Shownotes
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, and more. 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
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Sources
FEMA
• FEMA press release — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260424/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-commonwealth
• Isla Public Radio — https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-04-24/trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-for-cnmi-after-sinlaku-destruction
• FEMA Disaster Declarations index — https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
• Whatcom County DAC — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260420/disaster-assistance-center-will-open-whatcom-county
DHS
• DHS NTAS — https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system
CISA
• CISA KEV catalog — https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA April 20 KEV alert — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/04/20/cisa-adds-eight-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA ICS Advisories index — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories
• CISA ICSA-26-113-06 — https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-113-06
NIFC and InciWeb
• NIFC IMSR — https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf
• NIFC National Fire News — https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
• InciWeb East Side Fire — 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
• NWS Active Alerts — https://www.weather.gov/alerts
• Cabarrus Weekly summary — https://cabarrusweekly.com/arkansas-memphis-and-shreveport-square-up-for-severe-weather-outbreak-friday-april-24-with-large-risk-zone/
• NWS Little Rock outlook — https://cabarrusweekly.com/all-severe-hazards-possible-as-scattered-strong-to-severe-storms-target-arkansas-friday-afternoon-into-friday-night/
• Watchers.news — https://watchers.news/2026/04/23/tornado-watch-issued-nebraska-iowa-missouri-higher-end-threat-expected-across-kansas-oklahoma/
USGS
• HVO Kilauea volcano updates— https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates
• USGS HVO notice 2026-04-23T19:07:34Z — 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 https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-23T20:33:52+00:00
• Honolulu Star- 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 — https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html
FDA and CDC
• CDC HAN Archive — https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/index.html
• FDA Recalls and Safety Alerts — https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
FAA
• FAA NAS Status — https://nasstatus.faa.gov/
Alaska
• AVO Great Sitkin notice — https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-04-23T20:33:52+00:00
Arizona
• FOX 10 Phoenix — 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 — https://cabarrusweekly.com/all-severe-hazards-possible-as-scattered-strong-to-severe-storms-target-arkansas-friday-afternoon-into-friday-night/
Florida
• News4JAX — https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/04/23/railroad-fire-holds-at-4406-acres-reaches-60-containment/
• First Coast News — 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 — https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-04-22/gov-kemp-declares-state-emergency-response-south-georgia-wildfires
• Georgia Forestry Commission — https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/
• ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/georgia-wildfire-destroys-dozens-homes-spreads-5000-acres/story?id=132268739
• WRDW — https://www.wrdw.com/2026/04/23/wildfires-continue-rage-georgia-state-gets-federal-help/
Hawaii
• Spectrum News Hawaii — 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 — 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
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
• FEMA press release — https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260424/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-commonwealth
• Marianas Press — https://marianaspress.com/news/article/breaking-trump-approves-cnmi-major-disaster-declaration-request
• ASPR HHS — 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
Transcripts
Good morning.
Speaker A: ,: Speaker A:President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Friday morning, unlocking federal individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation funding for thousands of residents whose homes were destroyed when Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck Saipan and Tinian between April 11 and 18.
Speaker A:The declaration covers the entire Commonwealth, including Saipan, Tinian Rota and the northern Islands, and authorizes FEMA to provide temporary housing, home repairs and direct federal assistance for restoring damaged public infrastructure.
Speaker A:A destructive tornado struck Enid, Oklahoma on Thursday evening near Vance Air Force Base.
Speaker A:The National Weather Service in Norman issued a Tornado emergency at 8:22pm CDT, only the ninth time the office has done so.
Speaker A:The Gray Ridge Estates neighborhood east of the base sustained heavy damage with homes flattened, and Vance Air Force Base announced early Friday it will remain closed until further notice while crews restore power and water.
Speaker A:At least 10 people were injured with no fatalities reported as of early Friday.
Speaker A:The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center at 111 W. Purdue Avenue and Oakwood Christian Church on North Oakwood Road also opened as a shelter.
Speaker A:The NOAA Storm Prediction center carries an enhanced risk for severe storms Friday across a broad zone from northeast Texas and the Ark La Tex through central Arkansas and into the Memphis Metro and the Missouri Boothiel.
Speaker A:All severe hazards are expected to, including supercell tornadoes, very large hail and damaging wind gusts as deep moisture surges north into an incoming frontal boundary.
Speaker A:A slight risk extends into surrounding portions of Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana.
Speaker A: large fires and approximately: Speaker A:The southern area remains the busiest in the country with 94 new fires reported in the previous operational period and 20 large fires uncontained.
Speaker A:Critical fire weather continues across the central and Southern Plains for April 24, with red flag warnings still posted in portions of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Speaker A: ngoing Halemaumau eruption at: Speaker A:Official Update published roughly 24 hours ago.
Speaker A:HVO lowered the volcano alert level for Kilauea from watch to advisory and the aviation color code from orange to yellow.
Speaker A:The next episode is expected once the summit reinflates in Alaska.
Speaker A:Great Sitkin remains at Watch Orange with slow lava effusion continuing in the summit crater.
Speaker A:CISA's April 20 Kev update reached its first federal remediation deadline on April 23 for three actively exploited Cisco, Catalyst, SD WAN manager flaws.
Speaker A:The remaining five additions remain due May 4.
Speaker A:CISA also released six new industrial control systems advisories on April 23 covering Intrado, Cross, Carlson Software, Hangzhou, Xiang Mai and other vendors.
Speaker A:The DHS National Terrorism Advisory System has no active bulletin.
Speaker A:Let's run through the states.
