range from the 50s in the north to the 70s around the Chesapeake Bay.

Midwest
Most of the Midwest will should be dry and mild, while some areas may experience a few showers, mostly across eastern sections of the Ohio Valley and across northern Michigan.
Highs will range from the upper 40s around Lake Superior to the 70s on the western High Plains.

South
An area of low pressure will keep showers and a few thunderstorms in the forecast from the Mississippi Valley eastward into the Carolinas and Florida.  High temperatures will range from the 50s in Arkansas and northeast Louisiana and parts of Mississippi to near 90 in southwest Florida.

Northwest
A Pacific cold front will trigger showers into western Washington and northwest Oregon. The rest of the West will be mostly sunny and mild.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

  • FMAG-2379-CA issued for the Rice Fire that began on October 22, 2007, and is continuing.
  • FMAG-2378-CA issued for the Grass Valley fire that began on October 22, 2007, and is continuing.
  • FMAG-2737-CA issued for the Santiago fire that began on October 22, 2007, and is continuing.
  • FMAG-2736-CA issued for the Ranch fire that began on October 22, 2007, and is continuing. 
  • FMAG-2735-CA issued for the Harris fire that began on October 21, 2007, and is continuing.   
  • FMAG-2734-CA issued for the Witch fire that began on October 21, 2007, and is continuing.   
  • FMAG-2733-CA issued for the Buckweed fire that began on October 21, 2007, and is continuing.   
  • FMAG-2732-CA issued for the Canyon fire that began on October 21, 2007, and is continuing. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
A weak area of low pressure centered about 150 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.  Upper-level winds are not favorable for significant development of this system.  The low is expected to drift westward during the next couple of days.  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.

Tropical Depression KIKO:
A continued spin-down of Tropical Depression KIKO is expected over the next couple of days as it moves generally westward within the low-level steering flow.  Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours, and KIKO poses no threat to the U. S. mainland or any of its jurisdictions. 

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed an Emergency Disaster Declaration, FEMA-3279-EM, for the wildfires outbreak in the state of California. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 24-Oct-2007 07:51:25 EDT