On today’s EM Morning Brief for Thursday, April 23, 2026: Georgia’s governor declares a State of Emergency across 91 counties as the Brantley and Echols County wildfires burn more than 20,000 combined acres and destroy at least 54 homes. CISA’s April 23 federal remediation deadline hits for three actively exploited Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager flaws, with five additional KEV additions due May 4. A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning covers southern Colorado, and severe storms capable of hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes target Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. FEMA announces a Major Disaster Declaration for Montana’s Lincoln County, Kīlauea remains at WATCH/ORANGE within its episode 45 forecast window, and Typhoon Sinlaku recovery continues across the Mariana Islands. 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

• Georgia State of Emergency: Governor Kemp declares a State of Emergency for 91 counties in South Georgia, with the first statewide mandatory burn ban in GFC history; Brantley County fire destroys at least 54 homes, and Echols County residents evacuate.

• CISA KEV Cisco Deadline: FCEB agencies are required to remediate three actively exploited Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager vulnerabilities today; the remaining five KEV additions are due May 4.

• Critical Fire Weather: Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning in southern Colorado, with widespread Red Flag Warnings extending across Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Texas.

• Severe Storms Plains-to-Midwest: SPC Slight Risk for large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes from southern Kansas into southern Minnesota on Thursday, with additional severe weather expected through the weekend.

• Montana Disaster Declaration: FEMA announces Major Disaster Declaration for Lincoln County for December severe winter storms and flooding; Public Assistance available.

• Montana East Side Fire: Custer Gallatin NF fire stands at 1,204 acres with 0% containment; evacuations lifted but crews watch for increasing southwest winds.

• Florida Railroad Fire: Approximately 4,186 acres burning along the Clay–Putnam county line at 55% containment; shelter open at Bostwick Community Center.

• Texas Flash Flooding: 20 families evacuated from Williamson County RV parks as the San Gabriel River rises; Hobby Airport issued a ground stop for thunderstorms; Central Bowie County under boil water advisory.

• Volcanic Activity: Kīlauea at WATCH/ORANGE with episode 45 lava fountaining likely April 22–23; Alaska’s Great Sitkin remains at WATCH/ORANGE with continued lava effusion.

• Boil Water and Water Systems: Active boil water advisories include Stanardsville VA, Paintsville KY, Tangipahoa LA, Central Bowie County TX; West Columbia SC lifted and Rota CNMI lifted.

• Typhoon Sinlaku Recovery: HHS Public Health Emergency remains in effect for Guam and CNMI; CNMI major disaster declaration awaits final presidential signoff; Saipan and Tinian remain under boil water advisories.

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Sources

CISA

• CISA Adds Eight KEV April 20, 2026 — federal deadlines April 23 and May 4 — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/04/20/cisa-adds-eight-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

• The Hacker News coverage — CISA adds 8 KEV with federal deadlines — https://thehackernews.com/2026/04/cisa-adds-8-exploited-flaws-to-kev-sets.html

• CISA ICS Advisories index — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories

FEMA

• FEMA Disaster Declarations list — https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations

• Lincoln County, Montana Major Disaster Declaration — April 22, 2026 — https://vp-mi.com/news/2026/apr/22/lincoln-co-gets-major-disaster-declaration-for-fed/

• Whatcom County, Washington Disaster Assistance Center opens April 22 — https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fema-begins-home-inspections-wa-023653871.html

NIFC and InciWeb

• NIFC Incident Management Situation Report — https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf

• NIFC National Fire News — https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

• InciWeb — East Side Fire (Custer Gallatin NF) — https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtgnf-east-side-fire

NWS and Storm Prediction Center

• SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook — https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

• SPC Day 2 Convective Outlook — April 22, 2026 — https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html

• NWS Active Alerts — https://www.weather.gov/alerts

• Multi-state Red Flag Warnings — https://watchers.news/2026/04/22/multi-state-red-flag-warnings-issued-as-strong-winds-and-very-low-humidity-raise-wildfire-danger-across-central-us/

• NWS Pueblo PDS Red Flag Warning — https://krdo.com/weather/alerts-weather/2026/04/22/red-flag-warning-issued-april-22-at-157pm-mdt-until-april-23-at-900pm-mdt-by-nws-pueblo-co/

• Severe thunderstorms forecast Oklahoma to Minnesota April 23 — https://watchers.news/2026/04/21/severe-thunderstorms-forecast-from-northern-oklahoma-to-southern-minnesota/

USGS

• Kīlauea Volcano Notice — HVO April 22, 2026 — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-04-22T17:23:37+00:00

• Kīlauea Updates — https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates

