The Emergency Management Network Podcast

EMN Media Podcast | Featuring Jeremy GreenbergArtificial intelligence is changing how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. But with all the excitement surrounding AI, one important question remains: Are we solving real emergency management problems, or are we simply chasing the latest technology?In this episode of EMN Media, host Todd T. DeVoe, CEM, sits down with Jeremy Greenberg, President of Provincial Strategies, Senior Advisor to Aspen Digital, and former FEMA Director of Response Operations and Chief of the National Response Coordination Center, to explore AI's evolving role in emergency management.The conversation centers on the AI for Disasters and Emergencies (AIDE) Initiative, a collaborative effort involving the Markle Foundation, Aspen Digital, and RAND that examined approximately 1,800 technologies to better understand how AI can support disaster operations.Todd and Jeremy discuss the opportunities and challenges of bringing AI into emergency management, from improving situational awareness and processing large amounts of information to overcoming organizational barriers and ensuring technology serves the people making critical decisions.They also explore the growing demands placed on emergency managers as disasters become more complex and technology advances at an unprecedented pace.But one message stands above the rest: AI may help us make faster, better-informed decisions, but it cannot replace an emergency manager's experience, judgment, and leadership.This episode goes beyond the hype to examine what AI can realistically deliver, where its limitations remain, and how emergency management professionals can prepare for a future in which technology and human judgment must work together.Because at the end of the day, technology is a tool. People make the difference.Links AIDE Website: https://www.aideinitiative.org/AIDE Playbook: https://www.aideinitiative.org/playbook/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Episode DescriptionWhat if the key to building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities isn’t another seawall, a bigger emergency operations center, or more concrete, but the relationships we build in everyday places?In this episode of EMM Hope, hosts Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky welcome Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich, author of the new book Beyond Common Ground: How Everyday Places Solve Big Social Challenges, published by the University of California Press.Dr. Aldrich challenges conventional thinking about how communities prepare for and respond to crises. Rather than focusing exclusively on physical infrastructure, he explores the power of social infrastructure—libraries, parks, community centers, neighborhood gathering spaces, and even radio programs—to strengthen social connections, build trust, and help communities confront some of society’s most difficult challenges.Drawing on examples from Japan, Philadelphia, and Africa’s Sahel region, Dr. Aldrich demonstrates how investments in relationships and shared spaces can help reduce disaster vulnerability, prevent crime, and counter violent extremism.For emergency managers, community leaders, and anyone interested in resilience, this conversation raises a fundamental question:Are we investing enough in the people and places that hold communities together before disaster strikes?Because when disaster happens, the first person to help you probably won’t be a government official. It will be someone who knows your name.Show NotesThe Power of Social InfrastructureIn this conversation, Todd DeVoe, Andrew Boyarsky, and Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich explore the often-overlooked connections between everyday community spaces, social capital, and resilience.Topics We Explore1. Beyond Concrete and SteelWhy social infrastructure deserves as much attention as traditional investments in physical infrastructure, and why stronger communities require more than buildings, roads, and emergency equipment.2. The Importance of Social CapitalHow trust, relationships, and community networks influence disaster survival, emergency response, and long-term recovery.3. Japan’s Ibasho CentersHow elder-led community spaces demonstrate the importance of social connections, particularly among older adults living in communities exposed to tsunami hazards.4. Greener Neighborhoods, Safer CommunitiesWhat Philadelphia’s neighborhood greening initiatives reveal about the relationship between shared spaces, neighborhood investment, and crime reduction.5. Radio as a Resilience ToolHow community broadcasting in Africa’s Sahel region can help counter extremist recruitment, strengthen local relationships, and create opportunities for community engagement.6. A Polysolution Approach to Complex ProblemsHow a single investment in social infrastructure can help address multiple challenges, including climate change, public safety, social isolation, and disaster resilience.7. Lessons for Emergency ManagersWhy building relationships before a disaster may be just as important as developing response capabilities, and how emergency managers can incorporate social infrastructure into preparedness and mitigation strategies.Questions for the Conversation* What exactly is social infrastructure, and why should emergency managers care about it?* How does social infrastructure differ from social capital?* Are we spending too much on physical infrastructure while overlooking the relationships that help communities survive?* Can a library, park, community center, or radio program actually save lives during a disaster?* What can American communities learn from Japan’s Ibasho centers?* How do we measure trust and relationships when our profession is accustomed to measuring equipment, staffing, and capabilities?* What can local governments do today to strengthen social infrastructure without significant new funding?* What is the one thing emergency managers should reconsider after reading Beyond Common Ground?About Our GuestDr. Daniel P. Aldrich is a professor, researcher, and internationally recognized scholar whose work focuses on social capital, disaster resilience, and community recovery.His research examines why some communities recover more effectively than others following disasters and how social relationships influence survival, recovery, and long-term resilience.His latest book, Beyond Common Ground, expands this conversation by examining how everyday gathering places help societies address challenges extending far beyond natural disasters.Featured BookBeyond Common Ground: How Everyday Places Solve Big Social Challenges* Author: Daniel P. Aldrich* Publisher: University of California Press* Release Date: October 13, 2026* Length: 280 pages* ISBN-13: 9780520429765Closing ThoughtsWe spend a great deal of time in emergency management talking about infrastructure, capabilities, equipment, and plans. All of those things matter.But resilience is also built over coffee, in neighborhood parks, at community meetings, and through conversations between people who might otherwise never meet.The strongest communities aren’t necessarily those with the most resources. They may be the ones where people know, trust, and care for one another.Join Todd DeVoe, Andrew Boyarsky, and Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich for a conversation about the places that bring us together and why those connections may be among our greatest tools for confronting the challenges ahead.EMM Hope — Exploring the people, ideas, and connections that make communities stronger.Hashtags#EMMHope #DanielAldrich #SocialInfrastructure #CommunityResilience #EmergencyManagement This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

THE EMN DAILY NEWS | Thursday, 1 October 2026The OverviewFlood watches across Texas and Oklahoma; FY27 starts on a CRFlood watches cover southern Oklahoma and much of north and central Texas today as the remnants of Hurricane Polo move across the region, with flash flood warnings overnight around Wichita Falls and a watch running through Friday evening over the Hill Country counties still in Public Assistance recovery from the July floods. Fiscal year 2027 opens on a continuing resolution that runs through December 11, holding agencies at fiscal 2026 levels and permitting up to $26.37 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 58 incidents and 4,826 personnel, down 574 in a day, with no new large fires. Year-to-date fire counts were adjusted sharply upward to 62,218, moving the season from 124 to 134 percent of the ten-year average. Dome in Yosemite National Park reached 39 percent contained as a second California team mobilizes. For great insight from leading emergency managment professionals, visit EM Network on Substack. KEY TAKEAWAYSOklahoma and north Texas: The Norman forecast office holds a flood watch until 1 p.m. today for 25 Oklahoma counties and five northern Texas counties, with 2 to 4 inches likely and local amounts to 6 inches. Flash flood warnings ran overnight for Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park and Sheppard Air Force Base after 1 to 3 inches fell in short order.Central Texas: The Fort Worth office carries a flood watch through Friday morning across north central Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and McLennan counties, with 2 to 3 inches widespread and localized totals to 5 inches. The Austin and San Antonio office holds a watch until 7 p.m. Friday for Hill Country counties including Kerr, Bandera, Uvalde, Real, Edwards, Gillespie and Kendall, all of which carry open Public Assistance from the July declaration.Fiscal year: Agencies begin fiscal 2027 under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, signed September 2, which funds the government through December 11 at prior-year levels. The measure permits up to $26.37 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, with obligations charged against fiscal 2027 appropriations rather than treated as supplemental. Under a continuing resolution, agencies cannot start programs, projects or activities that were not already funded and active, which constrains new grant starts until a full-year bill passes.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We’ll see you in Long Beach!Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 58 incidents, 14 uncontained large fires, 1,641,606 acres and 4,826 personnel, a drop of 574, per the Wednesday situation report. Initial attack was light, with 91 fires and no new large incidents; one large fire was contained, and five complex teams were committed. The Northwest, Northern California and Southern Area each released more than 220 people in a single operational period.Reporting adjustment: Year-to-date fires rose from 57,521 to 62,218 in one reporting cycle, almost entirely in the Southern Area, which moved from 28,661 to 33,302. That shifts the season from 124 to 134 percent of the ten-year average for fire counts. The situation report attributes such changes to mapping or reporting adjustments rather than new activity, and a similar acreage swing last week reversed within days.California: Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 151 acres to 5,410 and jumped to 39 percent contained, up from 31, with 932 personnel and California Team 4 mobilizing. Costs stand at $24 million. Plaskett on the Los Padres National Forest is fully contained, and Timber holds at 88 percent with numerous structures still threatened.Northwest: Eight uncontained large fires and 2,186 personnel, down 239. Command on Little Giant transfers from Northwest Team 13 to Northwest Team 12 today, with the fire at 93 percent contained and structures still threatened. Sisi near Stehekin nearly doubled containment to 29 percent, with residences threatened.Recovery calendar: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 public assistance declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas, with economic injury applications open to June 1, 2027. Texas recently added Grimes, Live Oak, McMullen and Schleicher counties for Public Assistance, and its Individual Assistance request covering 30 counties remains pending.Fire weather: Breezy northerly winds in the Sacramento Valley and southern California ease this morning, but relative humidity of 10 to 15 percent persists with above-normal temperatures. In the southern Plains, breezy south winds of 10 to 18 miles per hour and minimum humidity of 25 to 35 percent create locally elevated conditions.SOURCESTexas and Oklahoma floodingNWS Norman: Flood Watch for 25 Oklahoma counties and five northern Texas counties, issued Oct 1 at 1:41 a.m. CDT until 1 p.m. CDThttps://govonestop.com/nws/oklahoma-texas-severe-flood-watch-effective-09302026-2341NWS Norman: Flash Flood Warning for Wichita County, Texas, issued Oct 1 at 2:57 a.m. CDThttps://govonestop.com/nws/texas-severe-flash-flood-warning-effective-10012026-0057NWS Norman: Flash Flood Warning for southeastern Archer and southern Clay counties, issued Oct 1 at 1:45 a.m. CDThttps://www.defconlevel.com/alert/2026-10-01-nws-noaa-weather-flash-flood-warning-issued-october-1-at-1-45am-cdt-until-october-1-at-4-45am-cdt-by-nws-norman-okNWS Fort Worth: Flood Watch through Friday morning for north central Texas, issued Sept 30 at 2:26 p.m. CDThttps://govonestop.com/nws/texas-severe-flood-watch-effective-09302026-1226NWS Austin/San Antonio: Flood Watch until 7 p.m. Oct 2 for Hill Country counties, issued Sept 30 at 9:52 p.m. CDThttps://govonestop.com/nws/texas-severe-flood-watch-effective-09302026-1952Federal fundingWhite House: H.R. 6500, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, signed Sept 2, funding agencies through Dec 11https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/09/congressional-bill-h-r-6500-signed-into-law/Congressional Research Service summary via Legis1: $26.37 billion permitted for the Disaster Relief Fund under the continuing resolutionhttps://legis1.com/news/fy2027-continuing-resolution-funds-agenciesOffice of the Texas Governor: four additional counties approved for Public Assistance, Individual Assistance request pendinghttps://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-approval-of-federal-disaster-assistance-for-four-additional-counties-following-summer-storms-and-floodingWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures and the California, Northwest and fire weather items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsr This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

FEMA has issued a formal definition of emergency management, calling it the strategic coordination of emergency services to protect life, property, and continuity of operations, and paired it with 12 coordination responsibilities that every FEMA component must now align its doctrine, training and publications to. Three Federal Register notices published yesterday reset the annual assistance numbers: Individuals and Households Program maximums rise to $44,800 each for housing and other needs, Serious Needs Assistance goes to $790, and the Public Assistance simplified procedures threshold moves to $1,093,800. Texas added four more counties for Public Assistance, while its Individual Assistance request for 30 counties remains pending. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 62 incidents and 5,400 personnel, down 297, and three new large fires in the Southern Area. Moisture from decaying Hurricane Polo brings wetting rain and localized flooding to the Southwest and Colorado today.The EMN Daily NEWS is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. For more detailed analysis of issues facing emergency management, subscribe to EM Network on Substack.KEY TAKEAWAYSFEMA doctrine: The definition came in a September memorandum from Administrator Cameron Hamilton, released September 22 during National Preparedness Month. It sets 12 coordination responsibilities running from capacity building through continuous improvement, alongside professional skills covering command and coordination, consequence analysis, planning, decision-making under pressure, technical writing and after-action analysis. FEMA says the standard applies regardless of sector, and all components will update doctrine, policy, guidance, training, workforce materials and exercise products to match.Assistance thresholds: The new figures took effect with yesterday’s Federal Register notices and are indexed to a 2.9 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending August 2025. The Individuals and Households Program caps at $44,800 for housing assistance and $44,800 for other needs assistance. Serious Needs Assistance is set at $790. The Public Assistance simplified procedures threshold rises to $1,093,800.Texas: The major disaster declaration for the July storms and flooding now includes Grimes, Live Oak, McMullen and Schleicher counties for Public Assistance, in addition to the 19 counties approved earlier. The state’s request for Individual Assistance covering 30 counties remains pending.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We’ll see you in Long Beach!Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 62 incidents, 15 uncontained large fires, 1,690,313 acres and 5,400 personnel, a drop of 297, per the Tuesday situation report. Initial attack was light, with 90 fires, three new large incidents, two large fires contained and five complex teams committed. Year to date, the country is at 57,521 fires and 8,565,689 acres, 124 and 141 percent of the ten-year averages.Southern Area: Fifty-five new fires and three new large incidents. Honey, nine miles southwest of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, on Bureau of Indian Affairs protection, is 333 acres and 80 percent contained, with active fire behavior and structures threatened. 3 Alpha Sierra, five miles west of Weston, Florida, is 330 acres and 16 percent contained. Stone Bridge near Wilburton, Oklahoma, grew to 45 acres with residences threatened.California: Timber on the Los Padres National Forest jumped to 88 percent contained, up from 77, with numerous structures still threatened and costs at $171.6 million. Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 178 acres to 5,259 acres, at 31 percent contained. Command on Plaskett transfers back to the local unit today.Northwest: Eight uncontained large fires and 2,425 personnel, down 163. Little Giant on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest rose to 91 percent contained with structures still threatened, and Northwest Team 12 is mobilizing. Three Queens holds at 33 percent contained with numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened.Recovery calendar: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas, with economic injury applications open to June 1, 2027.Fire weather: Breezy northerly winds develop in parts of the Sacramento Valley and southern California with relative humidity of 10 to 15 percent, creating elevated conditions. Downslope westerly winds are expected in north-central Montana east of the Divide. Moisture from decaying Hurricane Polo persists over the Southwest and Colorado with widespread wetting rain and local amounts near 3 inches, bringing areas of flooding.SOURCESFEMA doctrineFEMA, Administrator’s Corner: We Must Return to the Basics, A Definition of Emergency Management and Professional Framework, released Sept 22 (page could not be retrieved in this sweep; text supplied by the editor)https://www.fema.gov/about/administrators-corner/emergency-management-frameworkFederal assistanceFederal Register: Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program, published Sept 29https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/29/2026-19854/notice-of-maximum-amount-of-assistance-under-the-individuals-and-households-programFederal Register: Notice of Award Amount Adjustment for Serious Needs Assistance, published Sept 29https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/29/2026-19856/notice-of-award-amount-adjustment-for-serious-needs-assistanceFederal Register: Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts, published Sept 29https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/29/2026-19898/notice-of-adjustment-of-disaster-grant-amountsFederal Register: Notices of Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations and Related Amendments, March through August 2026, published Sept 29https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/29/2026-19857/notices-of-emergency-and-major-disaster-declarations-and-related-amendmentsOffice of the Texas Governor: federal disaster assistance approved for four additional counties, Individual Assistance request pendinghttps://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-approval-of-federal-disaster-assistance-for-four-additional-counties-following-summer-storms-and-floodingWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Tuesday, Sept 29, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures and the Southern Area, California and Northwest items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsr This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

THE EMN NEWS DAILY BRIEF | Tuesday, 29 September 2026Hawaii County has shifted from response to damage assessment after Hurricane Nolo and is asking residents and businesses to file damage reports through separate residential and commercial forms. Governor Josh Green has identified roughly $686 million in damage and recovery costs from the state’s first four disasters of 2026, before Nolo, which was the season’s seventh tropical cyclone. In the Northeast, Rhode Island Energy restored all 50,000 customers it lost in under 48 hours, and PSEG Long Island reported more than 128,000 cumulative outages, with more than 99 percent restored by late Monday. The nor’easter produced an 81-mile-per-hour gust at Montauk Point and 6.3 inches of rain in southeastern Massachusetts. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 64 incidents and 5,697 personnel, down 306, while the Southern Area reported 63 new fires. CISA released nine industrial control system advisories last week. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHawaii assessment: Mayor Kimo Alameda said flooding remains the county’s biggest concern, particularly in Kau, where roads closed after overnight rain. Naalehu, Waiohinu and Pahala took the brunt of the rain and wind, the same communities Hurricane Lala hit in August. The three shelters opened in Naalehu, Pahala and Ocean View held 10 people Sunday morning and have since closed.Hawaii water system: Department of Water Supply crews are assessing the system for damage and connecting backup generators, and will notify customers when normal use may resume. Customers may see low pressure or intermittent service while conditions stabilize. The essential-use request remains in effect.Kauai deadlines: Hurricane Lowell recovery continues, with the Koloa hurricane resource center open today and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Households that lost food to power outages may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits. Real property tax exemption applications close tomorrow with no extensions. Owners of storm-damaged property have until June 30, 2027, to file for disaster tax relief.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We’ll see you in Long Beach!Nor’easter restoration: Rhode Island Energy deployed more than 270 crew members and field personnel, responded to more than 270 vegetation-related outages and over 150 wires-down 911 calls, and replaced 20 broken poles. Scituate, South Kingstown, Cumberland and Coventry were hardest hit. PSEG Long Island ran 16-hour shifts against more than 1,000 downed trees and 530 large branches.Coastal damage: Long Island is assessing steep erosion at Gilgo Beach, where the Army Corps of Engineers was already mobilized for sand replenishment. The stairs to the surf at Smith Point Park were destroyed, part of the Jones Beach fishing pier was knocked down, and the Jones Beach theater took significant damage with water reaching the orchestra seats. In Lindenhurst, floodwater surrounded homes for three days. Measured coastal inundation in New York City topped 2.6 feet.