National Situation Update: Saturday, October 27, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Southern California Wildfires Update

The following information was reported by the California Office of Emergency Services' (OES) 8:00 p.m. Situation Report on wildfires in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside counties: 

  • Ranch Fire: Castaic, Los Angeles County (FMAG approved)
    • 58,401 acres burned, 94% contained.   
  • Harris Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
    • 85,000 acres burned, 35% contained.
  • Witch Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved) 
    • 197,990 acres burned, 45% contained.
  • Santiago Fire: Irvine, Orange County (FMAG approved) 
    • 27,600 acres burned, 35% percent contained.
  • Valley Fire: San Bernardino County (FMAG approved) 
    • 1,140 acres burned, 75% contained.
  • Slide Fire: San Bernardino County
    • 13,700 acres burned, 20% contained.
  • Rice Fire: San Diego County (FMAG approved)
    • 9,000 acres burned, 60% contained.
  • Poomacha Fire: San Diego County
    • 42,000 acres burned, 35% contained.  
  • Pendleton (Ammo Fire): San Diego County
    • 19,353 acres burned, 80% contained.
  • There are currently nine fires that remain active.
  • 20,575 structures are threatened and 2,574 structures have been destroyed or damaged.
  • Approximately 502,296 acres have burned.
  • Seven deaths have been confirmed and there have been 65 injuries.
  • Approximately 321,000 residents have been displaced from their homes.
  • 2,882 individuals are being housed in 22 shelters.
  • As of 11:30 a.m. EDT, there are 16,290 customers without electricity, representing less than 1 percent of the total customers in California; 678 customers are without natural gas service, according to the US Department of Energy.  San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison accounted for the power outage reports. (NICC, CA OES, US Department of Energy, FEMA Region IX, FEMA HQ)

California Weather

Although fires remain active in Southern California, weakening high pressure over the Great Basin region has resulted in Santa Ana winds ending.  This will help the firefighters who continue to work toward containment goals on the nine large fires in southern California.  A cold front moving through the western states, bringing cooler Canadian air to the area will also help with firefighting efforts. (FEMA Region IX, Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center; Los Angeles County Fire Department; CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection, NORAD-USNORTHCOM; NWS)

National Weather

Northeast

  • Heavy rain moving in from the tropics continues to move along the East Coast northward into sections of New York and New England, and will continue through Saturday. 
  • Local rainfall up to three inches could impact the Baltimore-Washington area and flood watches have been posted through Saturday.
  • Temperatures will range from the 40s in New England to the 60s in the Boston-Washington corridor.

Midwest

  • Mild temperatures and dry conditions are expected for much of the Midwest throughout the weekend.
  • Highs will fluctuate between the 50s and 60s across the region.

South

  • A stationary front, along with tropical moisture from the western Caribbean Sea, may produce scattered showers and thunderstorms for most of Florida while Virginia and the Carolinas could see scattered showers over the weekend. 
  • Highs across the South are expected to be seasonal, ranging from the 60s in the northern parts of the region to the 70s across the Gulf Coast.

Northwest

  • A cold front moving in from Canada is forecasted to bring colder weather and snow to parts of the northern Rockies.  Snow advisories are in effect for western Montana.
  • Highs are expected to be in the high 50s and 60s across the Northwest.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report within the last 24 hours. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico

  • The broad area of low pressure over the eastern Caribbean Sea is now centered about 175 miles south-southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  This system slowed its forward motion overnight and is now moving west-southwestward at 10 to 15 mph.  The associated shower activity remains disorganized and upper-level winds are currently not favorable for development.  The low is expected to move generally westward and tropical cyclone formation, if any, is not expected before the system reaches the Western Caribbean Sea in a couple of days.  Showers and squalls are expected to continue over portions the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. 
  • 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.

Western Pacific:

  • No current tropical cyclone warnings affecting US interest currently in effect. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

  • On Friday, October 26, 2007, at 11:23 a.m. EDT, an earthquake measuring 5.4 struck about 80 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska at a depth of 21 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated.
  • On Saturday, October 27, 2007, at 02:45 a.m. EDT, an earthquake measuring 4.6 struck about 29 miles north-northeast of Huslia, Alaska at a depth of 9.3 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, NOAA, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA DR-1731-CA has superseded EM-3279-CA. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 29-Oct-2007 08:15:38 EDT