As the hurricane season officially starts, President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and the majority of the Cabinet attend the critically important 2018 FEMA briefing.

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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT 2018 HURRICANE BRIEFING – FEMA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., 2:06 P.M. EDT [Transcript Link]

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I want to thank you. Great job, Brock. Really fantastic. Thank you very much. And we really appreciate the job you’ve done. It’s been amazing, and you really have kept quite busy, I would say, unfortunately. We had no choice. We were hit hard. But you’ve done a fantastic job. So I want to thank you very much.

ADMINISTRATOR LONG: Thank you.

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In the last several hours Tropical Storm Alberto has quickly gained strength.  Forecast track puts the storm coming ashore on the Florida Panhandle early tomorrow morning, Memorial Day. The Florida panhandle into much of Alabama and western Georgia can expect 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with isolated locations receiving as much as 12 inches. (NHC Advisory)

The Tennessee and Ohio Valley areas should pay close attention.

At 7:30 PM CDT (0030 UTC), the center of Subtropical Storm Alberto was located near latitude 28.4 North, longitude 85.7 West. The storm is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A northwest to north-northwest motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected overnight. A north-northwestward to northward motion is expected Monday through Wednesday.

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Nearly a week after the California wildfires began, the zone containing scattered fires has swollen to an area as wide as 100 miles. The flames have left at least 38 people dead and destroyed at least 5,700 homes and businesses, making them the deadliest and most destructive group of wildfires California has ever seen.

(Via ABC)  Rising winds fanned the California wildfires again Saturday, forcing hundreds more people to flee from their homes in the state’s fabled wine country and threatening to undo the efforts of crews who have spent days trying to corral the flames behind firebreaks.
Just a day after firefighters reported making significant progress, the winds kicked up and pushed flames into the hills at the edge of Sonoma, a town of 11,000. About 400 homes were evacuated in Sonoma and a portion of Santa Rosa that included a retirement community that evacuated earlier this week, authorities said.
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The storm surge in/around Biloxi Mississippi is rapidly increasing as fast moving Hurricane Nate comes ashore on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Overnight storm livestream from RSBN below:

At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Nate was located by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft and NOAA Doppler radar just offshore of the Mississippi coast near latitude 29.9 North, longitude 89.1 West. Nate is moving toward the north near 20 mph (31 km/h). A turn toward the north-northeast and northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.
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The time has passed for any coastal storm preparation.  Weather conditions will diminish rapidly over the next several hours.  Those in the immediate path should now be sheltering in place, stay inside, listen to local officials and prepare to remain in ‘hunker down mode’ for the next 12 hours.
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Nate was located near latitude 28.4 North, longitude 89.1 West. Nate is moving toward the north-northwest near 23 mph (37 km/h). A turn toward the north and a slight decrease in forward speed are expected during the next several hours, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast later tonight. A motion toward the northeast is expected on Sunday.

On the forecast track, the center of Nate will pass near or over the mouth of the Mississippi River during the next few hours, then make landfall along the coasts of southeastern Louisiana or Mississippi tonight. After landfall, the center of Nate is expected to pass over portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee late tonight through Sunday night.
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As expected Hurricane Nate has intensified since entering the Gulf of Mexico and is moving very quickly.  Nate is now a category one storm with a projection to increase in intensity prior to landfall tonight around New Orleans Louisiana.  NHC HERE

[Latest Warnings] At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Nate was located near latitude 26.6 North, longitude 88.4 West. Nate is moving rapidly toward the north-northwest near 26 mph (43 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through this evening. A turn toward the north is forecast tonight, followed by a turn toward the northeast. On the forecast track, the center of Nate will move across the northern Gulf of Mexico today and will make landfall along the central U.S. Gulf Coast tonight.
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Tropical Storm Nate is nearing hurricane strength and is anticipated to enter the Gulf of Mexico later tonight.  –National Hurricane Center Here–

• A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
• A Storm Surge Warning is now in effect east of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line.
• A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect east of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line.

Everyone in the narrow cone of probability (LA, MS, AL and FL) should begin immediately activating their hurricane plan. Tonight through mid-day (4pm) tomorrow is the open window for taking action and preparing yourselves.  Those further inland should also prepare for heavy rain, potential flooding and the probability of power outages.
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As anticipated, TD-16 has become Tropical Storm Nate and is likely to become Hurricane Nate in the next 24 hours.  U.S. residents in coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Northwest Florida should be paying attention to this storm.  Inland residents should also consider plan for wind, rain and storm impacts. –NHC Advisory HERE–

While the projected path is still uncertain, those in the coastal region would be wise to take inventory of storm supplies and review their 72 hour pre-storm preparedness plan. Be aware of the potential for storm fatigue, take an empowering breath, and evaluate.
Nate is forecast to pick up forward speed and is anticipated to move quickly overnight tomorrow (Friday).  You do not want to wake up Saturday morning in a reactionary posture.   Take prudent steps today (Thursday) to prepare and outline your goals, leaving yourself room tomorrow (Friday) to review the updated forecast and take preparatory action based on your specific needs.
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If you are in the gulf region of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Northwest Florida it would be prudent to keep an eye on this ‘tropical depression’.  TD-16 is anticipated to gain hurricane strength and will, unfortunately, move very fast once it enters the Southern Gulf of Mexico.  Preparatory action may be needed in 36 hours.
Evaluate your current storm supply needs; take a proactive inventory; make a list of possible replacements or enhancements you might deem necessary, and keep an eye on local and national forecasts. –National Hurricane Center HERE–
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CARIBBEAN SEA (NNS) — President Donald J. Trump visited the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Oct. 3, to discuss relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with Navy and Marine Corps leadership.  President Trump met with Governor Kenneth Mapp of the US Virgin Islands aboard the Kearsarge:

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Ward Room – USS Kearsarge – [Transcript] 2:54 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you very much. I wanted to begin by saying well be leaving tomorrow morning very early from the White House. Well be going to Las Vegas. We will be paying our personal respects and condolences to everybody.
What happened is such a tragedy. So unnecessary — who can believe what happened in Las Vegas. Great love for the people, great love for the people of our country, and I look forward to going tomorrow. The First Lady will be coming with me, and were going to be paying our respects and condolences. Well be leaving early in the morning.
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