On today’s EM Morning Brief for Friday, April 24, 2026: President Trump signs a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, unlocking federal Individual and Public Assistance for Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands. A tornado emergency strikes Enid, Oklahoma, late Thursday, damaging Gray Ridge Estates and forcing Vance Air Force Base to close while crews restore power and water. The Storm Prediction Center carries an Enhanced Risk for severe storms on Friday from the Ark-La-Tex through Little Rock and into Memphis, with all severe hazards possible. Georgia’s Pineland Road Fire grows to roughly 29,600 acres as the statewide burn ban remains in effect. Kilauea’s Episode 45 ends after 8.5 hours of fountaining, and HVO downgrades the alert to ADVISORY/YELLOW. Critical fire weather continues across the central Plains, and FEMA disaster recovery operations advance in Whatcom County, Washington. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.
Key Takeaways
• CNMI Major Disaster Declaration: President Trump signs the declaration Friday morning, unlocking FEMA Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation funding across Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
• Enid Oklahoma Tornado Emergency: NWS Norman issued a Tornado Emergency near Vance Air Force Base; Gray Ridge Estates suffered major damage, at least ten injuries reported, no fatalities; Vance AFB remains closed until further notice.
• Friday Severe Weather Outbreak: SPC Enhanced Risk covers northeast Texas, the Ark-La-Tex, central Arkansas, the Memphis metro, and the Missouri Bootheel; supercell tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds possible.
• Georgia Wildfires: Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols counties at approximately 29,606 acres / 10 percent contained; Highway 82 Fire in Brantley at approximately 4,438 acres / 15 percent contained; statewide burn ban and 91-county State of Emergency continue.
• Florida Railroad Fire: Holds at 4,406 acres with 65 percent containment; mop-up underway, voluntary evacuations remain on Varney Road and Woodard Lane.
• Kilauea Episode 45 Ends: Halemaumau eruption episode ended at 10:01 a.m. HST April 23 after 8.5 hours of fountaining; HVO downgrades alert level to ADVISORY and Aviation Color Code to YELLOW.
• Montana East Side Fire: Approximately 1,200 acres at 0 percent containment; 100 personnel and aviation engaged; cold front and possible heavy snow expected by Saturday evening.
• Critical Fire Weather: Red Flag Warnings continue across portions of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming for April 24.
• Arizona Doney Park Boil Water Advisory: Precautionary advisory remains in effect for roughly 6,000–9,000 customers after APS Public Safety Power Shutoff disrupted high-elevation water pressurization northeast of Flagstaff.
• Michigan Statewide Flooding Emergency: Whitmer’s State of Emergency under Executive Order 2026-9 remains active; 40+ counties affected; State Emergency Operations Center remains activated.
• CISA Cyber Updates: April 20 KEV deadline for three Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager flaws hit April 23; remaining five additions due May 4; six new ICS advisories issued April 23.
• Washington Whatcom County DAC: FEMA Disaster Assistance Center at Advent Christian Church in Sumas continues operations; Individual Assistance application deadline June 10, 2026.
Sponsors
The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/
Sources
FEMA
• FEMA press release — President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260424/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-commonwealth
• RNZ News — Trump approves major disaster declaration for Northern Marianas following Sinlaku — https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific_northern-marianas/593330/trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-for-northern-marianas-following-sinlaku
• Isla Public Radio — Trump approves major disaster declaration for CNMI after Sinlaku destruction — https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-04-24/trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-for-cnmi-after-sinlaku-destruction
• FEMA Disaster Declarations index — All current declarations — https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
• Whatcom County DAC — FEMA Disaster Assistance Center opens at Advent Christian Church — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260420/disaster-assistance-center-will-open-whatcom-county
DHS
• DHS NTAS — National Terrorism Advisory System — no active bulletin — https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system
CISA
• CISA KEV catalog — Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA April 20 KEV alert — Eight KEV additions including three Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager flaws — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/04/20/cisa-adds-eight-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA ICS Advisories index — Recent ICS advisories list — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories
• CISA ICSA-26-113-06 — Intrado 911 Emergency Gateway — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-113-06
NIFC and InciWeb
• NIFC IMSR — Incident Management Situation Report — https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf
• NIFC National Fire News — National wildland fire news and statistics — https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
• InciWeb East Side Fire — Custer Gallatin NF East Side Fire incident page — https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtgnf-east-side-fire
NWS and Storm Prediction Center
• SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook — Storm Prediction Center Friday outlook — https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html
• NWS Active Alerts — All current National Weather Service alerts — https://www.weather.gov/alerts
• Cabarrus Weekly summary — Arkansas, Memphis, and Shreveport severe weather outbreak Friday April 24 — https://cabarrusweekly.com/arkansas-memphis-and-shreveport-square-up-for-severe-weather-outbreak-friday-april-24-with-large-risk-zone/
• NWS Little Rock outlook — All severe hazards possible Friday afternoon and night — https://cabarrusweekly.com/all-severe-hazards-possible-as-scattered-strong-to-severe-storms-target-arkansas-friday-afternoon-into-friday-night/
• Watchers.news — Tornado Watch issued for NE/IA/MO; higher-end threat across KS and OK on April 23 — https://watchers.news/2026/04/23/tornado-watch-issued-nebraska-iowa-missouri-higher-end-threat-expected-across-kansas-oklahoma/
