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New CISA vulnerabilities and urgent federal mitigation deadline
Episode 263 • 23rd September 2026 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
00:00:00 00:11:22

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Tropical Depression 15E has redeveloped about 405 miles south-southeast of Hilo and is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane, with a projected impact on the Big Island of Hawaii by Friday. I am Cedric, and I urge residents and emergency managers in Hawaii to monitor the system closely because watches and preparedness actions are likely. A coastal storm is producing warning-level tidal flooding from North Carolina to New Jersey, with two to three feet of inundation expected along Virginia’s tidal rivers and bays and widespread road closures. Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency for 19 Ohio counties after severe flooding, and river and flash flood warnings remain in effect across multiple states. CISA added four exploited vulnerabilities to its catalog and federal agencies must apply mitigations by September 25, while FEMA announced resilience grant awards totaling tens of millions of dollars for several states. We will continue to track fires, floods, storms, and infrastructure risks and provide timely updates each morning.

Takeaways:

  • I report that Tropical Depression 15E redeveloped and is expected to become a hurricane near the Big Island within days.
  • We advise residents and officials across Hawaii to prepare emergency plans, clear drainage, and stock basic supplies now.
  • I note that a coastal storm will drive warning level tidal flooding and inundate low lying areas from North Carolina to New Jersey.
  • We inform that river and flash flood risks persist across multiple inland regions, prompting state emergency declarations and road closures.
  • I report that CISA added multiple exploited vulnerabilities in network and security products and federal agencies must apply mitigations under a binding directive by Friday.

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Descript, Edit video by editing text - https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Descript

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Sources

Tropical Cyclone

Coastal Flooding

Inland Flooding

Ohio

Wildfire

Alaska

Volcanoes

Cyber

FEMA

Transcripts

Cedric:

Good morning, I'm Cedric and this is your EM Morning Brief

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for Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

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The Central Pacific Hurricane Center

is issuing advisories on Tropical

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Depression Fifteen-E, which redeveloped

about 405 miles south-southeast of Hilo.

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Forecasters call for steady

strengthening, with the depression

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becoming a tropical storm today and

a hurricane within a couple of days.

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The forecast track brings it

toward the Big Island of Hawaii

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on Friday at hurricane strength.

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Forecasters advise interests across the

Hawaiian Islands to monitor the system

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closely and say a Hurricane Watch or

a Tropical Storm Watch will likely be

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required for part of the state today.

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A coastal storm is driving

warning level tidal flooding from

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North Carolina to New Jersey.

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The National Weather Service forecasts

two to three feet of inundation above

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ground level along Virginia's tidal

rivers and bays into Friday morning, with

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enough depth to close numerous roads and

threaten waterfront homes and businesses.

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Inland, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

declared a state of emergency

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Tuesday afternoon for 19 counties

hit by severe weather and flooding.

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River flood warnings stay posted

along the upper Mississippi and its

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tributaries in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri

and Indiana, and flood watches run today

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across southeast Kentucky, southern

West Virginia, southwest Virginia, the

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southern Rockies and the Southwest.

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On the federal side, CISA added

four vulnerabilities to the Known

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Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

Tuesday, all of them in network edge

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and security management products:

Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator, F5

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BIG-IP Access Policy Manager, and two

Check Point flaws covering Security

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Management Servers and VPN gateways.

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Federal civilian agencies have

until Friday, September 25, to

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apply vendor mitigations under

Binding Operational Directive 26-04.

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FEMA announced resilience grant awards

Tuesday as well, including nearly 11

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million dollars for New Jersey and New

York and more than 44 million dollars

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across eight Southeastern states.

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Let's run through the states.

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Alaska.

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NWS Anchorage has a High Wind Warning

up for Atka and Adak, with west winds

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of 45 to 65 miles per hour and gusts to

80 expected Thursday from 7 AM to 10 PM.

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Forecasters warn of loose debris,

property damage, power outages

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and difficult travel, with the

strongest winds around midday.

