Three separate wildfires have prompted California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency in two counties: Los Angeles and Monterey. Wildfires in both counties threatened several homes as the blazes spread.

The Glendale fire burns out of control prompting some residents to evacuate. Forty acres of brush have burned thus far and officials say evacuation may become mandatory if firefighters cannot get the Glendale fires under control.

Just before noon this morning, Santa Barbara Fire Authorities began allowing evacuated residents to return to their homes.

Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have released findings identifying factors that affected evacuation from the World Trade Center (WTC) Towers on September 11. A research methodology known as participatory action research (PAR) was used to identify individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) barriers to safe and rapid evacuation.

Chinese authorities have evacuated some 200,000 people from an earthquake-devastated area facing risk of flood from a temblor-spawned giant lake under a plan that has also put a million more people on alert.

Colombian authorities are evacuating thousands of people after a volcanic eruption about 240 kilometers southwest of the capital of Bogota.

Despite the EU’s military mission to Chad being put on hold, Sweden continues to push for a UN mandate.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced the availability of 2,000 GoPhone devices with $10 in air time to residents who were ordered to evacuate their homes during the past week.

According to a new survey of people in high-risk hurricane areas conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security, one-third (31%) of residents said if government officials said they had to evacuate due to a major hurricane this season, they would not leave. This is an increase from 2006 when 23% said they would not evacuate.

Southern China on Wednesday braced for the arrival of two powerful tropical storms, with more than 250,000 people evacuated as a precaution, the government said.

According to a new survey of people in high-risk hurricane areas conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security, one-third (31%) of residents said if government officials said they had to evacuate due to a major hurricane this season, they would not leave. This is an increase from 2006 when 23% said they would not evacuate.

Every household should pack a Go Bag - a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. A Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels.