In December, West Virginia University art professor Joseph Lupo tagged Inside Appalachia in an Instagram post that showcased four-color reductive relief prints made by WVU students — each one inspired by a story or episode they heard on the show. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with three of Lupo’s students and asked them to describe their work and its connection to the show.
Two helicopters and several National Guard personnel were deployed to Hardy County on Friday.
They aim to assist the West Virginia Division of Forestry and other emergency response personnel in quenching the blazes.
The deployment of National Guard personnel follows Gov. Jim Justice’s state of emergency declaration Thursday afternoon.
The National Guard said more than 4,000 acres of land has burned as of Friday.
Helicopters in use by the National Guard can hold 630 gallons of water each, which personnel then disperse over wildfires from above. This helps target areas of the wildfires that are unsafe for emergency responders to approach on the ground.
“Our aircrews have extensive experience in helping to combat wildland fires,” said Bill Crane, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard in a press release Thursday.
“We will do all we can to help bring these fires under control to protect lives and property in the impacted communities,” he said.
Dropping water onto wildfires from above allows firefighters to extinguish fires that are unsafe for ground personnel to approach. Photo Credit: West Virginia National Guard
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SENTRY, or the Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System, is a proposal for a 36-month, $10 million pilot program aimed at improving flood prediction and response, being promoted by Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
A challenge lawmakers are struggling with this session is how to pay for public schools in a state where there’s falling enrollment, especially in rural counties. Also, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom explains snow mold.
McDowell and Mingo counties have historically produced large quantities of coal, but they have suffered after coal mines have closed — or been abandoned. Thanks to a grant program, the two counties are getting some funding for water and sewer projects.