WV and National Disaster News and Weather - January 16, 2026

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West Virginia 

Disaster Recovery

• Shortage of case managers stalls McDowell County flood recovery (Prism News) - “Catholic Charities of West Virginia Disaster Services Specialist Lora Pierce said response and short-term relief have been robust, but long-term work that secures safe housing and navigates FEMA appeals remains under-resourced." 
• 3,955 disaster management cases remain open in McDowell County (The Real WV) - “Tidal Basin is a disaster management consulting firm staffed largely by former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees. Represented by Catherine Clinch and Eric Letven, Tidal Basin presented to the committee next and discussed their thoughts about how disaster management is evolving currently."

Flood Preparedness

• W.Va. governor seeks $100M for roads, $10M for flood prep (WTOV)

Chemical Spill

• Chemical spill at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base (WSAZ)

National News 

FEMA & Federal Disaster Funding

• Senators hold bipartisan secret meeting to reshape FEMA (E&E News)
• Uncertainty Surrounding Federal Disaster Funding Looms Over State Budgets (Pew)
• FEMA is getting rid of thousands of workers in areas recovering from disasters (NPR)

• FEMA extension uncertain; Mayor urges wildfire survivors to take alternate housing, if available (Maui Now) , related news: Honolulu Civil Beat 
• $116M in Helene aid coming, as Stein, Budd seek more (The Carolina Journal)
• Stein provides updates on Helene aid, Obamacare premium hikes (WRAL News 5)

• 6.0 magnitude earthquake off Oregon coast, no tsunami expected (KATU ABC News)
• Avalanches in Washington, Wyoming turn deadly (AccuWeather)

Weather

• Rounds of snow to create hazardous travel from Midwest to Northeast into next week (AccuWeather)
• Polar vortex to usher in much colder air to central and eastern US into end of January (AccuWeather)
• A Para​de of Snowy Systems Will Continue to Bring Snow, Wind and Extreme Cold Across the East through the Weekend (Weather.com)