WV and National Disaster News - February 13, 2023

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WEST VIRGINIA

COVID
WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for February 13, 2023 (WV DHHR) - There have been six deaths reported since the Friday's (1/10/2023) report, with a total of 7,910 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are currently 780 active COVID-19 cases statewide.

COVID Funding

• West Virginia's Surplus Tax Revenue, COVID Dollars Come Under Scrutiny  (Daily News-Record)

Flooding

• Caldwell Tunnel closed due to flooding  (WVNS-TV) 

• WVU Medicine Children's leader speaks on medical community's opposition to vaccine exemption bill in state Senate  (Yahoo News)
• Local doctors and health care officials speak out against child vaccination bill  (My Buckhannon)
• About Face: WVU Medicine relaxing masking policy  (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• Federal Health Care Funding Sent To Support Rural Centers, Scientific Research -  (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• Funds awarded to WV university-based research centers  (WBOY-TV) 

Infrastructure & Energy

• 6 West Virginia utility projects receive funding  (WBOY-TV)
• A blue hydrogen hub could be in store for West Virginia  (WTAP-TV) 

Train Derailment & Water Quality

• W.Va. American Water monitors water quality along Ohio River following train derailment  (WCHS-TV)

Weather

• Snowy conditions lead to multiple reported crashes in Mercer, Tazewell Counties  (WVVA-TV)
• DOF warns West Virginians about burning in dry, windy weather  (WDVM-TV) 

NATIONAL NEWS

COVID

• COVID test kits, treatments and vaccines won't be free to many consumers much longer (WHYY)
• New York state ends COVID mask mandate in health care facilities (CBS News)
• COVID-19 made pulse oximeters ubiquitous. Engineers are fixing their inaccurate readings of patients who have darker skin tones (NPR)
• Opinion: COVID, Hurricane Sandy and a future without 'health care heroes' (The Hill)

Weather

• Severe weather, tornado threat to build in southern US this week (AccuWeather)

Disaster Recovery

• Finding higher ground: Local movement seeks to tackle housing recovery in Eastern Kentucky (Claiborne Progress)
• Hopkins County to receive federal funding for tornado clean-up cost (Messenger-Inquirer)
• As FEMA aid window closes, funding complication remains (Spectrum News – Florida)
• 7,644 Florida households approved for flood insurance policies as part of disaster assistance (Isurance News Net)

 
Other

• Eastern Kentucky's food crisis is on a 'pendulum swing.' What's behind the deepening issue? (Lexington Herald Leader)
• OIG Finds Failings with FEMA's COVID-19 Response, Project Airbridge (Homeland Security Today) ​