WV and National Disaster News - August 22, 2023

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​WEST VIRGINIA
 
Fire Department Re-opens

• Smithers Fire Department to reopen after 'restructuring' shutdown  (WOWK-TV) 

• Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses on the rise in W.Va.  (WSAZ-TV)
• Nicholas County Schools to hold public comment period before choosing on future building plans (MetroNews-Radio)
• Nicholas County Board of Education continues to push forward on new school proposals  (WCHS-TV)

 
Water Safety

• Paden City Residents Told to Avoid Using Tap Water  (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register),
• West Virginia residents demand answers after they have been under a do not use order for City's water for almost a week  (WTRF-TV)

 
NATIONAL NEWS
Disaster Recovery Issues

• GAO Finds Disaster Recovery Grants for Homeowners are Subject to Fraud (Homeland Security Today)
• Islands Have a Disaster-Response Problem (The Atlantic) 
• Legal experts refute rumors about FEMA aid and eminent domain (Hawaii Public Radio) – signing up for FEMA Assistance does NOT allow them to take control of your private property.

• Floods Regularly Cost the U.S. Billions in Damages. Fewer People Are Buying Flood Insurance (The Wall Street Journal)

• Tropical activity heats up in busy Atlantic as NHC tracks 3 storms, 2 disturbances (Fox Weather), related news: Houston Chronicle 
• Tropical Storm Hilary threatens Oregon, Idaho after soaking Southern California, Nevada (The Hill), related news: Reuters
• Wildfires, hurricanes, and heat: The U.S. is getting hit by extreme weather from all sides (NBC)

 
Wildfires

• 5 'surprising' areas where wildfire risk is rising (The Hill)
• 850 people believed to be missing in Maui wildfires (NBC News)
• Biden returns from Maui after viewing Lahaina wildfire devastation (CBS News)
• Biden promises to assist survivors for 'as long as it takes' as death toll hits 115 (The Independent)
• Wildfire near Atco Dragway spreads to 1,500 acres, is 75% contained: N.J. Forest Fire Service (WHYY)

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