USGS
• HVO Kilauea volcano updates — Episode 45 ended; alert downgrade — https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates
• USGS HVO notice 2026-04-23T19:07:34Z — Volcano notice for Kilauea — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-04-23T19:07:34+00:00
• USGS AVO notice 2026-04-23T20:33:52Z — Great Sitkin volcano notice — WATCH/ORANGE — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-23T20:33:52+00:00
• Honolulu Star-Advertiser — Lava fountains from Kilauea Episode 45 end after 8.5 hours — https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/04/23/breaking-news/lava-fountaining-marks-start-of-episode-45-at-kilauea-summit/
Travel Advisories
• U.S. Department of State — Travel Advisories index — https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html
FDA and CDC
• CDC HAN Archive — Health Alert Network Archive — https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/index.html
• FDA Recalls and Safety Alerts — FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts — https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
FAA
• FAA NAS Status — National Airspace System Status — https://nasstatus.faa.gov/
Alaska
• AVO Great Sitkin notice — April 23 volcano notice — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-23T20:33:52+00:00
Arizona
• KNAU — Boil water advisory impacts 9,000 residents northeast of Flagstaff — https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2026-04-23/boil-water-advisory-impacts-9-000-residents-northeast-of-flagstaff
• FOX 10 Phoenix — APS shuts off power to 6,000 Flagstaff-area customers for wildfire prevention — https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/aps-shuts-off-power-6000-flagstaff-area-customers-wildfire-prevention
• AZFamily — Power restored to northern Arizona APS customers after fire risk shutdown — https://www.azfamily.com/2026/04/23/power-restored-northern-arizona-aps-customers-after-fire-risk-shutdown/
Arkansas
• Cabarrus Weekly — Arkansas Friday severe weather outbreak details — https://cabarrusweekly.com/all-severe-hazards-possible-as-scattered-strong-to-severe-storms-target-arkansas-friday-afternoon-into-friday-night/
Florida
• News4JAX — Railroad Fire holds at 4,406 acres, reaches 65% containment — https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/04/23/railroad-fire-holds-at-4406-acres-reaches-60-containment/
• First Coast News — Railroad Fire in Clay and Putnam counties — maps and updates — https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/wildfire/railroad-fire-in-clay-county-and-putnam-county-maps-updates-evacuation-routes/77-66c1436f-8259-462c-bd1e-11beb090f66d
Georgia
• Office of the Governor — Gov. Kemp declares State of Emergency in response to South Georgia wildfires — https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-04-22/gov-kemp-declares-state-emergency-response-south-georgia-wildfires
• Georgia Forestry Commission — Current Wildfire Information and Resources — https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/
• ABC News — Two major Georgia blazes grow to more than 34,000 acres — https://abcnews.com/US/georgia-wildfire-destroys-dozens-homes-spreads-5000-acres/story?id=132268739
• WRDW — Wildfires continue to rage in Georgia as state gets federal help — https://www.wrdw.com/2026/04/23/wildfires-continue-rage-georgia-state-gets-federal-help/
Hawaii
• Spectrum News Hawaii — Kilauea’s 45th episode sends lava fountains hundreds of feet into the air — https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2026/04/23/kilauea-45th-episode-starts
• USGS HVO notice — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-04-23T19:07:34+00:00
Iowa
• WOWT — Tornado touches down in southwest Iowa as severe weather rolls through Omaha metro — https://www.wowt.com/2026/04/23/first-alert-6-weather-day-strong-storms-possible-thursday-afternoon/
• WOWT viewer video — https://www.wowt.com/video/2026/04/24/viewer-video-tornado-southwest-iowa/
Michigan
• Michigan Whitmer Executive Order 2026-9 — https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/state-orders-and-directives/2026/04/20/executive-order-2026-9-declaration-of-state-of-emergency
• Michigan State Police EM&HSD — https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/emhsd/2026-statewide-flooding
Montana
• Billings Gazette — https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_bfe3fbe2-9ca5-462e-a179-5a83d2d8850f.html
• InciWeb East Side Fire — https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtgnf-east-side-fire
Oklahoma
• CBS News — Tornado roars through Enid; Air Force base forced to close — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tornado-roars-through-parts-of-oklahoma/
• FOX Weather — Photos: Violent tornado rips through Enid, Oklahoma — https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/tornado-rips-through-oklahoma-community-first-responders-action
• News9 — Vance Air Force Base closed until further notice following severe storms — https://www.news9.com/oklahoma-city-news/vance-air-force-base-closed-until-further-notice-following-severe-storms
• Watchers.news — https://watchers.news/2026/04/24/tornado-enid-oklahoma-damage-homes-vance-afb-april-2026/
• Enid News & Eagle — https://www.enidnews.com/news/breaking-no-fatalities-reported-after-gray-ridge-estates-hit-by-tornado/article_1967e27b-1268-4217-b959-9cedaa9c397d.html
Texas
• Cabarrus Weekly — https://cabarrusweekly.com/arkansas-memphis-and-shreveport-square-up-for-severe-weather-outbreak-friday-april-24-with-large-risk-zone/
Washington
• FEMA Whatcom County DAC — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260420/disaster-assistance-center-will-open-whatcom-county
• KING 5 — https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/fema-begins-home-inspections-whatcom-county-flood-victims-months-devastating-sumas-flooding/281-9d5fab34-763b-4441-88bb-a65e82f45798
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
• FEMA press release — President Trump approves Major Disaster Declaration for CNMI — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260424/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-commonwealth
• Marianas Press — Trump approves CNMI major disaster declaration request — https://marianaspress.com/news/article/breaking-trump-approves-cnmi-major-disaster-declaration-request
• ASPR HHS — Public Health Emergency for Guam and CNMI — https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/PHE-Typhoon-Sinlaku.aspx
• ReliefWeb — https://reliefweb.int/report/northern-mariana-islands-united-states-america/cnmi-s-disaster-declaration-approved-white
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe