WV and National Disaster & Weather News - March 11, 2025

West Virginia

Disaster Recovery for Floods

• Logan, Wayne counties now part of federal disaster declaration (WV Metro News) - Logan and Wayne counties join McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties approved for Individual Federal Disaster Aid. Related news:  WSAZ and WCHS
• The city of Pineville in Wyoming County opens a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (WVNS)
• Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers in McDowell County Tuesday (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Disaster Recovery Center opens in Mingo County to assist flood victims (WSAZ)
• West Virginia Opens Disaster Recovery Centers in Mingo and Wyoming Counties (WV News)
• West Virginia students affected by winter flooding make a return to school (WCHS)

Elkins Street Flood Issue

• Officials discuss Diamond Street flooding issues (The Inter-Mountain)

National News

 
FEMA

• How FEMA cuts are spreading far beyond Washington (NBC News) – Even though disasters are increasing, and FEMA is understaffed, cuts are being made.  A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that FEMA had a 35% gap in necessary staffing in 2022, and a heavy workload was leading to burnout and retention issues.  
• Emmitsburg's National Fire Academy becomes casualty of Trump administration's funding freezes (WBAL TV News) - Over the weekend, the Federal Emergency Management Agency canceled all classes until further notice.  Also see: Baltimore Sun/MSN 
• FEMA cancels ALL in-person National Fire Academy classes in Emmitsburg, disrupting travel, training (The Frederick News Post) - "This is the fire service's war college. This is where the fire service comes to get that high level of executive leadership, critical incident management that we cannot provide at the local or state level," said Ken Willette, executive director of North American Fire Training Directors.

Disaster Recovery

• ABC7 I-Team helps woman with collapsed roof, flooded basement get $3,400 FEMA payment after 2 denials (WLS ABC News 7)
• More area flood victims say their FEMA checks have been stolen (WJHL News 11 – Tennessee)

Tornado

• EF2 tornado touches down in Seminole County, Florida (AccuWeather)

 
Weather

• Cross-Country Storm Packs Potential Severe Thunderstorm Outbreak, Blizzard Conditions And High Winds (Weather Channel)
• Large severe weather outbreak looms for central US late week (AccuWeather)
• Mega storm to create blizzard conditions in north-central US (AccuWeather)
• Inches of rain, feet of mountain snow coming to California this week (AccuWeather)