Tropical Storm Bertha targets upper Texas coast after Louisiana landfall; West Virginia in search and rescue under statewide emergency; wildfires hold at Preparedness Level 5
Episode 220 •
23rd July 2026 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
Tropical Storm Bertha moves toward a second landfall on the upper Texas coast after coming ashore in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, with tropical storm alerts stretching to Sargent, Texas. West Virginia remains in search and rescue under a 55-county state of emergency with more than 300 National Guard personnel deployed. The nation holds at wildfire Preparedness Level 5 as Level 3 evacuations expand around Oregon’s Akawa Butte Fire, California’s Little Fire reaches 40 percent containment, and Superior National Forest fires continue in Minnesota. Also today: CISA adds Check Point and SharePoint flaws to the KEV catalog, the State Department renews its Worldwide Caution, ERCOT sets a record above 90,000 megawatts amid extreme heat, and a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens in Milwaukee County ahead of the August 31 assistance deadline. 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
• Tropical Storm Bertha: Second landfall expected on the upper Texas coast this evening after Wednesday’s Louisiana landfall; flooding rain and storm surge are the main threats, with a Tropical Storm Watch to Sargent, Texas, and warnings along coastal Louisiana.
• West Virginia flooding: Statewide emergency for all 55 counties; about 310 National Guard deployed, dozens of water rescues, record crest on Sand Run near Buckhannon, and the response still in search and rescue.
• Wildfire posture: National Preparedness Level 5, rare for July; expanded Level 3 evacuations on Oregon’s Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters; Little Fire in California 40 percent contained with evacuations lifted; three large fires active on Minnesota’s Superior National Forest.
• Cyber: CISA adds actively exploited Check Point SmartConsole and Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities to the KEV catalog; patch or mitigate promptly.
• Travel security: State Department Worldwide Caution renewed; U.S. citizens abroad advised of possible airspace closures and travel disruptions tied to Middle East tensions.
• Lifelines: ERCOT sets an all-time demand record above 90,000 MW amid extreme heat with adequate capacity reported; scheduled power interruptions on Saipan today and Friday.
• Recovery deadlines: FEMA Disaster Recovery Center open in Milwaukee County; Wisconsin Individual Assistance application deadline is August 31, 2026.
Tropical Storm Bertha is the top story this morning.
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Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon near the Biloxi Wildlife management area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and is now moving west along the northern Gulf coast toward a second landfall on the upper Texas coast later today.
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As of early this morning, the center sits about 95 miles southeast of Lake Charles, moving west at 13 mph.
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A tropical storm warning is in effect westward to Cameron, Louisiana and a tropical storm watch extends to Sargent, Texas.
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Flooding, rain and storm surge remain the primary threats.
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At the same time, West Virginia is in active search and rescue after catastrophic flash flooding across the northern part of the state, with a statewide emergency declaration in effect and more than 300 National Guard personnel deployed.
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On the wildfire front, the National Interagency Fire center is operating at National Preparedness Level 5, the highest level on the scale raised Wednesday.
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Reaching PL5 in July is historically rare.
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Year to date, firefighters have responded to more than 40,900 fires that have burned about 3.9 million acres nationally.
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Major evacuation activity continues in central Oregon, with additional fires drawing resources in California and northern Minnesota.
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In cyber and travel security, CISA adds two vulnerabilities to its known exploited vulnerabilities a check point smart console improper authentication flaw and a Microsoft SharePoint deserialization flaw.
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The State Department also issued an updated worldwide caution on Wednesday, advising US Citizens abroad to exercise increased vigilance amid heightened tensions in the Middle east and the potential for airspace closures and travel disruptions.
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Let's run through the states.
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south of Pleasanton holds at:
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Evacuation orders that covered thousands of residents have been lifted.
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One firefighter sustained minor injuries in an engine rollover and has been released from the hospital.
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The cause remains under investigation.
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Louisiana Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon in St. Bernard Parish and continues west across the coastal parishes.
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GOATSEP has the State Emergency Operations center activated on 24 hour operations and the state supplied thousands of sandbags to Orleans Parish while coordinating with the Sewage and Water Board and levee authorities on drainage pumps and flood forecasting.
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Governor Landry says the risk to most of Louisiana is minimal, but warns of coastal flooding as the storm exits the state.
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Minnesota the July lightning incident Fires continue on the Superior National Forest.
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The Sioux Fire stands at roughly 12,354 acres and 17% containment, with portions burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Wilderness and GO Evacuation status along portions of the Echo Trail.
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The Campfire near Winton is at about 4,402 acres and 23% containment and the Little Knife Fire, which crossed from Ontario, is mapped at about 4,598 acres on the US side with minimal activity.
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Oregon the Ocawa ButteFire, 13 miles northeast of Sisters is near 20,000 acres at 3% containment.
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The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office elevated more areas to Level three Go now.
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Evacuation Wednesday afternoon as thunderstorm winds drove rapid shifts in fire direction and evacuations at various levels are in place in both Deschutes and Jefferson counties, including areas just outside Sisters city limits.
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A community meeting is set for 6:30pm tonight at Sisters High School with a livestream available.
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South Dakota Official update published one day A federal disaster designation covering three counties for straight line wind damage allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to extend emergency loans to affected producers.
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Producers in the designated and contiguous counties should contact their local FSA office for eligibility and deadlines.
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Bertha's center is expected to reach the upper Texas coast this evening with the track bringing the center toward the Brazos river area between Houston and Angleton.
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A tropical storm watch extends to Sargent and the main risks are flooding, rain, storm surge, gusty winds and rip currents.
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The storm arrives on top of an extreme heat event.
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Large parts of the state remain under extreme heat warnings or advisories through today with Houston area heat indices of 110 to 115.
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ERCOT set a new all time demand record this week, topping 90,000 megawatts Wednesday afternoon and reports adequate generating capacity to meet demand.
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West Virginia Governor Morrissey's state of emergency for all 55 counties remains in effect after flash flooding inundated homes and businesses in north central West Virginia, with Upshur, Lewis and Pleasants counties among the hardest hit.
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About 310 National Guard personnel are deployed, including helicopter units, and the Division of Natural Resources reports dozens of water rescues.
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Portions of Interstate 79 and U.S. step Route 48 closed at the height of the flooding and sand run near Buchanan crested at a record 10.63ft.
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The response remains in the search and rescue phase.
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Wisconsin Official update published 1 day ago A FEMA disaster recovery center is now open in Milwaukee county at the Northwest Health center on West Mill Road, serving survivors of the April 13 to 23.
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Storms and flooding centers are also operating in Marathon, Brown and out Agami county areas.
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Let's run through the territories Northern Mariana Islands the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation announces scheduled power service interruptions on Saipan for today and Friday, July 23rd and 24th for system work.
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Customers in affected villages should plan for outages during the posted windows.
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All other territories and the District of Columbia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
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New episodes drop Monday through Friday in the 5am hour PT, so the day starts with clarity instead of catch up.
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