WV and National Disaster News - January 5, 2024

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 website.

WEST VIRGINIA

Chemical Spill & Industrial Cleanup

• Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango says Paint Creek is slowly getting back to normal with the help of settlement money following 2022 chemical spill (WCHS Radio)
• EPA yet to approve 4-month-old PFAS cleanup plan for Chemours Wood County facility (Charleston Gazette-Mai) 

Cyber Attack

• City of Beckley responds to cyber attack (The Register-Herald) 

• 2014 West Virginia water crisis: 10th anniversary coverage (Charleston Gazette-Mai)

Opioid Crisis Funding

• City of Welch and McDowell County Commission receive opioid settlement money (Bluefield Daily Telegraph) 

• Mix of rain and snow heading to West Virginia this weekend (WV Metro News)

NATIONAL NEWS

Disaster Recovery

• In the scar of New Mexico's largest wildfire, a legal battle is brewing: What is victims' suffering worth? (New Mexico Political Report)
• Maui mayor promises Olowalu will not be the permanent dump site for wildfire waste (Honolulu Civil Beat) 

Flood Insurance

• FEMA adds $619.5m in flood reinsurance at renewal for 2024, takes NFIP protection to $1.92bn (Reinsurance News), related news: Artemis 

Health

• Respiratory illnesses are on the rise after the holidays (NPR News)
• Flu is intensifying, especially in the Southeast and the West (NBC News) 

Weather

• Nor'easter prompts winter storm alerts for millions from North Carolina to Maine (FOX Weather)
• Nor'easter to dump first significant snow in two years across East (AccuWeather) 

Other

• ​Golden Gate Bridge has safety nets to prevent jumping deaths after 87 years (USA Today) 

​