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 64 incidents, 17 uncontained large fires, 1,681,161 acres and 5,697 personnel, a drop of 306, per the Monday situation report. Initial attack was light at 89 fires, with one new large incident and five complex teams committed. Year to date, the country is at 57,339 fires and 8,563,287 acres, 124 and 142 percent of the ten-year averages.Southern Area: Sixty-three new fires, the most of any region by a wide margin, and one new large incident. Rafter 4B southeast of Eldorado, Texas grew 850 acres to 2,100 and rose to 50 percent contained, adding 114 personnel. Grover Bend, southeast of Benjamin, Texas, is 320 acres and 60 percent contained.California: Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 475 acres to 5,081, holding at 30 percent contained with costs at $19.9 million. Timber on the Los Padres National Forest rose to 77 percent contained, with numerous structures still threatened. Command on Plaskett, at 99 percent contained, transfers back to the local unit today.Cyber: CISA released nine industrial control system advisories on September 22, ICSA-26-265-01 through 09. The set covers the lwIP TCP/IP stack, Siemens Siveillance Control, Desigo CC, Industrial Edge Management, and OpenPLC Runtime v3.Fire weather: Abundant moisture from Hurricane Polo moves into the Southwest with widespread showers, scattered thunderstorms and localized flooding. Dry conditions and below-normal temperatures return to California, the western Great Basin, the Northwest and the northern Rockies.For more, visit emnetwork.substack.com and share this with a friend.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Monday, Sept 28, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures, the Southern Area and California items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiHawaii News Now: Hawaii County shifts to damage assessment, Mayor Alameda comments, shelter counts, Sept 27https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/27/hawaii-county-shifts-damage-assessment-hurricane-nolo-moves-away/Hawaii News Now: county asking residents and businesses to report storm damage, separate residential and commercial forms, Sept 29https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/29/hawaii-island-residents-businesses-urged-report-storm-damage-hurricane-nolo/Big Island Now: Department of Water Supply assessment and generators, shelter closures, Sept 28https://bigislandnow.com/2026/09/28/what-big-island-residents-need-to-know-wednesday-about-tropical-storm-nolo/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Governor Green’s $686 million accounting across the first four 2026 disasters, Sept 24https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/24/hawaii-news/new-storm-threat-to-isles-projected-to-become-a-hurricane/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: federal assistance approved, Nolo as the season’s seventh tropical cyclone, Sept 26https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/26/hawaii-news/federal-assistance-approved-as-hurricane-nolo-nears-hawaii/The Garden Island: Kauai County Lowell recovery, resource center hours, SNAP replacement, tax deadlines, Sept 27https://www.thegardenisland.com/2026/09/27/hawaii-news/county-update-nolo-next/East CoastRhode Island Energy: restoration complete, crew counts, outage and pole figures, Sept 28https://news.pplweb.com/Rhode-Island-Energy-restores-power-to-all-customers-following-September-noreasterThe Watchers: PSEG Long Island cumulative outages and restoration, Montauk gust, southeastern Massachusetts rainfall, New York City inundation, storm position Monday, Sept 29https://watchers.news/2026/09/29/noreaster-exits-after-days-of-heavy-rain-and-coastal-flooding-across-u-s-northeast/CBS New York: Long Island damage assessment, Gilgo Beach erosion, Smith Point, Jones Beach and Lindenhurst, Sept 28https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/noreaster-long-island-south-shore-lindenhurst-flooding/ABC7 New York: PSEG Long Island crew shifts, downed trees and branches, Sept 27https://abc7ny.com/live-updates/developing-noreaster-threatens-jersey-shore-long-island-coastal-flooding-rough-surf-strong-winds-accuweather-alert/19861959/entry/19880585/CISACISA Releases Nine Industrial Control Systems Advisories: ICSA-26-265-01 through 09, Sept 22https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISA/bulletins/42bfaa9CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21; no later additions located in this sweephttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Hurricane Nolo passed farther south than forecast and spared Hawaii Island the worst case, but flooded roads on the Big Island, prompted five high-water rescues Sunday and knocked out power on Oahu and Maui. A pre-landfall Presidential Emergency Declaration approved Friday covers four counties at a 75 percent federal cost share. On the East Coast, the nor’easter killed a New York City Housing Authority worker struck by a falling tree Saturday in Brooklyn, drove outages past 100,000 customers at their peak, and produced the worst coastal flooding since Sandy at two Jersey Shore tide gauges. New Jersey and New York both declared states of emergency before landfall. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 69 incidents and 6,003 personnel, down 305, and three new large fires, including one near Benton City, Washington, that destroyed seven structures. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHawaii outcome: Nolo tracked south of the main islands, with rainfall above 14 inches at the Big Island's highest elevations. Crews worked through Sunday on flooding, debris, high surf and wind. Highway 11 in Kau closed in multiple locations between Pahala and Waiohinu. Hawaii County Civil Defense is asking residents and businesses to report storm damage so agencies and nonprofit partners can assess unmet needs.Hawaii infrastructure: The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply asked customers in affected service areas to limit water to essential health and safety needs, citing power outages and possible damage to water system infrastructure. County solid waste transfer stations in Kauai stayed closed, and the Hele-On Route 90 run to Kona was canceled.Federal declaration: The pre-landfall declaration approved September 25 provides federal assistance for emergency protective measures in the City and County of Honolulu and Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties, including direct federal assistance, at a 75 percent federal cost share. The State Emergency Operations Center remains at Level 1 full activation with 24-hour staffing, coordinating with FEMA Region IX, the counties and utilities.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We’ll see you in Long Beach!Nor’easter toll: Outages ran past 100,000 customers across the Northeast at times Sunday, concentrated from New Jersey through Long Island and coastal Connecticut, and were down to roughly 40,000 by this morning. Major coastal flooding was reported at tide gauges from Delaware to Long Island, with two Jersey Shore locations reaching their highest levels since Hurricane Sandy.State declarations: New Jersey Executive Order 25 declared a state of emergency effective 5 p.m. Friday for Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties, activating the State Emergency Operations Center. New York declared a state of emergency for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester.Federal posture: FEMA reported that response coordination centers in the affected regions operated at an enhanced posture through the weekend, with teams on standby in New England in case of widespread outages.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 69 incidents, 16 uncontained large fires, 1,707,048 acres and 6,003 personnel, a drop of 305, per the Sunday situation report. Initial attack was light at 55 fires, with three new large incidents and five complex teams committed. Year to date, the country is at 57,223 fires and 8,562,096 acres, 124 and 142 percent of the ten-year averages.New large fires: Second Street, one mile southeast of Benton City, Washington, is 1,151 acres and 60 percent contained, with seven structures lost, extreme fire behavior and wind-driven runs, and threatened residences and energy infrastructure. Rafter 4B, southeast of Eldorado, Texas, is 1,250 acres with no containment. Stone Bridge, northeast of Wilburton, Oklahoma, is 130 acres and 60 percent contained with one structure lost.California: Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 245 acres to 4,606 but nearly doubled containment to 30 percent, with estimated containment pushed to October 17. Timber on the Los Padres National Forest rose to 71 percent contained, with numerous structures still threatened.Fire weather: Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms develop across the Southwest as moisture from Hurricane Polo moves north from off the Mexican coast. Heavy rain continues today in much of southern and eastern New England with strong northeast winds and coastal flooding. Winds slowly weaken in Hawaii as Nolo moves west away from the islands.