WV and National Disaster News - June 7, 2023

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WEST VIRGINIA 
 
COVID

• WV Weekly COVID Update for June 7, 2023 (WV DHHR) - There have been four deaths reported since last week's dashboard update. DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 79-year old female from Kanawha County, a 79-year old female from Fayette County, an 80-year old male from Grant County, and a 64-year old female from Raleigh County.
• Wheeling Nearing End of COVID-19 Relief Money (The Intelligencer) 

Canada Wildfire Impacts WV

• Haze from Canadian fires to stick around through midweek (Metro News)
• Is West Virginia air quality impacted by Canada wildfires? (WBOY)
• Smokey outlook: Air quality for the Ohio Valley (WTRF) 

Disaster Recovery

• Disaster loan option available for flood victims in Kanawha County (WSAZ) 

• Lack of rainfall has W.Va. farmers struggling (Metro News) 

• Preston County Schools to battle food insecurity during the summer (WBOY) 

• Capito announces over $500,000 for five West Virginia Airports (WVVA)
• Manchin announces $495K for McDowell County wastewater infrastructure upgrades (WVVA)
• $12 million of funding secured for stormwater, sidewalk projects (The Register-Herald)
• Wheeling set to take the next steps updating water and sewer infrastructure (WTRF)
• PUB approves payments on water projects (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• Charleston City Council approves paving contract (Charleston Gazette Mail)

NATIONAL NEWS 
 
Disaster Recovery

• Biden signs major disaster declaration to support NMI Mawar storm response and recovery (Mariana Variety)
• Florida's home insurance rates rising faster than any state, nearly triple U.S. average (Miami Herald)
• Fort Myers Beach Baptist Church demolished, other buildings stay in bureaucratic limbo (WZVN News 7 – Florida)

Heat Wave

• Heat wave strains electrical grid in Puerto Rico, causes power outages (El Nuevo Dia – in Spanish Language)

FEMA Systems

• ​After setbacks, F​EMA aims to complete grants modernization roll-out by next spring (Federal News Network) – FEMA is consolidating eight legacy IT systems into FEMA GO, a new IT platform. See more info at:  FEMA GO  In addition, FEMA will launch a key project to modernize the system individuals use to apply for disaster assistance. The agency plans to migrate nine disparate systems into a single “Individual Recovery Information System," or IRIS. This streamlined platform will help to track disaster assistant applications and dollars and help curtail fraud, waste and abuse.

Plane Crash

• Timeline of unresponsive plane outside DC, scrambled fighter jets, raises questions (ABC News)
• NTSB examines wreckage of plane intercepted after F-16 sonic boom (Washington Post)

 
Wildfire, Smoke & Fire Risk Warning

• Pennsylvania and New Jersey are under fire risk warning Tuesday (WHYY)
• Where wildfire smoke is hitting the U.S. the hardest — and when it will end (Washington Post) 

• Code Orange: Air-quality alerts issued across Delaware Valley as Canada wildfires spread (FOX29)
• Smoke invaded the D.C. area yet again Tuesday and could get worse (Washington Post)

Other

• FCC Gives States More Flexibility In Updating EAS Plans And Monitoring Radio (Inside Radio)​