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A Storm Warning covers the Bering

side waters from Adak to Kiska.

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NWS Anchorage also has a Flood Watch for

the Interior Kuskokwim Delta, including

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Bethel, Kwethluk, Kasigluk, Napaskiak

and Napakiak, running through Saturday

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afternoon, where heavy rain combines with

persistent high water and storm surge.

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At Great Sitkin, the Alaska Volcano

Observatory keeps the alert level at

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Watch and the aviation color code at

Orange, with slow effusion of lava

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continuing in the summit crater.

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Shishaldin stays at Advisory and

Yellow with low level unrest.

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California.

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The Dome Fire in Yosemite National

Park is 3,420 acres and 15 percent

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contained, having added 373 acres

in the latest reporting period.

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Fire behavior is moderate with flanking,

uphill runs and single tree torching

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one mile north of Wawona, and area,

road and trail closures are in effect.

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A California Interagency Incident

Management Team is assigned.

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The national situation report records

that on September 20, a helicopter

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under contract to the Forest Service was

involved in an accident on the Dome Fire

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and both pilots were fatally injured.

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On the Los Padres National Forest,

the Timber Fire stands at 25,436

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acres and 59 percent contained, with

numerous structures and communication

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infrastructure threatened and area,

road and trail closures in place.

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Colorado.

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NWS Pueblo has a Flood Watch for the

eastern San Juan Mountains above 10,000

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feet from midday today through Thursday

evening, with repeated rounds of

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moderate to heavy rain saturating soils.

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The Swiss Roll Fire on the San Juan

National Forest, 11 miles east of

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Pagosa Springs, is 777 acres and

36 percent contained, with energy

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infrastructure threatened and

road and trail closures in effect.

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Hawaii.

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Hawaii County Civil Defense is running

public preparedness messaging ahead of

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the approaching tropical system, with

acting administrator Darryl Oliveira

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urging residents to build family plans,

clear vegetation and drainage, stock

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supplies and sign up for county alerts.

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NWS Honolulu has a Flood Watch for

Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and

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the Big Island from this afternoon

through Saturday afternoon, warning

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that flood prone roads and low lying

areas may close and that urban areas

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could see more significant flooding

and property damage from rapid runoff.

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At Kilauea, the Hawaiian Volcano

Observatory keeps the alert level

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at Watch and the aviation color code

at Orange, with the north, south and

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west vents continuing to glow and

produce minor intermittent spatter.

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We have more to cover this morning, but

first, a quick word from our sponsors.

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Thanks for supporting our sponsors who

help make EM Morning Brief possible.

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Now, back to this morning’s updates.

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Louisiana.

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The Round Prarie Fire, managed by the

Louisiana Office of Forestry eight

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miles northwest of Bastrop, is 739

acres and 60 percent contained, with

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active fire behavior including wind

driven runs and short crown runs.

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Containment is estimated for September 24.

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Maryland.

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NWS Wakefield has a Coastal Flood Warning

for Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset

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Counties from 6 PM this evening to 4 AM

Friday, with one to two feet of inundation

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above ground level in low lying areas

near shorelines and tidal waterways.

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Forecasters expect widespread flooding

of vulnerable areas, road closures and

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flooded vehicles, with water pushing

inland along tidal rivers and bays.

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Montana.

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The Nature Grove Fire on the Bitterroot

National Forest is 1,422 acres with no

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containment reported and an estimated

containment date of October 30.

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The Sand Creek Fire on the Beaverhead

Deerlodge National Forest, five

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miles east of Wisdom, is 35,520

acres and 71 percent contained,

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with structures and communication

infrastructure threatened and area,

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road and trail closures in effect.

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New Jersey.

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NWS Mount Holly has a Coastal Flood

Warning for coastal Cape May, Atlantic

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and Ocean Counties from 4 PM today to

2 AM Saturday, with one to two feet of

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inundation above ground level, breaking

waves of 6 to 12 feet and a High Rip

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Current Risk through Saturday evening.

