WV and National Disaster & Weather News - March 14, 2025

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West Virginia

Flood Recovery

• Disaster Assistance Approved in First 4 Counties; FEMA Moving In (WV Public Broadcasting) -  “Flood victims who registered damages through a state survey still need to register directly with FEMA."
• HUD leaders get a close​r look at McDowell County flood damage (WVVA) - “Right now federal funding from FEMA is only available for individual assistance but county leaders say they need more."
• FEMA assistance climbs to over $6.3 million (Bluefield Daily Telegraph, paywalled)
• D-SNAP available in 4 counties declared Major Disaster (WVVA) - The USDA's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is now open those affected by mid-February floods in four West Virginia counties - Mercer, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming.

 
Weather

• Tracking the threat of severe weather this weekend (WTAP)
• Dry, warm weather heightens risk of spring forest fires in West Virginia (WCHS TV)

National News

Disaster Recovery 

• 'It's like roulette': Pinellas hotel owner concerned over abrupt deadline for FEMA housing help (WFLA News 8 – Florida) 

FEMA Funds

• FEMA sued over hold on funds for upgrading nation's emergency alert system (Associated Press)
• US public broadcasting entity sues FEMA over emergency alert funding freeze (Reuters) 
  
• United Way seeks community support to unfreeze FEMA funds (KNDO News 23- Washington State)
  
• FEMA wants the names and addresses of migrants helped by Texas nonprofits and local governments US public broadcasting entity sues FEMA over emergency alert funding freeze (Reuters)

National Fire Academy Funding

Former West Virginia emergency services director reacts to federal fire training academy cancellation (WBOY News 13) - The country's preeminent federal fire training academy canceled classes, effective immediately, on Saturday amid the ongoing flurry of funding freezes and staffing cuts by President Donald Trump's administration.

“The National Fire Academy is a powerhouse for the fire service," said Marc Bashoor, a former Maryland fire chief and West Virginia emergency services director with 44 years of fire safety experience. “It's not a 'nice to have.' It is the ONE avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other. If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy."  

Travel

• Passengers evacuate burning plane at Denver airport (AccuWeather) 

Weather

• 'High risk' severe weather, tornado outbreak targets 30 states through Sunday (AccuWeather), 
• Severe Weather Outbreak Hauls Threats of Strong, Long-Tracked Tornadoes, 70 To 90 MPH Wind Gusts, Large Hail (Weather Channel)
• Mega storm to create blizzard conditions in north-central US (AccuWeather)
• High winds to hike wildfire threat with southern Plains as epicenter (AccuWeather)​ 

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