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Sunday, Sept 27, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures, the new large fires and the California items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiOffice of the Governor: approval of pre-landfall Presidential Declaration for Hurricane Nolo, 75 percent cost share, State EOC at Level 1, Sept 25https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/office-of-the-governor-news-release-gov-green-announces-approval-of-pre-landfall-presidential-declaration-for-hurricane-nolo/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Nolo spares Big Island, outages on Oahu and Maui, five high-water rescues, damage reporting through Hawaii County Civil Defense, Sept 28https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/28/hawaii-news/nolo-spares-big-island-but-outages-hit-oahu-and-maui/Big Island Now: Department of Water Supply essential-use request, Highway 11 closure, transfer stations and Hele-On Route 90, Sept 27https://bigislandnow.com/2026/09/27/what-big-island-residents-need-to-know-wednesday-about-tropical-storm-nolo/The Weather Channel: Nolo intensity west of the islands and Big Island rainfall totals, Sept 28https://weather.com/2026/09/28/storms/hurricane/hawaii-hurricane-nolo-flooding-wind-forecastMaui News: federal declaration detail and Maui County emergency proclamation, Sept 26https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2026/09/federal-emergency-declaration-approved-ahead-of-hurricane-nolo/East CoastOffice of the Governor of New Jersey: Executive Order 25, state of emergency for eight counties effective 5 p.m. Sept 25https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260925a.shtmlNew Jersey Executive Order No. 25 (full text)https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/057sherrill/pdf/EO-25.pdfAssociated Press via NBC News: storm death, outage totals, FEMA enhanced posture and standby teams, updated Sept 28https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/storms/noreaster-flooding-death-toll-rcna600078FOX Weather live updates: major coastal flooding gauges from Delaware to Long Island, two Jersey Shore locations at worst since Sandy, current outage count, Sept 28https://www.foxweather.com/live-news/live-updates-deadly-nor-easter-floods-the-coast-as-dangerous-winds-whip-through-the-northeastThe Hill: New York and New Jersey emergency declarations, Hochul counties, Sept 25https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6112822-ny-nj-noreaster-declare-emergency/CISACISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21; no later additions located in this sweephttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog This is a public episode. 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THE EMN DAILY NEWS BRIEF | Friday, 25 September 2026Nolo became a hurricane Thursday night and is closing on Hawaii Island with 80-mile-per-hour winds, a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Hawaii County, a tropical storm watch for Maui County, and forecast rainfall of 15 to 30 inches on the eastern and southern Big Island. Hawaii County opens five more shelters this morning, and state and county offices, public schools and University of Hawaii facilities on the island are closed today. High wind warnings took effect at 8 a.m. for coastal Massachusetts and most of Rhode Island as the nor’easter strengthens, with coastal flood warnings up in southeastern Virginia. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 74 incidents and 6,824 personnel, down 520, and Northern California now reports no uncontained large fires. Correction: Thursday’s issue reported year-to-date acreage revised down to 8,096,338; today’s report puts it at 8,559,888, or 145 percent of average, so that drop was a reporting lag rather than a revision. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHurricane Nolo: The Central Pacific Hurricane Center put Nolo at 80 miles per hour at 11 p.m. Thursday, centered 240 miles south of South Point and moving north-northeast at 5 miles per hour. Hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from the center. Forecasters expect rapid intensification to a major hurricane Saturday, with a sharp turn west near the Big Island. Tropical storm conditions begin late Friday in the warning area, with hurricane conditions possible early Saturday.Hawaii operations: Hawaii County is opening five additional shelters this morning. Governor Josh Green closed state and county offices, Department of Education schools and University of Hawaii campuses on Hawaii Island Thursday and Friday. This is the state’s fourth tropical system of the season, after Lala in August and Lowell earlier this month, and Green put combined damage and planned resilience costs from the run of disasters above $1 billion.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We’ll see you in Long Beach!Nor’easter: The Boston forecast office issued high wind warnings for coastal and southeastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island except northwestern Providence County, running from 8 a.m. today to 2 a.m. Sunday, with northeast gusts of 45 to 60 miles per hour and 65 to 70 possible on the islands. Coastal flood warnings remain in southeastern Virginia with 2 to 3 feet of inundation forecast. Reporting from Norfolk describes repeated high tide cycles flooding roads and disrupting city operations, and Saturday’s full moon raises each successive tide.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 74 incidents, 26 uncontained large fires, 1,783,567 acres and 6,824 personnel, a drop of 520, per the Friday situation report. Initial attack was light, with 70 fires, one new large incident, two large fires contained and six complex teams committed. Year to date, the country is at 57,087 fires and 8,559,888 acres, 125 and 145 percent of the ten-year averages.California: Floriston near Truckee is fully contained, leaving Northern California with no uncontained large fires. Timber on the Los Padres National Forest gained 241 personnel to 920 with moderate fire behavior and uphill runs, and numerous structures and communication infrastructure remain threatened. Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 144 acres to 4,133 at 16 percent contained, with costs now at $13.8 million.Northwest: Thirteen uncontained large fires and 3,115 personnel, down 209, with precipitation over most of the Oregon and Washington incidents yesterday. Three Queens hold 9,551 acres and are 31 percent contained, with numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened.Southern Area: Thirty-one new fires and one new large incident. Lake Ranch, northwest of McAlester, Oklahoma, is 390 acres and 74 percent contained after wind-driven runs and torching.Fire weather: Southwesterly gusts to 40 miles per hour develop across northeast California, the northern Great Basin and southwest to central Montana, with minimum humidity of 10 to 20 percent from northern Nevada into central Montana and areas of elevated conditions. Wetting rain is expected from northern Idaho into western Montana.Federal assistance: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 public assistance declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas. Economic injury applications stay open to June 1, 2027.Cyber: No Known Exploited Vulnerabilities additions were located after Monday’s Zyxel GS1900 switch entry, CVE-2026-7273.