WV and National Disaster & Weather News - January 15, 2025

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West Virginia​ ​

Weather

• West Virginia Winter Storm Watch in Effect Thursday: Snowfall Up to 10 Inches Expected in Higher Elevations (Country Herald)
• New year, same climate disasters and enemies of the environment (West Virginia Watch) 

Wildfires

• WVU paleoclimatologist predicts California fires will become 'more extreme, more frequent, more widespread' (YubaNet) 

National News
 
California Wildfires

• Death toll climbs to 25, firefighters make progress on Palisades fire (AccuWeather)
• FEMA centers open amid anxiety over recovery from the Eaton, Palisades fires (LA Times)
• A good Samaritan bravely rescued a woman and her 4 dogs from their burning neighborhood – VIDEO (AccuWeather)
• California Democrat hits FEMA over assistance claim denials: 'That's not right' (The Hill)
• Officials provide clarity after fire relief applicants receive FEMA response saying 'not approved' (ABC News)

Hurricane Helene Recovery

• FEMA: East Tenn. Helene victims moving into temporary housing (WJHL News)
• Struggling Helene survivors face uncertain future amid FEMA's changing housing deadlines (WLOS News)

Public Health

• High levels of respiratory illness reported across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware (ABC News)
• See Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel where you live (CDC) – go to link and select your state and county. That easy!

• Intense Santa Ana winds resume around Los Angeles (AccuWeather)
• Snowy and icy conditions for millions likely to unfold across eastern US (AccuWeather)
• Lake-effect snow to ramp up as Arctic air surges over Great Lakes this week (AccuWeather)

Other

• New NOAA dataset to help improve flood mitigation tools, flood-risk assessment (Phys.Org)
• FEMA's National Preparedness Report Highlights Mass Care Services, Public Information and Warning, Infrastructure Systems and Cybersecurity for a Resilient Nation (North America Today)
• As Los Angeles​-area wildfires rage, Trump homes in on a FEMA administrator (NBC News) - Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, is at the top of Trump's list of potential FEMA nominees, three sources told NBC News.