The Emergency Management Network Podcast

Today’s EM Morning Brief covers a multi-day severe weather outbreak across the central United States, including an EF-2 tornado in Ottawa, Kansas that triggered a state disaster emergency, and widespread wind and flood damage across Wisconsin and Michigan. We cover the Cheboygan Dam flood response, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Silver Springs, Nevada, continued evacuations at the Newman Drive Fire in Collier County, Florida, and the latest Kīlauea status from HVO. On the federal side, CISA adds two new vulnerabilities to the KEV catalog, the State Department updates travel advisories for Nigeria, Oman, Ethiopia, and parts of Colombia, and FEMA denies Colorado’s major disaster appeal. 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
• Severe weather outbreak: Multi-day threat of strong tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging wind from the southern Plains into the southern Great Lakes through April 16.
• Kansas disaster emergency: Gov. Kelly declares a state disaster emergency after Monday’s EF-2 tornado in Ottawa and Miami County damage; state EOC activated.
• Michigan flood response: Cheboygan Dam within inches of crest; SEOC activation extended; levee breach and a failed Alcona County dam prompt evacuations.
• Nevada earthquake: M5.7 near Silver Springs with 125+ aftershocks; light to moderate damage near Fallon; no major critical-infrastructure impacts reported.
• Florida wildfire: Newman Drive Fire at roughly 1,733 acres and 60% containment in Collier County; evacuations and smoke refuge remain active near Naples.
Sources
CISA
• CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog (Apr 14) — Microsoft Office RCE and Microsoft SharePoint Server improper input validation added to KEV.
• Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Full KEV catalog and remediation due dates.
FEMA
• FEMA Disasters and Declarations — Index of current and past federal disaster declarations.
• Colorado will not receive FEMA aid for last year’s fires and flooding — KUNC (Apr 14) — FEMA denial of Colorado major disaster appeal.
NIFC / InciWeb
• Incident Management Situation Report — Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 0730 MDT — National PL 2; 22 uncontained large fires; 11 new large incidents.
• InciWeb — Incident Information — Active wildland fire incidents, including the Newman Drive Fire.
USGS
• USGS Significant Earthquakes — 2026 — Catalog of significant events including the Silver Springs, Nevada M5.7.
• USGS Volcano Notice — Kīlauea, Apr 14, 2026 18:03 UTC — HVO status: episode 44 paused; episode 45 forecast Apr 19–26.
• Kīlauea — Volcano Updates — HVO’s Kīlauea update landing page.
NOAA / NWS
• Storm Prediction Center — Day 1 Convective Outlook (Apr 14, 2026, 1300 UTC) — Severe weather outlook for the southern Plains into the southern Great Lakes.
Travel Advisories
• U.S. Department of State — Travel Advisories — Official advisory levels and updates.
• Updated advisories: Nigeria, Oman, Ethiopia and others (Apr 13–14) — Summary of Level 3 moves and broader advisory updates.
Florida
• Newman Drive Fire near Naples causes evacuations — NBC 6 South Florida — Fire acreage, containment, and evacuation areas.
• Evacuations remain as brush fire burns along I-75 — Fox Weather — Incident context and smoke impacts.
Kansas
• Gov. Kelly declares disaster emergency after storms, tornadoes — KCTV5 (Apr 14) — State disaster emergency for northeast Kansas; SEOC activated.
• Kelly issues disaster emergency for storm-hit areas — WIBW — Additional detail on the declaration and state support.
Michigan
• State Emergency Operations Center — Severe Weather Updates (Michigan State Police) — Statewide flood response activation and updates.
• Cheboygan Dam at risk as floodwaters rise — Detroit News (Apr 14) — Water level near dam crest; DNR pumps operating; hydro plant work underway.
• Whitmer extends emergency center amid rising water levels — CBS Detroit — Extension of SEOC activation; statewide flood impacts.
Nevada
• USGS: Magnitude 5.7 Quake Strikes in Nevada — Insurance Journal — Official magnitude, location, and aftershock guidance.
• Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits near Silver Springs — KRNV MyNews4 — Local damage reports and no major infrastructure impacts.
Wisconsin
• Tens of thousands without power after overnight storms — CBS 58 — We Energies outage totals and storm path.
