WV and National Disaster News - April 20, 2022

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WEST VIRGINIA
 
COVID
WV Daily COVID Update & News for April 20, 2022 (WV DHHR) - There have been 3 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 6,807 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are currently 459 active COVID-19 cases statewide.

• Gov. Justice warns against residents skipping second covid booster shot (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Another incentive to encourage booster doses under study (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• WV Public Transportation agencies respond to federal mask mandate on public transportation (MetroNews-Radio)
• Lawsuit: Hospital director fired after virus patient concern (WOWK-TV)

 
MEDICAL

• Governor Justice slams VA for possible hospital cuts (WDVM-TV)
• W.Va. Mental Health Providers Hopeful For New, Sustainable Funding Model (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• Program Aims to Address Nursing Shortage in West Virginia (U.S. News & World Report)
• West Virginia has a $99 million settlement in hand, so where does the money go? (MetroNews-Radio)

WEATHER

• Eastern Panhandle work crews flip from patching potholes to snow removal (WCBC-Radio)

• Counties To Jointly Fund Emergency Radio System (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
• McKinley talks infrastructure with West Virginia mayors (The Weirton Daily Times)
• U.S Customs facility opens at WV International Yeager Airport (WSAZ-TV), also see: MetroNews-Radio

NATIONAL NEWS

COVID

• New CDC team: A 'Weather Service' to forecast what's next in pandemic (Washington Post) 
• With Joy and Fear, Americans Watch Sweeping Mask Rules Vanish (New York Times)
• Moving beyond masks: Biden toils to put pandemic behind him (Yahoo News)
• Mixed messages after public transportation mask mandate lifted (NBC News)
• Unvaccinated Kids Bore Brunt of Omicron Wave, CDC Report Says (Bloomberg)
• Biden Administration 'Likely' to Appeal Ruling Ending Mask Mandate (Newsweek)
• Investigation alleges FEMA is mismanaging COVID-19 program (Spectrum News 1)

WEATHER

• Power outages hit thousands across New York, PA after spring snowstorm (USA Today)
• Climate change fueled extreme rainfall during the record 2020 hurricane reason (WAMU)
• 'Wall of fire' forces evacuations near Arizona tourist town (Associated Press), also see: NBC News
• Hundreds of thousands lose power as nor'easter dumps snow from West Virginia to New England (USA Today), also see: Fox Weather   
• Another Strong Spring Storm With Severe Weather and Snow Targets the Plains Beginning Friday (The Weather Channel), also see: AccuWeather
• Do you need special flood and sewer insurance? Here's how to tell. (Washington Post)
• FEMA's new flood insurance system is sinking waterfront homeowners (Grist) ​