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Widespread roadway flooding is expected

in coastal and bayside communities

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and along inland tidal waterways.

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New Mexico.

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NWS El Paso issued a Flash Flood Warning

early this morning for southeastern

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Dona Ana County, where radar indicated

thunderstorms had already dropped 1 to 1.5

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inches of rain with more expected.

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Flood Watches from NWS Albuquerque

and NWS El Paso run through Thursday

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morning across parts of the state.

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North Carolina.

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NWS Wakefield has a Coastal Flood

Warning for eastern Currituck County

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from 11 AM today to 4 AM Friday,

with two to three feet of inundation

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above ground level expected.

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A High Surf Advisory for breaking waves

of 8 to 12 feet runs until 6 PM Thursday,

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and a Beach Hazards Statement flags a high

risk of rip currents through this evening.

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Forecasters warn of widespread flooding

of vulnerable areas and an elevated threat

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of property damage near the waterfront.

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Ohio.

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Governor Mike DeWine signed a state of

emergency proclamation Tuesday afternoon

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covering 19 counties hit by severe

weather and flooding: Athens, Clermont,

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Gallia, Greene, Highland, Jackson,

Logan, Meigs, Mercer, Montgomery,

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Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway,

Pike, Preble, Ross, Van Wert and Vinton.

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The proclamation directs state

departments and agencies to provide

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services, equipment, supplies and

personnel for the cleanup effort.

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The Governor signed it after meeting

local officials, first responders

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and residents in Vinton County,

which saw significant flooding.

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The Ohio Department of Transportation and

the Ohio State Highway Patrol continue

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to assist local authorities, and the

Ohio Emergency Management Agency remains

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engaged with county and state partners.

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Oklahoma.

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The Gracemont Fire on the Anadarko

Agency, six miles east of Binger, is 2,690

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acres and 90 percent contained, with 31

structures lost and moderate fire behavior

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described as creeping and smoldering.

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Containment is estimated for September 27.

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Texas.

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The Flash Flood Warning issued overnight

by NWS El Paso covered central El Paso

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County alongside southeastern Dona Ana

County in New Mexico, and NWS Midland

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has a Flood Watch running through

Thursday morning in the Permian Basin.

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Virginia.

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NWS Wakefield has a Coastal Flood

Warning in effect until 8 AM Friday for

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Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland,

Lancaster, Middlesex, Mathews and

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Essex Counties, with two to three

feet of inundation above ground level

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near shorelines and tidal waterways.

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Forecasters say water at that depth

will close numerous roads and threaten

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homes and businesses, with flooding

extending inland along tidal rivers

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and bays and vehicles at risk.

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Additional Coastal Flood Warnings

cover the lower Chesapeake Bay

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shoreline into Friday morning.

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In the southwest of the state, NWS

Morristown has a Flood Watch running

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from this afternoon through 10 PM

tonight for excessive rainfall.

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Washington.

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The Three Queens Fire, six miles east

of Snoqualmie Pass in Kittitas County,

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is 9,572 acres and 31 percent contained,

with evacuations plus area, road and trail

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closures in effect and numerous residences

and critical infrastructure threatened.

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An Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

Type 3 team has assumed command of

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the Three Queens, King and Goat fires.

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The Sisi Fire, 10 miles northwest

of Stehekin, is 3,908 acres and 15

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percent contained and grew 177 acres

in the latest reporting period, with

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active fire behavior including backing,

flanking and isolated torching.

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Residences and energy infrastructure

are threatened there, with area,

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road and trail closures in effect.

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Wyoming.

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The Moonshine Fire on the High

Desert District, 17 miles southwest

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of Wheatland, is 7,325 acres and 61

percent contained, with minimal fire

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behavior and residences threatened.

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Containment is estimated for September 30.

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That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.

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New episodes drop Monday through

Friday in the 5:00 AM hour P.T.,

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so the day starts with

clarity instead of catch-up.

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