• Heavy rain causes street flooding, evacuations in Clintonville — WBAY (Apr 14) — Flash flood warning for potential Big Falls Dam failure on the Little River.
Severe weather outbreak (multi-state)
• Multiple tornadoes hit Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin — The Watchers — Preliminary tornado and hail reports for April 13–14.
• Strong tornadoes, giant hail threaten Iowa to southern Great Lakes — The Watchers — April 14 severe weather redevelopment outlook.


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Today’s EM Morning Brief covers an active multi-day severe weather outbreak across the Southern Plains and into the Upper Midwest, with confirmed tornadoes in Kansas and Minnesota and an enhanced threat continuing through Tuesday. Emergency operations continue in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands under Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with a Presidential emergency declaration in effect. NIFC is at Preparedness Level 2, with active large fires on the Southern Plains and a growing wildfire near the Colorado–New Mexico border. USGS reports Kīlauea’s eruption paused, while three Alaska volcanoes remain at elevated alert levels. CISA adds a new Adobe Acrobat vulnerability to the KEV catalog, and CDC’s HAN on medetomidine in illicit fentanyl remains active. 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
* Multi-day severe weather outbreak is the top national concern, stretching from the Southern Plains into the Upper Midwest; confirmed tornadoes and damage reported in Kansas (Ottawa, minor injuries in Franklin County) and southern Minnesota late Monday, with tornado watches continuing through Tuesday across TX, OK, AR, MO, and WI.
* Excessive rainfall and flooding risk flagged by the National Water Center from the Texas Hill Country through the Great Lakes through mid-week.
* Super Typhoon Sinlaku remains the Pacific operational priority — Presidential emergency declaration in effect for Guam (signed April 12), Typhoon Warnings for Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and the Northern Islands, Tropical Storm Warning for Guam.
* Wildfire posture is elevated for April — NIFC at National Preparedness Level 2; active large fires include Buffalo Gap (SD, ~5,400 acres), Horny Toad (TX Panhandle), and Glen Ferris (WV).
* Early-season fire activity in the Southwest — Colorado fire near the NM border grew to ~450 acres; New Mexico maintains statewide fire restrictions banning prescribed burns, fireworks, campfires, and smoking on state lands.
* Volcanic activity — USGS reports Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu eruption paused after episode 44 (ADVISORY / YELLOW); Great Sitkin remains at WATCH / ORANGE; Shishaldin and Atka Volcanic Complex at ADVISORY / YELLOW.
* Cyber — CISA added a new Adobe Acrobat vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, triggering federal remediation timelines.
* Public health — CDC’s Health Alert Network advisory on medetomidine in the illicit fentanyl supply remains active guidance for EMS, EDs, and harm-reduction programs.
* Planned federal exercise — FEMA biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (PA/MD border); not an actual emergency.
* Water advisory — Precautionary boil-water notice for the Island of Rota (CNMI) tied to planned water system maintenance.
* Travel posture — U.S. State Department travel advisory posture remains elevated across multiple regions; operators with international deployments should re-check country-specific levels before travel.