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Friday, Sept 25, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures, the Northwest, California and Southern Area items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiHawaii News Now: Nolo now a hurricane, CPHC 11 p.m. Thursday position and intensity, warnings and watches, Sept 25https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/25/hurricane-nolo-strengthening-it-moves-slowly-toward-hawaii-island/Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Hawaii County to open five more shelters, Sept 25https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2026/09/25/hawaii-news/nolo-strengthens-as-it-nears-big-island-county-to-open-five-more-shelters-this-morning/The Garden Island: Governor Green closures for Hawaii Island, NWS Bravender comments, combined damage figure, Sept 25https://www.thegardenisland.com/2026/09/25/hawaii-news/tropical-storm-nolo-poses-hurricane-threat/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: watches, warnings and offshore hurricane warning, Sept 25https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/24/breaking-news/tropical-storm-nolo-strengthens-as-hurricane-warning-looms/CBS News: rainfall forecast and major hurricane timing, Sept 25https://www.cbsnews.com/news/storm-nolo-hurricane-hawaii/East CoastThe Watchers: NWS Boston/Norton high wind warnings 0800 EDT Sept 25 to 0200 EDT Sept 27, southeastern Virginia coastal flood warnings, Norfolk impacts, Sept 25https://watchers.news/2026/09/25/long-duration-noreaster-brings-coastal-flooding-to-virginia-threatens-northeast-us-with-damaging-winds-and-heavy-rain/The Weather Channel: nor’easter timeline and wind detail, Sept 25https://weather.com/2026/09/25/forecast/regional/noreaster-forecast-coastal-flooding-rain-wind-boston-mid-atlanticNBC News: coastal flooding 1 to 3 feet above high tide, wave heights, full moon Saturday, Sept 25https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/storms/rare-september-noreaster-set-to-slam-east-coast-rcna599592AccuWeather: mid-Atlantic to New England outlook, updated Sept 25https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/noreaster-to-bring-major-coastal-flooding-potential-for-hurricane-force-gusts-in-new-england/1937400CISACISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21; no later additions located in this sweephttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalogFederal assistanceFederal Register: SBA notice, Texas, FEMA-4935-DR amendment, published Sept 14https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/14/2026-18756/presidential-declaration-amendment-of-a-major-disaster-for-public-assistance-only-for-the-state-of This is a public episode. 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THE EMN NEWS DAILY BRIEF | Thursday, 24 September 2026Tropical Storm Nolo formed south of Hawaii on Wednesday, and a hurricane watch is in effect for Hawaii County, with a flood watch covering the Big Island and Maui County through Saturday evening. Forecast rainfall is 15 to 20 inches on Hawaii Island, with isolated totals to 35 inches, on ground already damaged by Hurricane Lala in August. A strengthening nor’easter is driving coastal flooding and gale-force marine winds from North Carolina to southern New England, with a wind advisory posted for the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware through Friday evening. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency Tuesday for 19 counties hit by flooding. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 87 incidents and 8,523 personnel, down 1,178 in a day. Year-to-date acreage was revised down to 8,096,338, or 137 percent of average, from 146 percent. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHawaii: Nolo was centered about 285 miles south of South Point late Wednesday with 50-mile-per-hour winds, crawling north at 2 miles per hour. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasts hurricane strength by Thursday night and possibly a major hurricane by the weekend, with the closest approach to the Big Island Friday into Saturday. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.Hawaii impacts: The state emergency management agency forecasts widespread totals of 15 to 20 inches on Hawaii Island, with isolated totals of 35 inches in the southeast; catastrophic flooding is possible Friday and Saturday, with life-threatening landslides in steep terrain. Maui could see 5 to 10 inches, with isolated totals of 20. Molokai, Lanai and Oahu could see up to 4 inches and Kauai up to 2. Peak storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above ground is possible on Hawaii Island at high tide.Nor’easter: The Mount Holly forecast office reports persistent northeast winds through at least Friday, sustained 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts to 50 on the New Jersey and Delaware Atlantic coasts, inland gusts to 35, gale-force winds across all coastal waters, and seas of 8 to 15 feet. A coastal flood advisory runs through tonight and a wind advisory through 6 p.m. Friday. The storm coincides with the full moon this weekend, which raises tide levels through successive cycles.Ohio: The state of emergency signed September 22 covers Athens, Clermont, Gallia, Greene, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross, Van Wert and Vinton counties. The proclamation directs state departments to provide services, equipment, supplies and personnel for cleanup.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 87 incidents, 30 uncontained large fires, 1,824,164 acres and 8,523 personnel, a drop of 1,178, per the Wednesday situation report. Initial attack was light, with 93 fires, one new large incident and six complex teams committed. The Northwest dropped to Preparedness Level 2.Acreage revision: Year-to-date acres fell from 8,554,955 to 8,096,338 in one reporting cycle, moving the season from 146 to 137 percent of the ten-year average. The change is a mapping and reporting adjustment, concentrated in Northwest Bureau of Land Management acres, not a correction to any single fire.Northwest: Thirteen uncontained large fires and 4,290 personnel, down 366, with no new fires. Wednesday’s report lists only area, road and trail closures on Three Queens, without the evacuations carried Monday and Tuesday. Sisi near Stehekin added 85 acres at 15 percent contained, with residences and energy infrastructure threatened.California: Northern California released 701 people in a day. Floriston near Truckee reached 96 percent contained, and Chileno in Marin County 85 percent. Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 263 acres to 3,683, holds at 15 percent contained, and carries 840 personnel and $8.4 million in costs.Southwest: Deep tropical moisture continues over eastern Arizona, New Mexico and southern Colorado with widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms. Predictive Services expects flooding near and east of the New Mexico central mountains today.Fire weather: Above-normal temperatures continue from the southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley, less extreme than recent weeks, with humidity near 30 percent in northeast Texas. A weak cold front brings scattered showers and thunderstorms to the northern Plains.Federal assistance: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 public assistance declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas. Economic injury applications stay open to June 1, 2027.Cyber: No Known Exploited Vulnerabilities additions were located after Monday’s Zyxel GS1900 switch entry, CVE-2026-7273. The most recent industrial control system batch remains the eight advisories of September 17.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily)https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiHawaii Emergency Management Agency, Tropical Storm Nolo updates: key messages and recommended actions, Sept 23https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/tropical-storm-nolo-updates/Hawaii News Now: hurricane watch for Hawaii County, flood watch through 6 p.m. Saturday, CPHC 8 p.m. HST position, Sept 24https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/24/tropical-storm-nolo-holds-expected-turn-northward-hawaii-county-under-hurricane-watch/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: CPHC forecast track and intensity, Sept 24https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/23/breaking-news/tropical-depression-may-grow-into-major-hurricane-near-hawaii-island/CBS News: Nolo forms, Big Island under hurricane watch, Sept 24https://www.cbsnews.com/news/storm-nolo-hurricane-hawaii/East CoastNWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly briefing: coastal flood advisory, wind advisory, marine conditions, 6:30 AM EDT Sept 24 (live PDF)https://www.weather.gov/media/phi/current_briefing.pdfThe Weather Channel: nor’easter timeline from North Carolina to New England, Sept 24https://weather.com/2026/09/24/forecast/regional/noreaster-forecast-coastal-flooding-rain-wind-boston-mid-atlanticAccuWeather: full moon tide amplification and New England wind threat, updated Sept 24https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/noreaster-to-bring-major-coastal-flooding-hurricane-force-gusts-in-new-england/1937400OhioOffice of Governor Mike DeWine: state of emergency for 19 counties, signed Sept 22https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-declares-state-of-emergency-for-several-ohio-countiesCISACISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21; no later additions located in this sweephttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalogCISA Releases Eight Industrial Control Systems Advisories: ICSA-26-260-01 through 07, Sept 17https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISA/bulletins/42b3c27Federal assistanceFederal Register: SBA notice, Texas, FEMA-4935-DR amendment, published Sept 14https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/14/2026-18756/presidential-declaration-amendment-of-a-major-disaster-for-public-assistance-only-for-the-state-ofWashington, California, New Mexico and ColoradoNICC situation report: Three Queens, Sisi, Dome, Floriston, Chileno and the Predictive Services discussion, Sept 23 This is a public episode. 