WV and National Disaster News - August 29, 2023

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WEST VIRGINIA

Flash Floods

• Governor issues state of emergency after heavy rain, flooding (WOAY-TV)
• 'Where do we live now?' Clay county family deals with devastating flash flood aftermath  (WCHS-TV)
• Shelter to open for families impacted by Kanawha County flooding  (WOWK-TV)
• Winifrede Hollow residents say Monday's flash flooding is worse they've seen  (MetroNews-Radio)
• Kanawha County families react after flash floods hit the area  (WCHS-TV)
• Flood warning extended for some counties; damage assessment to begin Tuesday in Kanawha  (WCHS-TV)
• Flooded Communities Face Uncertainty With More Rain On The Way  (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• Officials: Kanawha dispatchers receive more than 700 emergency calls Monday morning  (WCHS-TV)
• 22 water rescues done during Kanawha County flooding (WOWK-TV), related news: WSAZ-TV

 
NATIONAL NEWS
 
Extreme Heat

• DHS touts federal funds available for communities affected by extreme heat (My High Plains (TX))

FEMA

• Audit: FEMA Misspent Nearly $27M in COVID Funeral Funds (Newsmax)
• FEMA announces almost $3 billion for climate resiliency (CNN)
• FEMA changes wildfire compensation rules for New Mexicans affected by last year's historic blaze (AP)

 
Flood Insurance

• Rising costs are forcing some homeowners to give up their flood insurance (Latest Finance News)

• 'We feel forgotten': Vermont flood victims navigate lengthy recovery (Scripps News)

Hurricane Idalia

• A New Threat on a Coast Ravaged by Hurricane Ian (New York Times)
• Double threat: Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Franklin lurk off southeast U.S. (CBS News)
• FEMA-funded Mental Health Hotline open ahead of Idalia (FOX 4)
• Living in a FEMA or state-funded home because of Ian? Here's what you need to do during Idalia (FOX 4)
• Florida's already-volatile insurance industry is bracing for Hurricane Idalia (CNN)

National Preparedness Month

• American Red Cross: Prepare for worsening extreme weather during National Preparedness Month (WRNJ (NJ))

Wildfires in Maui

• Lahaina wildfire recovery Day 20: land search is complete, survivors are no longer expected (Maui Now)
• Fake FEMA news conference took place in 2007, NOT during the recent Maui wildfires (AP) - Social media users are sharing an old news report about a fake FEMA press briefing and misrepresenting it as a recent event and falsely associating it with the current Maui wildfire. 

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