Sources
NOAA / NWS / Storm Prediction Center
• SPC Convective Outlook — Daily severe weather outlooks covering the Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley tornado threat
• NWS Active Alerts — National map and feed of active watches, warnings, and advisories
• National Water Center — Flood and hydrologic outlook for Upper Midwest and Great Lakes
National Hurricane Center / NWS Guam
• NWS Guam / WFO GUM — Tropical cyclone warnings and advisories for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center — Central and Western Pacific tropical cyclone products
USGS — Earthquakes and Volcanoes
• USGS Volcano Notices (HANS) — Current volcanic alert levels and aviation color codes, including Kīlauea and Alaska volcanoes
• USGS Earthquake Map — Real-time global earthquake feed and magnitude filters
NIFC / InciWeb
• NIFC Situation Report — Daily national Incident Management Situation Report and preparedness level
• InciWeb Incident Information System — Current large-fire tracking, including Buffalo Gap and other active incidents
FEMA
• FEMA Press Releases — Disaster declarations, grants, and operational announcements
• FEMA Disaster Declarations — Searchable database of federal disaster and emergency declarations
DHS / NTAS
• National Terrorism Advisory System — Current DHS National Terrorism Advisory bulletin posture
CISA
• CISA News & Events — Advisories, alerts, and operational cybersecurity guidance
• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Current KEV catalog including newly added Adobe Acrobat vulnerability
CDC / Public Health
• CDC Health Alert Network — Current HAN advisories including medetomidine in illicit fentanyl
U.S. State Department
• Travel Advisories — Country-by-country travel advisory levels and recent updates
Colorado
• Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control — State wildland fire information and incident status
Kansas
• Kansas Division of Emergency Management — State emergency management updates and severe weather response
• NWS Topeka — Local forecast office warnings and confirmed tornado reports for eastern Kansas
Minnesota and Wisconsin
• NWS Twin Cities — Severe weather warnings and storm reports for southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Emergency Management — State severe weather response and county-level watches
New Mexico
• New Mexico Fire Information — Statewide fire restrictions, red flag warnings, and active incident updates
Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management — State emergency management severe weather response
• NWS Norman — Local forecast office tornado watches and warnings for central Oklahoma
Pennsylvania and Maryland
• FEMA Peach Bottom REP Exercise — Biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise notice
South Dakota
• South Dakota Wildland Fire — State wildland fire situation and incident resources
Texas
• Texas Division of Emergency Management — State severe weather and wildfire response updates
• Texas A&M Forest Service — Statewide wildland fire situation and active incident tracking
West Virginia
• West Virginia Division of Forestry — State wildland fire situation and active incident information
Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
• Guam Homeland Security / OCD — Territorial emergency management and typhoon response coordination
• CUC Public Advisories — Commonwealth Utilities Corporation notices, including Rota boil water notice
• NWS Guam Tropical Cyclones — Current warnings and advisories for Super Typhoon Sinlaku


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EMN Podcast Description
In this episode of The Emergency Management Network Podcast, Andrew Boyarsky sits down with Todd DeVoe to unpack a powerful and timely idea: the world is not falling apart; it is revealing itself.
Drawing from Todd’s latest article, the conversation explores how today’s risk environment is no longer defined by single incidents, but by a convergence of interconnected stresses across geopolitical systems, the economy, climate, technology, and public trust. What feels like instability is, in reality, a clearer picture of how fragile and interdependent our systems have always been.
Todd challenges the profession to rethink preparedness in a VUCA environment, where volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity demand adaptability over rigid planning. The discussion goes beyond traditional emergency management approaches and calls for a shift toward capability building, honest communication, and genuine whole-community engagement.
This episode is not about fear; it is about clarity. It is a conversation about leadership, responsibility, and what it really means to prepare communities for a future that will not follow the plan.
Show Notes
In this episode, Andrew and Todd explore the idea that what we are experiencing today is not a breakdown of systems, but a revelation of their true nature under stress. Multiple systems are being strained at the same time, from geopolitics and supply chains to climate extremes and cyber threats, and each one amplifies the others.
The conversation reframes how emergency managers should think about risk. Rather than planning for isolated hazards, the focus must shift to understanding interconnected threats and building systems that can operate under continuous pressure.
A central theme of the discussion is VUCA, a concept borrowed from the military that describes a world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Todd argues that while the term is widely used in emergency management, it is often misunderstood. It should not be used to explain why things are difficult, but to drive a fundamental shift in how preparedness is approached.
The episode also challenges a long-standing assumption in public communication: that emergency managers must avoid creating fear. Instead, Todd emphasizes that fear is not the real issue. Helplessness is. Communities can handle difficult truths when they are given clear information and meaningful ways to act.
Andrew and Todd discuss the implications for whole-community preparedness, arguing that it must move beyond messaging into a genuine partnership. When individuals understand their role and feel a sense of agency, they are far more likely to respond effectively during crises.
The conversation also addresses a difficult but necessary reality: the federal safety net is becoming less predictable. Emergency managers must begin preparing communities with this in mind, shifting the narrative from reliance on external assistance to building local capability and resilience.
The episode closes with a call to action. Preparedness is no longer about having the right plan on the shelf. It is about building adaptable systems, strengthening relationships, and leading communities through complexity with honesty and clarity.