• Great Sitkin Volcano Notice — AVO April 22, 2026 — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-22T19:13:12+00:00

Travel Advisories

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories index — https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html

FDA and CDC

• CDC Health Alert Network Archive — https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/index.html

• FoodSafety.gov Recalls and Outbreaks — https://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls-and-outbreaks

• FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts — https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

FAA

• FAA National Airspace System Status — https://nasstatus.faa.gov/

• Hobby Airport ground stop April 22 2026 — https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/04/22/ground-stop-issued-at-hobby-airport-hou-due-to-thunderstorms/

Alaska

• AVO Great Sitkin April 22 notice — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-22T19:13:12+00:00

Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming — Red Flag Warnings

• Red Flag Warnings issued across Plains and Southwest — https://weatherboy.com/red-flag-warnings-issued-for-fire-threat-across-portions-of-texas-colorado-arizona-kansas-oklahoma/

Colorado

• NWS Pueblo PDS Red Flag Warning — zones 224 and 225 — https://krdo.com/weather/alerts-weather/2026/04/22/red-flag-warning-issued-april-22-at-157pm-mdt-until-april-23-at-900pm-mdt-by-nws-pueblo-co/

• Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning explainer — https://www.kktv.com/2026/04/22/what-is-pds-red-flag-warning/

Florida

• Railroad Fire latest — https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/04/22/railroad-fire-latest-evacuations-closures-warnings-more-as-wildfire-spreads-in-clay-putnam-counties/

Georgia

• Governor Kemp declares State of Emergency — https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-04-22/gov-kemp-declares-state-emergency-response-south-georgia-wildfires

• Brantley County fire grows — 54 homes destroyed — https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/brantley-county-wildfire-only-10-contained-flames-rage-across-south-georgia/4O4RBWHIGZF67F34HOXGANQZBY/

• Echols County mandatory evacuation — https://www.walb.com/2026/04/22/mandatory-evacuation-issued-echols-co-residents/

Hawaii

• HVO Kīlauea April 22 notice — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-04-22T17:23:37+00:00

Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska — Thursday Severe Risk

• Severe storms likely to impact Iowa — https://westerniowatoday.com/2026/04/22/severe-storms-likely-to-impact-iowa-high-winds-and-hail-expected-thursday/

• Multi-day tornado outbreak possible — https://saludastandard-sentinel.com/multi-day-tornado-outbreak-possible-from-kansas-nebraska-iowa-oklahoma-and-texas-through-dixie-alley-as-spc-flags-severe-weather-threat-thursday-through-monday/

Kentucky

• Paintsville boil water advisory — https://wsipam.com/boil-water-advisory-issued-for-portions-of-paintsville/

Louisiana

• Tangipahoa Water District boil water advisory — https://www.wafb.com/2026/04/23/tangipahoa-water-district-issues-boil-water-advisory-hammond-area/

Montana

• East Side Fire burns 1,204 acres — Daily Montanan — https://dailymontanan.com/2026/04/21/east-side-fire-burns-1600-acres-185-evacuated-south-of-red-lodge/

• InciWeb East Side Fire — https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtgnf-east-side-fire

• Lincoln County Major Disaster Declaration — https://vp-mi.com/news/2026/apr/22/lincoln-co-gets-major-disaster-declaration-for-fed/

New Mexico

• Fire-weather threat continues into April 23 — https://watchers.news/2026/04/22/multi-state-red-flag-warnings-issued-as-strong-winds-and-very-low-humidity-raise-wildfire-danger-across-central-us/

Oklahoma

• NWS Norman severe weather outlook — https://www.weather.gov/oun

Oregon

• TripCheck Oregon Road Conditions — https://tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions

South Carolina

• West Columbia boil water advisory lifted — April 22 — https://westcolumbiasc.gov/boil-water-advisory-4-22-26-lifted/

Texas

• Williamson County flooding — https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/wilco-officials-to-provide-update-on-flooding-response-after-road-closures-evacuations

• Williamson County RV parks evacuation — https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/williamson-county-rv-parks-told-to-evacuate-due-to-flash-flooding/

• Hobby Airport ground stop — https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/04/22/ground-stop-issued-at-hobby-airport-hou-due-to-thunderstorms/

• Central Bowie County boil water advisory — https://kygl.com/ixp/152/p/bowie-county-water-boil-notice/

Virginia

• Stanardsville boil water advisory — https://www.29news.com/2026/04/22/stanardsville-boil-water-advisory-likely-continue-thursday/

Washington

• Whatcom County Disaster Assistance Center — https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fema-begins-home-inspections-wa-023653871.html

• FDA shellfish recall — https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Guam and CNMI

• HHS Public Health Emergency — https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/PHE-Typhoon-Sinlaku.aspx

• Recovery Rundown — https://www.nminewsservice.com/recovery-rundown-april-22-2026/

• Rota boil water notice lifted; Saipan and Tinian still under advisory — https://www.nminewsservice.com/rota-boil-water-notice-lifted-sinlaku-cuc/

• Joint FEMA–USACE Sinlaku operations — https://www.army.mil/article/291908/joint_fema_usace_operations_underway_following_devastating_super_typhoon_sinlaku

Good morning.

CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog update of April 20th reaches a key federal remediation deadline today.

Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies are required to address three actively exploited Cisco Catalyst, SD WAN manager flaws by April 23, with the remaining five additions including critical issues in Quest case, SMA, Papercut, NG, MF and JetBrains TeamCity due by May 4.

CISA also released four new industrial control Systems advisories this week covering vulnerabilities in Delta, Mitsubishi and Iconics products.

The National Terrorism Advisory System has no active bulletin.

The National Interagency Fire center reports national preparedness level 2 with 23 large uncontained fires and 992 personnel assigned nationwide.

Year to date acreage burn sits at roughly 200% of the 10 year average.

Activity is concentrated in the southern area where Georgia declared a statewide wildfire State of Emergency and FEMA approved fire Management Assistance grants for the Pineland Road fire and the Highway 82 wildfire.

The NOAA Storm Prediction center has outlined a slight risk level 2 of 5 from severe storms Thursday from southern Kansas through eastern Iowa into southern Minnesota.

The primary hazards are large to very large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes during initial storm development along a cold front and dry line.

SPC guidance indicates additional severe episodes are likely through the weekend across the Plains and into Dixie Alley.

Critical fire weather is in effect across much of the central United States.

The NWS office in Pueblo issued a particularly dangerous situation Red flag warning for south central and southeastern Colorado with winds of 25 to 40 mph, gusts up to 60 mph and relative humidity as low as 6 to 8%.

Red flag warnings and fire weather watches extend into New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming and parts of Texas, with the highest concern shifting to the southern high plains on April 23rd.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory maintains Kilauea at alert level.

Watch aviation color code Orange.

Forecast models based on summit inflation indicate the next episode of lava fountaining is likely between April 22nd and 26th, with April 22nd or 23 most likely in Alaska.

Great Sitkin remains at watch orange.

Slow lava effusion continues within the Summit crater.

Let's run through the states.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory reports Great Sitkin remains at alert level watch with aviation color code orange as of April 22.

Slow lava effusion continues within the Summit crater and seismic data over the past day recorded rockfalls from the growing lava dome.

Arizona Red Flag warnings remain in effect across portions of the state as part of the multi state critical fire weather setup.

Strong winds, very low relative humidity and dry fuels are driving the elevated risk through April 23rd.

Colorado the NWS office in Pueblo issued a particularly dangerous situation red flag warning for Fire Weather Zones 224 and 225 in South Central and southeastern Colorado, southwest to west southwest winds of 25-40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph combined with relative humidity as low as 6 to 8%.

The office warns fires could spread uncontrollably and outpace evacuation.

The Denver Hush Boulder office issued a red flag warning for the Foothills, Urban Corridor Plains and South Park.

Florida the railroad fire along the Clay Putnam county line stands at approximately 4,186 acres with roughly 55% containment as of Wednesday morning.

The incident formed when the Cruise Road fire in Clay county and the railroad complex fire in Putnam county merged.

The Bostwick Community center in Palatka remains open as a shelter for evacuees.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties in South Georgia on April 22 in response to ongoing wildfires, with the order in effect for 30 days unless renewed.

The Georgia Forestry Commission issued the first mandatory statewide burn ban in its history.

The Brantley county wildfire has grown to approximately 5,000 acres at 10% containment, with at least 54 homes destroyed.

In Echols County, a separate fire has burned more than 16,000 acres and mandatory evacuations are in effect.

The Venture of Faith Camp in Lake park is serving as a shelter.

FEMA approved fire management assistance grants for the Pineland Road fire and the Highway 82 wildfire, and a federal incident management team has been mobilized.

Hawaii Kilauea remains at alert level.

Watch with aviation color code orange the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's forecast window for the next lava fountaining episode.

Episode 45 spans April 22nd through 26th, with April 22nd or 23rd identified as most likely based on current Summit inflation data.

Activity remains confined to Halemaumau within the Summit caldera.

Iowa the Storm Prediction Center's slight risk corridor extends across much of Iowa for Thursday.

