Ohio flash flooding brings water rescues; wildfire preparedness holds at Level 5 with 75 uncontained large fires

EM Morning Brief · Aug 20, 2026 · 16m · transcript

Flash flood warnings and reported water rescues across central Ohio lead today’s brief, with the flooding threat shifting to the Philadelphia and New York City corridor by midday. The national wildfire picture holds at Preparedness Level 5 with 75 uncontained large fires and nearly 27,000 personnel committed, led by Washington’s Little Giant and Sinlahekin fires and new Level 3 evacuation orders in Oregon. Hawaii continues Lala recovery with roughly 17,600 customers still without power and new boil water notices in Kau, while a second Central Pacific system carries 90 percent formation odds…