WV and National Disaster News - May 31, 2023

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WEST VIRGINIA

COVID
WV COVID Weekly Update for May 31, 2023 (WV DHHR) - there have been four deaths reported since last week's dashboard update, with a total of 8,140 deaths attributed to COVID-19. Deaths of a 72-year old female from Nicholas County, an 84-year old male from Summers County, a 97-year old male from Kanawha County, and a 54-year old female from Wood County.
 
Explosion in Fairmont

• DEP testing for radioactive material at explosion site  (WBOY-TV) 

• Damage assessments begin in wake of Memorial Day flood  (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Flood cleanup begins in Bluefield area  (WVNS-TV), related news: MetroNews-Radio
• Bluefield, W.Va. residents continue cleanup efforts  (WVVA-TV)
• Bluefield update to help residents affected by flooding  (WVNS-TV)
• Bluefield area assesses impact of Memorial Day flooding  (Lootpress)
• SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of West Virginia Affected by August 2022 Flooding (U.S. Small Business Administration), related news: WVNS-TV

 
Infrastructure

• New FCC Maps Find Thousands Of Unserved Broadband Locations In W.Va.  (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• Project Explores Potential Of Geothermal In W.Va.  (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio), related news: WBOY-TV 

Land Reclamation

• Fairmont Brownfield Program receives a $500k grant  (WBOY-TV)

Opioid Litigation

• Ruling clears way for Purdue Pharma to settle opioid claims, protects Sacklers from lawsuits  (The Associated Press)

 
NATIONAL NEWS

Disaster Recovery

• Guam: How to get help from FEMA, other agencies; Other updates (Pacific Daily News – Guam), related news: Marianas Variety (CNMI) 
• State Farm Stops Offering Insurance in California (KCRA News 3 – California), related news: New York Times 

 
Fire & Smoke

• National Weather Service issues air quality alert Wednesday due to fire in Nova Scotia (Delaware Online)
• Smoke from Nova Scotia wildfires spreads from Canada to US Northeastern cities (CNN)
• Code Orange: Air Quality Alert for Philadelphia area due to smoke from Nova Scotia wildfires (6ABC Philadelphia)

 
Weather

• The Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Tropical disturbance being watched in Gulf of Mexico (FOX Weather)
• Bracin​g for the Storm: Find Out How Much Your Own Tornado Risk Is Expected To Grow (Realtor.com)​ 

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