Severe thunderstorms capable of large to very large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are expected during the afternoon and evening hours as storms organize along the advancing cold front and dry line.

SPC guidance places southern and eastern Kansas in the slight risk area for April 23rd.

The dryline across central Kansas is expected to serve as the primary trigger for storm development Thursday afternoon with tornado potential along that corridor.

Red flag warnings remain posted across western portions of the state ahead of the storm threat.

Kentucky Paintsville Utilities issued a precautionary boil water advisory for specific areas of Paintsville on April 22 due to mainline maintenance.

Residents in the affected service area should continue to boil water for one minute before consumption until the advisory is lifted.

Louisiana the Tangipahoa Water District issued a boil water advisory for the Hammond area on April 23.

Residents are advised to boil water for one full minute before drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food.

The advisory will remain in effect until the Louisiana Department of Health confirms the water is safe.

Minnesota Southern Minnesota is included in the Thursday slight risk corridor.

Severe storms pushing northeast from Iowa are expected to reach the state by Thursday evening with hail, damaging winds and a tornado or two possible.

Montana the east side fire south of Red Lodge on the Custer Gallatin national forest stands at 1,204 acres with 0% containment.

Evacuation orders and warnings were lifted Wednesday afternoon and and U.S. highway 212 has reopened, although east side Road and Howell Gulch Road remain closed.

Fire managers are watching.

Southwest winds forecast to increase to 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Separately, FEMA announced a major disaster declaration on April 22 for Lincoln county covering December severe winter storms and flooding.

Public assistance is available for emergency work and facility repairs.

Nebraska Eastern Nebraska is included in the Thursday slight risk corridor.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to fire during the afternoon with large hail, damaging winds and an isolated tornado possible.

Red flag warnings cover the western portion of the state ahead of the storm threat.

New Mexico Red flag warnings and fire weather watches extend across eastern and northeastern New Mexico for April 23rd as the critical fire weather corridor shifts south strong west to southwest.

Winds and low relative humidity are expected through the afternoon.

Oklahoma Severe storms are expected Thursday afternoon into the overnight hours with all hazards possible under the spc.

Slight risk the Norman forecast office notes the severe risk will continue each day through the weekend as repeated rounds of thunderstorms develop along the dryline.

Oregon NOAA issued a flooding alert warning of continued excessive runoff in portions of Oregon, including the foothills of the Blue Mountains through Thursday evening.

Runoff from rainfall and snowmelt over the past 36 hours has caused streams and rivers to rise.

ODOT has also restricted I84 eastbound near LeGrand to loads no more than 195ft in length for emergency work through April 30th.

South Carolina the city of West Columbia lifted its boil water advisory on April 22 after a water main break was repaired and sample testing confirmed.

Water safety Normal service has been restored to affected customers.

Texas Williamson county conducted flash flood evacuations on April 22 with 20 families, including residents from 17 RVs moved to a temporary shelter at Georgetown Church of the Nazarene after the Shady river and Goodwater RV parks near the San Gabriel river were ordered to evacuate.

Flash flood warnings covered Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor and other parts of the county, and dozens of road closures were reported as the San Gabriel rose from roughly 7ft to nearly 14ft.

Much of Texas remains within the Thursday severe weather outlook, with additional severe episodes expected through the weekend.

Virginia A boil water advisory for the town of Stannardsville is expected to continue through Thursday, April 23rd following a water main break caused by a private contractor earlier this week.

Specialists are assisting survivors with FEMA applications and other disaster assistance.

Separately, the NOAA flood alert covers southeast Washington through Thursday evening and FDA has advised restaurants, retailers and consumers not to sell or eat recalled shellfish harvested from a portion of Hammersley Inlet due to potential norovirus contamination.

Red flag warnings extend into portions of Wyoming as part of the multi state critical fire weather setup with strong winds and low relative humidity through Thursday.

All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

Territories Guam the HHS public health Emergency declared on April 18 for Guam and CNMI in response to Typhoon Sinlaku remains in effect, providing operational flexibilities for healthcare response and recovery.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation lifted its precautionary boil water notice for rota effective April 23.

After April 22, samples cleared for total Coliform and E. Coli boil water notices remain in effect on Saipan and Tinian as Typhoon Sinlaku recovery continues.

DHS has signed off on the CNMI Major Disaster Declaration Package, which awaits final presidential approval.

Once signed, FEMA Individual Assistance will become available to affected residents.

U.S. coast Guard crews aboard USCGC Hickory delivered additional relief supplies to Saipan on April 22.

All other territories and the District of Columbia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That's your EM morning brief for Thursday.

Stay safe.