South Fork Fire forces Fort Robinson evacuation in Nebraska; tornadoes cut power to more than 240,000 in Illinois and Indiana; Texas activates flood response resources
Episode 191 •
12th June 2026 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
Today’s brief covers the South Fork Fire in Nebraska’s Pine Ridge, where extreme fire behavior forces the evacuation of Fort Robinson State Park and puts Crawford on notice, plus Thursday evening’s tornado outbreak across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana that leaves more than 240,000 ComEd and NIPSCO customers without power. Texas activates state emergency response resources ahead of a weekend flash flood threat tied to Gulf tropical moisture. Also covered: CISA adds an actively exploited Ivanti Sentry vulnerability to the KEV catalog, FEMA approves new Public Assistance funding for the Mid-Atlantic, Michigan, North Dakota, and Puerto Rico, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory forecasts Kilauea’s next fountaining episode for June 13 to 15. 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
• South Fork Fire, Nebraska: Extreme fire behavior in the Pine Ridge west of Crawford; Fort Robinson State Park evacuated, Crawford residents told to prepare, Highway 20 closed between Crawford and Harrison. Official report lists 8,989 acres at 5 percent containment; local reporting puts growth past 23,000 acres.
• Midwest tornado outbreak: Multiple tornadoes Thursday evening across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana; nearly 195,000 ComEd and 47,000 NIPSCO customers lose power; ComEd targets 80 percent restoration by Saturday night.
• Texas flood preparedness: Governor Abbott activates TDEM resources, including swiftwater rescue squads and hoist-capable helicopters, ahead of weekend flash flooding and possible Gulf tropical moisture.
• CISA KEV update: Actively exploited Ivanti Sentry OS command injection flaw (CVE-2026-10520) added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; prioritize patching.
• FEMA funding: Nearly $92 million approved for Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, $33.3 million for Michigan, $13 million for Puerto Rico, and $800,000 for North Dakota in Public Assistance grants.
• Kilauea: Volcano remains at ADVISORY/YELLOW; episode 49 lava fountaining likely June 13 to 15 per HVO forecast models.
• Garden Grove recovery: SBA opens a Business Recovery Center June 16 for small businesses affected by the May GKN Aerospace chemical incident evacuation.
A severe weather outbreak strikes the Midwest Thursday evening.
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Multiple tornadoes touch down across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana as powerful storms hammer the Chicago area, downing poles and wires.
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Comed reports nearly 195,000 customers without power and NIPSCO reports nearly 47,000 in Northwest Indiana.
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The severe weather and heavy rain threat continues into the weekend as a frontal system pivots across the nation's midsection and the National Hurricane center monitors a disturbance in the southern Gulf with a low chance of development that is expected to push tropical moisture toward Texas.
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Governor Abbott activates Texas State Emergency Response Resources Ahead of the flash flood threat, wildfire activity intensifies on the Northern Plains.
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The National Interagency Fire center reports the country at preparedness level 2 with 12 uncontained large fires and 5 new large incidents.
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The most significant is the South Fork fire in Nebraska's Pine Ridge, where extreme fire behavior threatens residences near Crawford and forces the evacuation of Fort Robinson State Park.
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Elevated to critical fire weather persists across the Southwest, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain areas and California.
FEMA announces nearly $92 million in public assistance funding for Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, more than $33.3 million for Michigan, nearly $13 million for Puerto Rico and more than $800,000 for North Dakota.
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In Hawaii, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory forecasts that episode 49 of Kilauea's summit eruption is likely between June 13th and June 15th.
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Let's run through the states, states or territory.
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Alaska the Kopsheut Fire burns 1,444 acres on Alaska Native Corporation land one mile west of Ambler and is 50% contained.
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Fire behavior is minimal with smoldering, but numerous structures remain threatened.
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California the Puta fire in the Sonoma Lake Napa unit holds at 860 acres and 45% containment 10 miles west of Winters.
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Fire behavior is minimal, energy infrastructure remains threatened and area and trail closures are in effect.
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In Garden Grove, the city confirms the US Small Business Administration will open a Business Recovery center on June 16 to assist small businesses affected by the evacuation during the May GKN Aerospace Chemical incident.
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Colorado the new Beehive fire burns 319 acres of chaparral and grass 15 miles northwest of Naturita with no containment.
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Fire behavior is active with group torching creeping and spotting, and residences are threatened.
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Two large fires continue on the national forests in Florida with minimal fire behavior.
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The 340 Fire southwest of Tallahassee holds at 3,400 acres and 70% containment and the Shell Fire west of DeLand holds at 2,822 acres and 70% containment.
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Hawaii Kilauea is not erupting and remains at volcano alert level advisory with aviation color code yellow.
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The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory forecasts that episode 49 of Lava Fountaining at the Summit is likely between June 13th and June 15th.
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Glow is visible at both vents overnight and summit inflation continues.
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Illinois Severe storms and multiple tornadoes strike the Chicago area Thursday evening, leaving damage in the west and south suburbs.
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Comed reports nearly 195,000 customers without power at the height of the storms with downed poles and wires across the area and expects 80% restoration by 11pm Saturday, June 13.
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Indiana the same storm system produces tornado damage in northwest Indiana, and Nipsco reports nearly 47,000 customers without power Thursday night.
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Michigan FEMA approves more than $33.3 million in post disaster public assistance funding for Michigan communities recovering from recent disasters.
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Nebraska the South Fork Fire burns in heavy timber 12 miles west of Crawford in the Pine Ridge with extreme fire behavior spotting and group torching.
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Thursday morning's National Incident Management Situation Report lists the fire at 8,989 acres and 5% containment with a complex incident management team committed.
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Local reporting citing fire officials puts the fire at more than 23,000 acres by Thursday.
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Fort Robinson State park is evacuated.
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Crawford residents are told to prepare for possible evacuation and Highway 20 is closed between Crawford and Harrison.
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Sources differ on acreage.
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This brief favors the official figure while noting the newer, larger estimate.
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NEW Mexico the New Bear Fire on the Gila National Forest burns 150 acres 18 miles southeast of Cumado with active running, flanking and spotting behavior.
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Structures are threatened.
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The Seven Cabins Fire on the Lincoln National Forest reaches 98% containment at 31,860 acres and Area Road and trail closures remain in effect.
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North Carolina the Rose Bay canal fire burns 462 acres of timber 10 miles southwest of Fairfield at 20% containment with active running fire behavior.
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North Dakota FEMA approves more than $800,000 in public assistance funding, including more than $422,000 to Minn Kota Power Cooperative for restoration of electrical transmission systems.
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n for bridge repair following:
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Tropical Storm Debbie Governor Abbott directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather and flash flooding threats heading into the weekend.
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Flash flooding is the primary threat initially across north and northwest Texas before shifting into northeast and east Texas, and tropical Gulf moisture could raise flood threats across south and southeast Texas early next week.
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Swiftwater rescue boat squads, helicopters with hoist capability and emergency medical task force packages are among the staged resources.
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Utah Two large fires continue with minimal behavior.
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The South Mountain Fire near Stockton is 70% contained at 1,863 acres with structures threatened, and the Tower Fire southeast of Nephi is 80% contained at 1,369 acres, with road closures in effect.
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Virginia Virginia communities share in FEMA's nearly $92 million Mid Atlantic Public Assistance approval announced Thursday.
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ewer system repairs from June:
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Severe storms all other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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Puerto Rico FEMA approves nearly $13 million in funding to help communities in Puerto Rico recover from recent disasters and strengthen resilience against future disasters.
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All other territories and the District of Colombia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
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