Speaker A:Alaska Great Sitkin remains at volcano alert level.
Speaker A:Watch and Aviation color Code orange as of April 23.
Speaker A:Slow lava effusion continues within the Summit Crater and seismic data over the past day recorded rock falls from the growing lava dome.
Speaker A: urrent eruption began in July: Speaker A:Arizona A precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for Dunny park northeast of Flagstaff, affecting roughly 6,000 to 9,000 residents after Arizona Public Service deactivated its public safety power shutoff on April 22.
Speaker A:The shutoff disrupted the high elevation pressurization that supplies the system, and Dunny Park Water has advised residents to use bottled water until the advisory is lifted.
Speaker A:Power was restored Wednesday evening to remaining customers.
Speaker A:Coconino county guidance remains in place.
Speaker A:Arkansas the full state is under an enhanced risk for severe storms Friday afternoon into the overnight hours, with the highest threat extending from Texarkana through Little Rock and northeastward toward Memphis.
Speaker A:The NWS Little Rock office indicates all severe hazards are possible, including supercell tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.
Speaker A:Florida the railroad fire in Clay and Putnam counties holds at approximately 4,406 acres and is now 65% contained as of the latest update.
Speaker A:Crews continue to improve fire lines and conduct mop up tactics on the southern end.
Speaker A:There are no new voluntary evacuations, but residents on Varney Road and Woodard Lane remain under voluntary evacuation.
Speaker A:The Florida National Guard has six rotary wing helicopters supporting Florida Forest Service operations across north and central Florida.
Speaker A:Georgia Two large wildfires continue to burn under Governor Kemp's state of emergency for 91 South Georgia counties.
Speaker A:The Pineland Road fire in Clinch and Echols counties has grown to approximately 29,606 acres at 10% containment.
Speaker A:The Highway 82 fire in Brantley county stands at approximately 4,438 acres and 15% containment, with 53 homes lost and an estimated 1,000 homes threatened.
Speaker A:Roughly 98% of Georgia is under moderate to exceptional drought and the Georgia Forestry Commission's first ever statewide mandatory burn ban remains in effect.
Speaker A:FEMA fire management assistance grants remain in place for both fires.
Speaker A: eruption at Kilauea ended at: Speaker A:HVO has dropped the volcano alert level from watch to advisory and the aviation color code from orange to yellow.
Speaker A:The episode produced an estimated 6.8 million cubic yards of lava covering about half of the Halemaumau crater floor.
Speaker A:The next episode is expected once summit reinflation thresholds are met.
Speaker A:Iowa at least five tornado warnings were issued Thursday afternoon and tornadoes were confirmed near Little Sioux and Riverton in southwest Iowa.
Speaker A:A semi was thrown by a tornado near 120th street and early Avenue north of Little Sioux.
Speaker A:Storms tracked east northeast across the state through the evening as part of the multi state outbreak.
Speaker A: effect Under Executive Order: Speaker A:The state Emergency Operations center remains activated.
Speaker A:High water levels continue to threaten dams and impede rescue and evacuation operations as snowmelt and rainfall continue across affected counties.
Speaker A: odge remains at approximately: Speaker A:Crews of approximately 100 personnel, two fixed wing aircraft and four helicopters are engaged.
Speaker A:Fire managers are watching incoming southwest winds that could gust to 50 mph from a cold front with a high probability of 2 or more inches of snow across Red Lodge by Saturday evening that could aid containment.
Speaker A:Lincoln County's major disaster declaration for December severe winter storms remains active.
Speaker A:Oklahoma the Enid tornado on Thursday evening prompted a tornado emergency near Vance Air Force Base.
Speaker A:The Gray Ridge Estates housing addition east of the base sustained major damage with at least 10 injuries reported and no fatalities confirmed as of early Friday.
Speaker A:Vance Air Force Base remains closed until further notice while crews restore power and water.
Speaker A:Only Mission Essential personnel are reporting for duty.
Speaker A:The American Red Cross is operating an evacuation center at 111 W. Purdue Avenue in Enid, and the Chisholm Trail Expo center on West Purdue Avenue is also serving as a shelter and assistance point.
Speaker A:Highway 81 remains closed in the damage corridor.
Speaker A:Severe weather risk persists Friday across portions of the state under the spc.
Speaker A:Slight risk Texas Northeast Texas, including the Ark La Tex and the Tyler area is included in the SPC Enhanced Risk corridor for Friday.
Speaker A:All severe hazards are possible, including the potential for strong tornadoes, very large hail and damaging winds as the system tracks east.
Speaker A:The Williamson county flash flood response from earlier in the week continues with the Central Bowie County Water Supply Corporation's Boil Water Advisory still in effect.
Speaker A: ,: Speaker A: ,: Speaker A: ,: Speaker A:All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
Speaker A:Territories Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands President Trump signed the CNMI Major Disaster Declaration Friday morning, covering the entire Commonwealth following Super Typhoon Sinlaku's 4-11-18 impact.
Speaker A:Federal assistance now includes individual assistance, public assistance with direct federal assistance and hazard mitigation.
Speaker A:Boil water notices remain in effect on Saipan and Tinian while the ROTA notice was lifted earlier this week.
Speaker A:Joint fema USACE recovery operations continue.
Speaker A:Guam the HHS public health emergency declared April 18 for Guam and CNMI in response to Typhoon Sinlaku remains in effect, providing operational flexibilities for the healthcare response and recovery.
Speaker A:All other territories in the District of Columbia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
Speaker A:That's your EM morning brief for Friday.
Speaker A:Stay safe.
