WV and National Disaster News - January 23, 2023

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WEST VIRGINIA
 
COVID
WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for January 23, 2023 (WV DHHR) – There have been six deaths reported since the Jan. 20^th Friday report, with a total of 7,808 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are currently 854 active COVID-19 cases statewide.
 
Health & Safety

• CDC Announces New Funding for High Obesity Program (Healthnews)
• West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio health-focused nonprofits can soon apply for grants of up to $50,000  (WKBN-TV)
• Whistleblowers protection bill follows alleged mistreatment of disabled people in state care  (The Register-Herald)

Infrastructure

• Millions in Harrison County (West Virginia) infrastructure projects underway with ARPA funds  (The Exponent Telegram)
• Water quality and quantity issues: Raleigh joins Mercer, Summers counties in pursuit of grants for regional project  (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• House Finance Committee seeks more information on DEP demolition program  (MetroNews-Radio)

Training

• A new police training academy opens in northern West Virginia  (Local Today)

NATIONAL NEWS

COVID

• FDA considers major shift in COVID vaccine strategy (NPR)
• Proposed bill would help small businesses affected by the pandemic  (WDTV)
• Members of the community hold day of COVID remembrance  (WTAP)

• Storm system threatens Northeast with heavy snow, rain (ABC News)
• Conditions Favorable for Midweek Snow In Northeast (Fox)
• FEMA head talks about storm recovery efforts in California (NPR)
• Three More Alabama Counties Eligible For Fema Aid For Storms (Associated Press), related news: WCFT News 33/40,  
• This is who's eligible for FEMA assistance in Georgia (WATL News 11 – Georgia), related news:   Atlanta News First-GA   

• As flood waters rise, outdated standards make the nation unsafe (The Hill) - Natural Resources Defense Council analyst urges FEMA to bring standards for building in floodplains out of the 1970s and into the era of climate change because “the millions of people living in harm's way — are running out of time."

• The unexpected barr​ier preventing American small towns from accessing federal climate funds (Salon) – article states that the smaller towns may find it difficult to compete for these federal grants due to the 20 to 30% local match requirement they may not be able to meet, the lack of expertise or access to professional grant writers, and outdated flood maps that don't include smaller rivers and streams.​

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