Key Themes
Convergence of risk across multiple interconnected systemsVUCA as a framework for action, not just descriptionThe gap between planning and true capabilityThe danger of avoiding hard conversations with the publicWhole community as partnership, not messagingShifting from federal reliance to local resilienceLeadership in complexity and uncertainty
Episode Title Options
The World Isn’t Falling Apart… It’s Revealing ItselfVUCA Is Here, Now WhatPreparedness in a Converging Crisis EnvironmentFrom Plans to CapabilityLeading Through Complexity
Tags
Emergency Management, VUCA, Community Resilience, Leadership, Disaster Preparedness



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On today’s EM Morning Brief, Super Typhoon Sinlaku — a Category 5 storm with 175 to 180 mph winds — is bearing down on the Northern Mariana Islands with catastrophic conditions expected for Saipan and Tinian Monday night. Federal emergency declarations are in place for both Guam and the CNMI. On the mainland, a rare four-day severe weather outbreak continues to threaten Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas with tornadoes, large hail, and flash flooding. The National Weather Service in Hawaii has extended a statewide flood watch through Monday evening. FEMA has also approved major disaster declarations for Washington state and Oregon following last December’s devastating storms. 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.
Takeaways
Super Typhoon Sinlaku is making a near-direct strike on Saipan and Tinian (CNMI) with catastrophic Category 4–5 winds of 145–160 mph expected Monday night/Tuesday; Guam is in COR2 with government closed and shelters open
Federal emergency declarations are in place for both Guam and the CNMI, approved April 12
Multi-day severe weather outbreak (TX, OK, KS) is in day three of a four-day SPC-highlighted event — tornado, large hail, and damaging wind threats continue today, with flash flooding a compounding risk from saturated soils
South Dakota’s 79 Fire (Custer County, ~6,000 acres, 40% contained) prompted a governor’s emergency declaration; a separate First Alert Weather Day is in effect today for critical wildfire conditions statewide
FEMA major disaster declarations for Washington and Oregon (December 2025 storms) were approved April 11, unlocking individual and public assistance for dozens of counties
Hawaii is under a statewide NWS Flood Watch through 6 PM Monday — the third significant flood event in roughly a month
Kilauea is at ADVISORY/Yellow following the end of eruptive Episode 44; no new activity, monitoring ongoing
Washington state had an offshore earthquake swarm (18+ quakes, M4.2 max) near the Juan de Fuca Ridge on April 12 — no land threat, no tsunami
DHS NTAS has no active advisories as of this morning
Sources
FEMA
* President Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for Guam — FEMA, April 12, 2026
* President Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for CNMI — FEMA, April 12, 2026
* President Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Washington — FEMA, April 11, 2026
* President Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Oregon — FEMA, April 11, 2026
NOAA / NWS
* SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook — April 13, 2026
* NWS Honolulu — Active Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Hawaii
* Flood Watch Issued April 11, Extended to April 13 6PM HST — Maui County Alert
* Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas — Four-Day Severe Weather Outbreak (multi-source summary)
* Severe Storm Threat Targets Texas With Significant Flash Flooding — Waco Today, April 12, 2026
USGS
* USGS Volcano Notice — Kilauea, April 12, 2026
* Kilauea Episode 44 Photo/Video Chronology — USGS HVO, April 9, 2026
Guam
* JIC Release No. 9 — Guam Anticipates Tropical Storm Force Winds; Sinlaku a Super Typhoon; Shelter Update — GHS OCD
* CNMI and Guam Granted Federal Emergency Declarations as Super Typhoon Sinlaku Advances — Isla Public, April 13, 2026
* Super Typhoon Sinlaku Packing 175 mph Winds Heading Toward Northern Marianas — Isla Public, April 13, 2026
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
* CNMI Raised to Typhoon Condition II; Shelters Open Ahead of Sinlaku — NMI News Service
* Governor Apatang Advises Residents to Seek Safe Shelter — Kandit News Group
* Devastating Damage Possible: Super Typhoon Sinlaku Packing 180 mph Winds — Isla Public, April 13, 2026
