Recovery

After four surges of multiple variants of COVID-19, the pandemic appears to be ebbing. Mask mandates are now lifted for many of us. But for those left behind by the victims of COVID, any sense of normal is a long time away.

While FEMA is often seen providing trailers and money to victims of hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, survivors of this California wildfire complain that the agency has had little to offer them.

Federal funding will be available to those impacted by the Kentucky flooding. FEMA named John Brogan as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

The money comes at a time when climatologists across the country watch and hope for more winter snows to quench the drought-stricken American West. That lack of moisture is expected to last years.

The lawsuit was filed against the Dallas apartment complex, its management companies and Atmos Energy, claiming negligence led to the explosion on Sept. 29, 2021.

As the six-month anniversary of the Sept. 2 storm approaches, hundreds of people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the record-breaking floods are still piecing their lives back together.

The state put the standards for emergency medical services into place on Jan. 7, when so many people were out sick that it wasn’t clear if providers could staff their ambulances.

Survey results show 46% of respondents said the fires took a toll on their mental health. Among those whose homes were directly impacted, 58% reported negative mental health impacts.

Guidelines from the CDC are continuing to encourage vaccinations and booster shots, as well as updating the quarantine periods and regulations depending on individuals’ vaccination status.

Researchers found that just over 7% of medicare beneficiaries who did not die within seven days of diagnosis received an infusion, with higher rates of treatment seen among groups with fewer chronic conditions.

Northwest Disaster Search Dogs, a nonprofit group that trains canines for urban search and rescue, is using Fawcett Elementary as a training site before the school is demolished in March.

While the null and hospitalizations null, experts fear the next phase will come to areas of the country that are least prepared for it.

Tornadoes raked Western Kentucky on the night of Dec. 10 and early morning of Dec. 11, killing 77 people and destroying hundreds of homes, stores, churches and other buildings.

Washington state’s law and regulations are mostly silent about utility companies’ duty to prevent wildfire. Its regulators aren’t required to inspect power lines for fire risk, and have no power to impose fines if there are hazards.

The blaze that ignited Thursday morning has become the most destructive fire in the state’s history as nearly 1,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed and countless others damaged.

All 12 U.S. senators and representatives from Washington sent a letter on Wednesday, Dec. 22, in support of Inslee’s Dec. 17 request to President Joe Biden asking him to announce a federal emergency major disaster declaration for the state.

“Tens of thousands are still dealing with water, gas or power outages. Families are in shock and grief over the loss of loved ones,” said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday.

“This is the deadliest tornado event we have ever had. I think it’s going to be the longest and deadliest tornado event in U.S. history. We know that one of these tornadoes was on the ground over 227 miles.”