WV and National Disaster News - January 12, 2021

1/12/2021

West Virginia

· COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice: All eyes on West Virginia as 100% of vaccines received to date in arms or scheduled to be administered (West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services)

· West Virginia breaks new grim record for virus cases, deaths (AP)

· Governor Explains How West Virginia Became a Top State for Covid Vaccine Administration (NBC Bay Area)

COVID-19

· Emergent Biosolutions CEO gives assessment on Operation Warp Speed (CNBC)

· Biden gets second dose of Pfizer vaccine (CNBC)

· U.S. Daily Covid Vaccinations Rise by Record 1.25 Million (Bloomberg)

· U.S. reports deadliest week yet in fight against COVID-19 (CBS News)

National News

Trump approves D.C. emergency declaration ahead of Biden inauguration

The Hill reports President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Washington, D.C. on Monday, citing the “emergency conditions” surrounding President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Politico reports the order allows DHS and FEMA to assist the city in any emergency response. Fox News reports the order states, "Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 100 percent Federal funding."

The Washington Post reports before his resignation announcement Wolf extended the National Special Security Event (NSSE) period to begin Wednesday instead of Jan. 19. A NSSE designation allows the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI and FEMA to work together to secure certain areas that may be targets for violence. Newsweek reports Wolf said, "Our federal, state, and local partners will continue to coordinate their plans and position resources for this important event." The New York Times reports that up 15,000 National Guard troops will deploy to the nation’s capital and set up checkpoints in the city to avoid the botched response that helped rioters overrun the Capitol last week.

Climate change is responsible for billions of dollars in flood costs, study says

CBS News reports a new study by Stanford University shows increased flooding specifically linked to climate change cost the U.S. $199 billion between 1988 and 2017. Two recent disasters that made up the vast majority of economic flood damage include 2017's Hurricane Harvey, which cost the U.S. a staggering $125 billion, and the historic 2019 Midwest floods which devastated the heartland and cost around $3 billion. The article reports the mechanism behind why climate change is causing more extreme floods is very straightforward: a warmer ocean and atmosphere provides more energy to fuel more extreme weather systems.

WV and National Disaster News - January 12, 2021

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