WV and National Disaster News - March 2, 2021

3/2/2021

West Virginia

West Virginia high water problems will continue into Tuesday (MetroNews-Radio)
Dozens of roads remain closed from high water (WSAZ-TV)
River flooding continues but the weather improves (WCHS-TV)
Flood warnings extended for some areas in region as waters continue to rise (WCHS-TV)
Those living along Cheat River appear to have ‘dodged bullet’ in flooding (MetroNews-Radio)
Western Greenbrier County experiences flooding; Rainelle Community members reflect Updated (WVVA-TV)
Residents in Pax, W.Va. regain road access after major flooding (WVVA-TV)
Minor flooding besets Greenbrier County (The Register-Herald – can use browser Reader view)
Swift water rescue teams help people escape flooding in Wayne County (WSAZ-TV)
Homes under water in Diamond, W.Va. (WCHS-TV)

High water moves south along Greenbrier River (MetroNews-Radio)
West Virginia’s Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Allotment Swells to 92,000 Doses (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
Vaccine supply surging: Gov. Justice: Nearly 93,000 doses to be delivered this week (The Bluefield Daily Telegraph – can use browser Reader view)
COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Grows To Meet Huge Demand (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
West Virginia to receive most vaccine doses to date this week (MetroNews-Radio)
A Big Boost in COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for W. Va. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine to soon enter WV: What you need to know (WDTV-TV)
Martinsburg VAMC opens up vaccine eligibility to veterans aged 55+ (WDVM-TV)
Local veteran chosen for 5,000th COVID-19 vaccine dose (WVVA-TV)
Capito plans to vote no on $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package (MetroNews-Radio)

National

COVID-19 News

Vaccine News

Biden to announce ‘historic partnership’: Merck will help make Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine; officials say (Washington Post)

New Orleans Archdiocese Asks Catholics to Avoid Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine (Yahoo News)

A COVID Vaccine Side Effect, Enlarged Lymph Nodes, Can Be Mistaken for Cancer (NY Times)

Amid a chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout, states find ways to connect shots with arms (USA Today)

The biggest vaccine headache is still ahead of us (CNN)

Vaccine Equity

COVID-19 Vaccine Access for People with Disabilities (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Baltimore lawmakers stress equity in COVID-19 vaccine rollout; state responds with new initiative (WBAL)

Maryland announces plan for equitable vaccine distribution (AP News)

Black clergy in Delaware push to get community vaccinated against COVID-19 (6ABC)

The Asymmetry of COVID-19 Vaccine Access (Hill Rag)

Philadelphia doctor takes her push for health equity to next level: vaccines (ABC News)

Weather Related

Severe flooding prompts state of emergency in Kentucky

Kentucky is under a state of emergency after heavy rain over the past few days caused major flooding in the state. AccuWeather reports Tennessee and West Virginia are also facing widespread floods. The Weather Channel reports the Kentucky National Guard has also been activated. One official in Estill County warned, "This will be a historical flood! If you live in flood prone areas evacuate now." The Kentucky River is about 15 feet above flood stage and is expected to rise another two feet. High-water rescues were conducted in impacted areas across several states.

CNN reports Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday a batch of Covid-19 vaccines had to be rescued by boat after heavy rains threatened the power supply at one health facility in Beattyville. Heavy rains on top of snow melt have saturated the soil and are contributing to the major flooding. Beshear declared a state of emergency on Sunday along with 36 local disaster declarations across 29 counties and seven cities.

AccuWeather reports a tornado struck Clayton County, Georgia, on Monday, knocking down a number of trees. While no one was injured by the tornado, a man was killed by a falling tree limb due to wind gusts. Severe weather is currently moving through parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

AccuWeather reports thousands of customer are without power in the Northeast and more power outages are possible as winds gust to near 70 mph today in parts of New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Over 150,000 customers are without power across the mid-Atlantic and New England due to wind damage.

CBS News reports residents in Texas are not the only ones suffering after Winter Storm Uri. In Mississippi, residents in Jackson remain without water two weeks after the storm. City officials say, “Over the course of this crisis, 80 total water main breaks/ leaks have been reported throughout the City." Mayor Chokwe Lumumba says Jackson is an "aging city with an aging budget" with about a $300 million annual budget and "more than likely, a more than $2 billion issue with our infrastructure."

In other news, the Weather Channel reports post-wildfire landslides are now likely to happen every year in Southern California and the region can expect major landslides every 10 to 13 years. California's wildfire season is getting longer, and recent research has shown the rainy season is getting shorter and more intense. Debris flows after the 2017 Thomas Fire killed 23 people, destroyed 246 structures and damaged another 167, according to the County of Santa Barbara.

In Oregon, KOIN-TV (OR) reports Lincoln county is one of five counties with FEMA temporary housing sites after wildfires last summer. FEMA announced Monday that it has started moving Manufactured Housing Units onto the site in Lincoln City and the site is expected to hold 21 units. So far, FEMA has placed 106 people in housing units and there are currently 264 qualified families scheduled to receive Direct Temporary Housing. These families are in Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties.

AccuWeather.com - Mar 2, 2021 - Courtney Travis - Reach: 222097355

WV and National Disaster News - March 2, 2021

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