WV and National Disaster News - August 12, 2021

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for August 12, 2021 (WV DHHR) - DHHR has confirmed the death of an 84-year old female from Raleigh County. “As we solemnly observe this loss, we must continue to fight this virus through vaccination,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “It is our duty to protect our fellow West Virginians.” 

Local

• Governor says he may reconsider not requiring school masks (The Associated Press)
• Governor Justice hints at mask mandate if COVID trends continue (Metro News-Radio)
• Health organizations ask all WV schools to require masks (WDVM-TV)
• West Virginia Hopes To Lead on COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
• Daily COVID cases highest in 6 months (Metro News-Radio)
• "Do it for Babydog" vaccine lottery didn't get the job done (The Register-Herald)

national news

COVID

• FDA poised to approve third vaccine dose for immune-compromised people  (NBC News)
• Pandemic déjà vu: Limits on indoor gatherings are back. So are lines at test sites (NBC News)
• States requesting federal help to combat latest surge in COVID-19 patients  (ABC)
• Texas Hospitals Are Already Overloaded. Doctors Are ‘Frightened by What Is Coming.’ (NY Times)

Weather

• Heat, humidity to fuel severe thunderstorms in Northeast (Accu Weather) 
• Huge California fire grows; Montana blaze threatens towns (AP News)
• Tropical Depression Fred Tracking Near Cuba, Southeastern Bahamas on a Potential Path Toward Florida (The Weather Channel) Also see AccuWeather 

OTHER

FEMA releases statement on successful Emergency Alert Test (Fox 17)

One Scripps Media outlet in West Michigan has reported that FEMA’s emergency alert test Wednesday was successful. FOX 17 WXMI (MI) erroneously says the test took place on Aug. 10 and that a FEMA spokesman said, “We successfully tested the system. Many emergency officials and people who opted into today’s WEA test successfully received the test alert. Individuals who did not opt in correctly may not have received a test message. The EAS test was also successful.” No other outlets reported the successful test announcement overnight.

Most media outlets focused on why people did not receive the alerts on their phones. Inside Radio (GA) reports the Philadelphia area had problems with the daisy chain and that the DASDEC box did not forward the alert to other radio stations. Problems were also noted by stations in New Jersey. The article says it will be a few months before it is known how well the broadcast daisy chain performed. Tech Crunch notes it’s the first national alert test since the pandemic began. Some related articles include KUSA-TV (CO), KWTX-TV (TX), WFMJ-TV (OH), WOIO-TV 19 (OH), Univision Arkansas, El Vocero (PR).