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THE EMN NEWS DAILY BRIEF | Wednesday, 23 September 2026Two pilots were killed Sunday when a helicopter under contract to the Forest Service crashed on the Dome fire in Yosemite National Park. The national preparedness level dropped to 2 with 92 incidents, 31 uncontained large fires and 9,701 personnel, down 588 in a day. A flood watch runs from this afternoon through Saturday afternoon for Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and Hawaii Island as the remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E organize southeast of the state; the next central Pacific name is Nolo. Hurricane Polo is a Category 4 off southwestern Mexico with 150-mile-per-hour winds and outer rainbands reaching the coast. The Southern Area reported 43 new fires and one new large incident near Bastrop, Louisiana. Two to five inches of rain is forecast today across New Mexico and eastern Arizona. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSYosemite: The situation report opened with notice that both pilots aboard a Forest Service contract helicopter were fatally injured in an accident on the Dome fire on September 20. The fire grew from 373 acres to 3,420, remains 15 percent contained, and personnel rose by 203 to 784, with a California team assigned.Hawaii watch: The National Weather Service flood watch covers Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and Hawaii Island from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. Forecast totals vary widely by outlet, with the Fox Forecast Center putting localized amounts on the eastern Big Island at 12 to 18 inches and gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour on a close approach. The system is still a remnant low, and the track will not settle until it closes off.Hurricane Polo: The 1200 UTC intermediate advisory put Polo at 150 miles per hour and 922 millibars, drifting north at 2 miles per hour about 165 miles off Zihuatanejo. Winds peaked near 180 miles per hour Tuesday. Hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds 105 miles. The core is forecast to stay offshore while turning northwest.Wildfire posture: National Preparedness Level 2, down from 3, with 92 incidents, 31 uncontained large fires, 1,923,544 acres and 9,701 personnel, a drop of 588, per the Tuesday situation report. Six complex incident management teams remain committed, down from nine on Saturday. Year to date, the country is at 56,794 fires and 8,554,955 acres, 125 and 146 percent of the ten-year averages.Northwest: Thirteen uncontained large fires and 4,656 personnel, down 352. Three Queens near Snoqualmie Pass moved to 31 percent contained and released 110 people, and evacuations remain in effect with numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened. Border 2 in North Cascades National Park grew to 401 acres, reaching 9,108, and Sisi near Stehekin added 177 acres at 15 percent contained, with residences and energy infrastructure threatened.California: Floriston near Truckee is 85 percent contained, and 283 people were released. Chileno in Marin County is 75 percent contained at 341 acres, with structures threatened and estimated containment today. Timber, in the Los Padres National Forest, is 59 percent contained, with numerous structures and communication infrastructure threatened and $171.6 million in costs.Southern Area: Forty-three new fires, the most of any region. Round Prairie, eight miles northwest of Bastrop, Louisiana, is a new large incident at 739 acres and 60 percent contained after wind-driven and short crown runs. Gracemont in Oklahoma reached 90 percent contained with 31 structures lost. Mud Bayou in Texas is fully contained.Southwest monsoon: Southerly flow around the repositioned ridge draws another round of monsoonal moisture into New Mexico and eastern Arizona, with 2 to 5 inches of rain expected today. Burn scar drainages are exposed.Federal assistance: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 public assistance declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas. Economic injury applications stay open to June 1, 2027.Water systems: West Columbia, South Carolina, lifted its main break boil water advisory Tuesday evening. The Mississippi State Department of Health lists boil water notices issued September 21 in Lamar and Forrest counties, with several others rescinded September 22.Fire weather: Relative humidity falls to 35 to 40 percent across the lower Mississippi Valley with temperatures back into the low to mid 90s. West winds gust to 35 miles per hour through the Cascade gaps and the Columbia Gorge this afternoon. Northern California drops to 10 to 20 percent with poor overnight recovery.Cyber: No Known Exploited Vulnerabilities additions were located after Monday’s Zyxel GS1900 switch entry, CVE-2026-7273. The most recent industrial control system batch remains the eight advisories of September 17.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Tuesday, Sept 22, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for the Yosemite helicopter accident notice and all fire figures.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiHawaii Emergency Management Agency flood watch, quoted by FOX Weather: Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and Hawaii Island, Wednesday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, Sept 23https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/flood-watches-issued-tropical-depression-fifteen-e-redevelops-threatens-hawaii-rare-direct-landfallHonolulu Star-Advertiser: Hawaii island and Maui County under flood watch as system nears, Sept 23https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/23/hawaii-news/hawaii-island-maui-county-under-flood-watch-as-growing-storm-nears/The Garden Island: news briefs, formation chances and the name Nolo, Sept 23https://www.thegardenisland.com/2026/09/23/hawaii-news/news-briefs-for-wednesday-september-23-2026/Eastern PacificHurricane Polo Intermediate Advisory Number 11A: NHC, 1200 UTC Sept 23, NHC text via Cape Weather mirrorhttps://capeweather.com/hurricane-polo-public-advisory-number-11a/Hurricane Polo Advisory Number 11: NHC, 0900 UTC Sept 23https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/text/refresh/MIATCPEP2+html/212339.shtmlCBS News: Polo peak intensity near 180 mph, tropical storm warning Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, Sept 23https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-polo-category-5-mexico-life-threatening-flooding/CISACISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalogCISA Releases Eight Industrial Control Systems Advisories: ICSA-26-260-01 through 07, Sept 17https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISA/bulletins/42b3c27Federal assistanceFederal Register: SBA notice, Texas, FEMA-4935-DR amendment, published Sept 14https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/14/2026-18756/presidential-declaration-amendment-of-a-major-disaster-for-public-assistance-only-for-the-state-ofSouth CarolinaCity of West Columbia: boil water advisory lifted, Sept 22https://westcolumbiasc.gov/boil-water-advisory-9-22-2026-lifted/MississippiMississippi State Department of Health water safety notices: Lamar and Forrest counties issued Sept 21, several rescinded Sept 22https://msdh.ms.gov/page/23,0,148.html This is a public episode. 