Hawaii
* Flood Watch Extended for All Hawaiian Islands — Honolulu Today, April 11, 2026
* Hawaii Forecast: Flood Watch Into the Night for Kauai, Oahu, Maui County — Hawaii News Now, April 13, 2026
South Dakota
* Governor Rhoden Declares Emergency for 79 Fire in Custer County — KOTA TV, April 12, 2026
* 79 Fire Grows to Nearly 6,000 Acres, 40% Contained; Structures Threatened — KOTA TV, April 12, 2026
* First Alert Weather Day Monday — Higher-End Critical Wildfire Risk — KOTA TV, April 13, 2026
Oklahoma
* Multi-Day Severe Weather Threatens Oklahoma: Tornadoes, Flooding, Wind — ChaseDay.com
Oregon
* FEMA Approves Disaster Aid for Oregon After December 2025 Storms — Portland Today, April 11, 2026
* Trump Approves Disaster Requests for Washington, Oregon — The Columbian, April 12, 2026
Washington
* Washington State Approved for Major Disaster Declaration — Lynnwood Times, April 11, 2026
* Earthquake Swarm Hits Off Washington Coast — 18 Quakes in 12 Hours, Up to M4.2 — KOMO News, April 12, 2026
* Trump Approves Disaster Requests for Washington, Oregon — OPB, April 11, 2026


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Tropical Storm Sinlaku intensifies in the western Pacific as Guam declares Condition of Readiness 3 with a potential Category 3-4 typhoon landfall projected by Monday. FEMA faces a $10 billion disaster reimbursement backlog and internal readiness concerns ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. CISA and federal partners warn of ongoing Iran-linked cyberattacks targeting programmable logic controllers across government, water, and energy sectors, with a new Ivanti EPMM vulnerability added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. State-level updates include Colorado wildfire evacuations, a Kilauea volcanic eruption watch in Hawaii, Mississippi disaster designations, historic wildfires in Nebraska, and a boil water advisory in South Carolina. Full state-by-state coverage and sourced intelligence for emergency management professionals.
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.
Takeaways:
* Tropical Storm Sinlaku is projected to intensify into a Category 3 or 4 typhoon.
* The U.S. Coast Guard is actively coordinating a unified response across the Marianas region.
* FEMA faces significant challenges with disaster reimbursements amid the ongoing storm preparations.
* Communities throughout the nation are awaiting nearly $10 billion in disaster relief funding.
* Severe weather alerts have been issued for various regions, including heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
* Nebraska is experiencing historic wildfires, with the Morrill Fire having burned approximately 642,000 acres.
Sources
Guam / Northern Mariana Islands
• Guam Homeland Security — COR 3 Joint Information Center Release, April 10, 2026
• RNZ News — Tropical Storm Sinlaku strengthens, could hit CNMI as typhoon by Monday
FEMA
• WWNO/NPR — Communities waiting on billions in disaster funding, April 10, 2026
• WBUR Here & Now — FEMA worker says warning signs came early, April 9, 2026
CISA / Cyber
• ABA Banking Journal — CISA, federal agencies issue advisory on Iran-related cyberattacks
• The Hacker News — Iran-linked hackers disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure by targeting PLCs
• Qualys ThreatPROTECT — CISA added Ivanti EPMM CVE-2026-1340 to KEV catalog
• CISA — Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, April 8, 2026 addition
NWS / NOAA
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center — Day 1 Convective Outlook, April 10, 2026
Travel Advisories
• U.S. Embassy to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe — Travel Advisory update, April 8, 2026
Colorado
• CPR News — Mandatory evacuations ordered for wildfire near Carter Lake, April 8, 2026
Hawaii
• USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory — Kīlauea Episode 44 precursory activity notice, April 8, 2026
• Spectrum Local News Hawaii — Major disaster declaration request pending, April 3, 2026
Mississippi
• USDA FSA — FEMA designates 3 counties in Mississippi as disaster areas, April 9, 2026
Nebraska
• Governor Pillen — Emergency declaration for wildfires in central/western Nebraska
South Carolina
• Clean Air and Water — Berkeley County boil water advisory, April 9, 2026
U.S. Virgin Islands
• St. Thomas Source — WAPA major units offline, power rotations, April 2–9, 2026


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