WV and National Disaster News - February 15, 2023

ReadyWV website contains references and/or hyperlinks to other websites (News Media & Other Sites) that are not operated by or controlled by ReadyWV. These have been included for information purposes only and do not imply affiliation with or endorsement by ReadyWV. ReadyWV gives no guarantees and accepts no liability for the content, use and availability of these 3rd party websites.​

WEST VIRGINIA
 
COVID
WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for February 15, 2023 (WV DHHR) - There have been four deaths reported since the yesterday's report, with a total of 7,917 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are currently 908 active COVID-19 cases statewide.

• Active cases of COVID-19 top 900 again in West Virginia  (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• West Virginia Governor Jim Justice under fire for his use of COVID-19 money  (WCBC-Radio)

 
Brush Fire & Fire Risk Advisory

• Crews on scene of working brush fire near Salem  (The Exponent Telegram)
• NWS issues special weather statement about fire risk again in West Virginia, Kentucky  (WCHS-TV)

 
Infrastructure

• Feasibility study presented to Lewis Commission on sewer line project (The Weston Democrat)
• Sewer project, county coordinator among Brooke Commission's topics  (The Herald-Star) 

Train Derailment

• State of Emergency plan enacted in West Virginia after Ohio train derailment (WTRF-TV)
• Animals are sick and dying after Ohio train derailment (WTRF-TV)
• Chemical plume from Ohio train derailment continues to move toward Huntington, DEP says levels significantly below level of concern  (MetroNews-Radio)
• NTSB Looking at Overheated Wheel Bearing in Tain Derailment Investigation  (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
• W.Va. Officials Monitor Ohio River Water Supply   (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• After the Ohio Train Derailment: Evacuations, Toxic Chemicals and Water Worries (New York Times)

 
Water Advisory

• 'Do not consume order' remains in effect in Fort Gay  (WSAZ-TV)

• New Data Shows Emergency Pandemic Aid Helped Keep 18 Million Students Enrolled (Forbes)
• What happens to COVID vaccines and drugs authorized for emergency use when health emergency ends? (Los Angeles Times)
• Do Repeat COVID Infections Increase the Risk of Severe Disease or Long COVID? (Scientific American)
• New COVID-19 omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 sweeping the nation, making up majority of cases (WFTS)
• Three years into the pandemic, nursing home residents are still in Covid's crosshairs (Politico)
• Federal workers not entitled to COVID hazard pay -U.S. appeals court (Reuters)

 
Weather

• Springlike Warmth Threatens Records This Week (Weather.com)
• Nearly 400,000 Florida households receiving FEMA assistance to recover from Hurricane Ian (WGCU Public Media), related news: WBBH News 2 
• Hurricanes Ian and Nicole Left Devastating Flooding in Central Florida. Will it Happen Again? (Inside Climate News)
• FEMA Cuts First Check For Las Vegas, New Mexico Water Supply Restoration  (Patch.com)
• Poloncarz meets with Biden, asks for blizzard to be considered a 'major disaster' (Buffalo News NY)
• Se​cond of back-to-back storms brings severe threat to South (Fox Weather)

​