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THE EMN DAILY NEWS | Monday, 21 September 2026Tropical Storm Fay peaked at 70 miles per hour overnight, just short of hurricane strength, and is now weakening about 405 miles southwest of the Azores with no hazards to land. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center gives the remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E a 60 percent chance of becoming a depression within seven days, possibly south or southeast of Hawaii later this week. National Preparedness Level 3 holds with 96 incidents and 10,886 personnel, down 437 in a day, and uncontained large fires fell from 46 to 34. The Southern Area carries more incidents than any other region, 36, as hot and dry conditions persist across the Lower Mississippi Valley. Boil water advisories are in effect in three states, including all of Monroe County, Indiana, and most of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHawai’i watch: As of Sunday’s outlook, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center puts formation chances for the remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E near zero through 48 hours and at 60 percent over seven days as the system moves west to west-southwest. A depression could form south or southeast of the Hawaiian Islands once conditions improve. No watches are posted, keeping the first half of the week as the preparation window.Atlantic: Fay reached 70 miles per hour at the 0300 UTC advisory, then weakened to 65 miles per hour and 997 millibars by 0900 UTC, drifting south-southeast at 2 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center expects Fay to become post-tropical in a day or two and to dissipate by Saturday. No hazards affect land.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 3 holds with 96 incidents, 34 uncontained large fires, 1,999,381 acres and 10,886 personnel, a drop of 437, per the Sunday situation report. Initial attack was light, with 60 fires and no new large incidents, and eight complex incident management teams remain committed. Year to date, the country is at 56,525 fires and 8,541,715 acres, 125 percent and 146 percent of the ten-year averages.Southern Area: Thirty-six incidents and 1,038 personnel, down 157, after 26 new fires. Dry River near Sonora, Texas, is 8,939 acres and 85 percent contained, with energy infrastructure threatened. Gracemont near Binger, Oklahoma, has destroyed 31 structures on 2,665 acres and is 60 percent contained. Relative humidity of 20 to 30 percent persists across the Lower Mississippi Valley.Northwest: Fourteen uncontained large fires, 5,050 personnel and five complex teams. The situation report no longer lists evacuations on Three Queens or Goat; Three Queens, near Snoqualmie Pass, is 9,566 acres and 23 percent contained, with numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened. Border 2 in North Cascades National Park grew 345 acres, and Sisi near Stehekin is 15 percent contained, with residences and energy infrastructure threatened.California: The dome in Yosemite National Park grew 198 acres to 2,384 and remains 15 percent contained, with 525 personnel. Command on Timber was set to pass Sunday from Southwest Team 1 to California Team 6, with the fire at 25,435 acres, 59 percent contained and $169.9 million in costs. Floriston near Truckee moved from 25 to 45 percent contained and released 100 personnel.Rocky Mountains: Moonshine near Wheatland, Wyoming, is 7,325 acres and 61 percent contained, with residences threatened. Swiss Roll near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is 36 percent contained, with energy infrastructure threatened. Rain fell Saturday over Davis Coulee and Sand Creek in Montana, where Sand Creek is 58 percent contained.Water systems: City of Bloomington Utilities issued a precautionary boil water advisory for all of Monroe County, Indiana, early Sunday after turbidity exceeded the permitted maximum, running through 3 p.m. today. Kalamazoo, Michigan, expects to lift its advisory today if Monday samples come back clean; it covers 19 of 22 city neighborhoods and Portage north of Interstate 94. Salemburg, North Carolina, restored service Saturday evening, but its advisory remains in effect.Federal assistance: SBA physical damage deadlines for the September 1 public assistance declarations close November 1 in Colorado and South Dakota and November 2 in Missouri and Texas. Economic injury applications stay open to June 1, 2027.Cyber: The most recent Known Exploited Vulnerabilities additions, posted this morning, are Friday’s three Linux kernel entries, remediated by federal civilian agencies under Binding Operational Directive 26-04.Fire weather: Wet thunderstorms bring up to about an inch of rain to eastern Montana, Wyoming and the High Plains. Relative humidity drops to 7 to 18 percent across Nevada, the Mojave Desert and the Central Valley, with light winds; gusts of 25 to 30 miles per hour are likely along the Front Range and eastern Sierra.Tropical weatherTropical Storm Fay Public Advisory Number 7: NHC, 0300 UTC Sept 21Tropical Storm Fay Public Advisory Number 8: NHC, 0900 UTC Sept 21Tropical Storm Fay Forecast/Advisory Number 8: NHC, 0900 UTC Sept 21Central Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook: CPHC, 200 AM HST Sept 20, formation chance 60 percent in 7 daysCentral Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook: CPHC, 800 AM HST Sept 20Wildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report: Sunday, Sept 20, 2026, 0730 MDTNICC Predictive Services discussion: Sept 20CISAKnown Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog: CVE-2025-39682, CVE-2025-39964 and CVE-2026-53266 added Sept 18; no later additions located in this sweepBinding Operational Directive 26-04: Prioritizing Security Updates Based on RiskFederal assistanceFederal Register: SBA notice, Texas, FEMA-4935-DR, amended incident period July 12 through August 4, published Sept 14Federal Register: SBA notices for Colorado FEMA-4944-DR, South Dakota FEMA-4938-DR and Missouri FEMA-4939-DR, published Sept 9 to Sept 14Texas and OklahomaNICC situation report: Dry River, Hydra, Gracemont and Calvary Creek, Sept 20Washington and OregonNICC situation report: Three Queens, Goat, Sisi, Border 2 and Little Giant, Sept 20CaliforniaNICC situation report: Dome, Timber, Plaskett and Floriston, Sept 20Wyoming, Colorado and MontanaNICC situation report: Moonshine, Swiss Roll, Davis Coulee and Sand Creek, Sept 20IndianaThe Bloomingtonian: City of Bloomington Utilities countywide boil water advisory, Sept 20Indiana Public Media: precautionary boil advisory for Monroe County, Sept 20MichiganThe Detroit News: Kalamazoo boil water advisory could end Monday, Sept. 20North CarolinaWRAL: Salemburg boil water advisory remains in effect, updated Sept. 20Links that need a note:* Advisory 8 has no NHC link. Both Fay advisory 8 products came through news-site mirrors of the NHC bulletin text, not nhc.noaa.gov, so I’ve marked them.* Two links are live pages. The situation report and one Central Pacific outlook link are overwritten with each new issue. After today they will show newer content than what the brief cites.* The CISA links are lost. I pulled the September 18 CISA alerts yesterday, but those links didn’t carry over. A search just now couldn’t recover them.* Three Federal Register links are lost. The same happened to the Colorado, South Dakota and Missouri notices. I’ve marked all of these as missing rather than rebuild addresses from memory.Tropical weather* Fay Public Advisory 7, NHC: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/200841.shtml* Fay Public Advisory 8, NHC text via Index-Journal mirror: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/hurricane/tropical-storm-fay-public-advisory-number-8/article_9a48d4f1-d16c-5f75-923d-febd44f298cf.html* Fay Forecast/Advisory 8, NHC text via Cape Weather mirror: https://capeweather.com/tropical-storm-fay-forecast-advisory-number-8/* Central Pacific outlook, 200 AM HST Sept 20 (live page, overwritten): https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/HFOTWOCP.shtml* Central Pacific outlook, 800 AM HST Sept 20: https://www.nhc.noa… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe