Tag: Energy & Environment

Chemical Safety Board to Investigate Freedom Industries Spill

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it will investigate a chemical spill in the Elk River that has contaminated the public water supply in nine counties.…

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it will investigate a chemical spill in the Elk River that has contaminated the public water supply in nine counties.
 
     Board chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said Saturday that the board wants to find out how a leak of such magnitude occurred, and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
 
     U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he’s pleased with the board’s quick response to his request for an investigation.
 
     Thursday’s spill from a Freedom Industries facility in Charleston also is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration.
 
     West Virginia American Water has told 300,000 people in the affected counties to not drink their tap water or use it for bathing, cooking and washing clothes.
 

Noon Newscast on West Virginia Water Emergency: Beth Vorhees, Ashton Marra, & Dave Mistich Report

Major questions remain in the chemical spill from Freedom Industries, Inc. in the contamination of West Virginia American Water supplies across nine…

Major questions remain in the chemical spill from Freedom Industries, Inc. in the contamination of West Virginia American Water supplies across nine counties. West Virginia Public Broadcasting news director Beth Vorhees interviews Mark Glass from Downstream Strategies, Ashton Marra reports on the recent press conference at West Virginia American Water, and Dave Mistich gives a run down of activity on social media.

Stream the audio above to find out the latest from our Charleston news bureau and be sure to follow @wvpublicnews.

You can also follow our entire news staff from this public Twitter list. 

Where to Find Water: A List of Distribution Centers

As the National Guard joins Governor Tomblin as well as various county, state, and federal authorities in helping those affected by the state of emergency due a chemical leak and water advisory, we here at West Virginia Public Broadcasting will do our best to keep you informed on water distribution centers and filling stations as they become available.  Below is the most up-to-date list of these centers we have.

If there is an open distribution center not listed here: please email: dmistich@wvpublic.org

Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 5:42 p.m.

An interactive map of available water in Kanawha County and surrounding areas can be found at: http://wvfindwater.com/

Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 11:14 a.m.

Kanawha County

Dunbar Kroger Plaza
Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department
Alum Creek Volunteer Fire Department – Sand Plant Station
Loudendale Volunteer Fire Department
Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department GeStamp Stamping Plant – South Charleston
Malden Volunteer Fire Department
Marmet Recreation Center
Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department
Clendenin Volunteer Fire Department
St. Albans West Side Fire Department Station
Nitro Fire Department
Tyler Mt. Volunteer Fire Department
Crossings Mall – Elkview
Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department
Pratt Volunteer Fire Department
Belle Volunteer Fire Department
Charleston Fire Department – Station 1 Morris Street
Charleston Fire Department – Station 2 West Washington Street
Charleston Fire Department – Station 8 Orchard Manor
East Bank Volunteer Fire Department

Putnam County

The old Buffalo High School

911 center in Winfield (behind the courthouse)

Putnam Career and Technical Center, Eleanor

Route 34 Volunteer Fire Department

Poca High School

Frazier’s Bottom Fire Station 

Hurricane Fire Department

Lincoln County

Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department, 8049 Vine Ave., Hamlin

West Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department, 121 Guyan St., Hamlin

At 9 a.m., several locations will open to provide water:

Lincoln Primary Care Center, 7400 Lynn Ave., Hamlin

Midway Elementary School, 267 Midway Road, Alum Creek

Lincoln Public Service District Plant, 240 Little Coal River Road, Alum Creek

Logan County

Sharples Fire Department

Boone County

When water arrives, it will be available at the county’s maintenance garage, across from the courthouse in Madison as well as the Madison Fire Department

Jackson County

Ripley Fire Department and Kenna Fire Department

Goldtown Community Church, Kenna

Roane County

Walton Fire Department

Spencer Fire Department

Updated: Friday, January 10, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.:

Centers in Kanawha County are beginning to open:

Saint Andrew United Methodist Church

815 Kanawha Terrace

St. Albans, W.Va.

Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home

409 6th Avenue St. Albans, W.Va.

304-727-4325

Emergencies only until Friday morning – Opens at 7 a.m.

Chapman Funeral Home

3941 Teays Valley Road

Hurricane, W.Va.

304-757-7531

Emergencies only until Friday morning – Opens at 7 a.m.

Saint Marks Episcopal Church

405 B Street

Saint Albans, W.Va.

Will open at 7 a.m. Friday.

West Hamlin Volunteer Fire Dept.

121 Guyan Street

West Hamlin W.Va.

Please bring your own container.

Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department

8049 Vine Ave.

Hamlin, W.Va.

They are giving out one case of water to each household that comes to their station.  Each household must show that they live in one of the affected areas.

Lincoln Co. 911 Call Center

911 Marconi Dr.

West Hamlin, W.Va.

This center is being operated by the National Guard.

Boone County 911 Center

1267 Smoot Ave.

Danville, W.Va.

This center is being operated by the National Guard.

Wharton-Barrett Volunteer Fire Department

35279 Pond Fork Rd.

Wharton, W.Va.

Crossing Baptist Church

2031 Harrison Avenue

Saint Albans, W.Va.

West Virginia Division of Highways HQ

Route 60 and Walnut Street

Saint Albans, W.Va.

Please bring you own container.

Culloden Volunteer Fire Department

2102 3rd St.

Culloden, W.Va.

Taylor Co. Drill Site Blast Leads to Pollution Violation

State regulators have issued a pollution violation notice to an oil and gas drilling company following a tank explosion at a Tyler County well site.
 
     The Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday that the tank ruptured on Jan. 2 at Jay-Bee Oil & Gas’ Lisby gas well pad. Fluid leaked from the tank onto grounds surrounding the well pad.
 
     One worker was injured.
 
     The DEP’s Office of Oil and Gas issued the violation notice to the company Tuesday, along with an order to stop well operations at the site.
 
     Jay-Bee must abate the pollution and submit a report to the state by Jan. 14. The report must demonstrate the company’s ability to safety resume operations.
 
     Supervisors at Jay-Bee’s office in Cairo didn’t immediately return a telephone message Wednesday.

Cold Eases, Yet Nearly 6,200 Remain Without Power in West Virginia

West Virginia is beginning to warm up a bit following an arctic blast that broke cold temperature records across the state.
 
     Temperatures on Wednesday morning ranged from 4 degrees in Elkins and Lewisburg to 12 degrees in Bluefield.
 
     Below-zero temperatures on Tuesday broke records in Wheeling, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Huntington and Charleston. Beckley’s minus 9 degrees on Tuesday morning broke a mark that had stood since 1912.
 
     While temperatures are inching up, public schools remain closed in many areas and utilities continue to grapple with power outages.
 
     The Department of Education’s website shows 39 of the state’s 55 county school systems have cancelled all classes today.
 
     About 6,200 Appalachian Power customers in western and southern West Virginia were without power Wednesday morning. FirstEnergy reports about two dozen outages in northern counties.

West Virginia Prepares for Frigid Temperatures

West Virginia is about to experience the coldest temperatures the state has seen in about 20 years.The National Weather Service issued the following…

West Virginia is about to experience the coldest temperatures the state has seen in about 20 years.

The National Weather Service issued the following winter weather message mentioning several counties in northern Virginia, western Maryland and eastern West Virginia this afternoon:

WASHINGTON-AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN- CLARKE-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…HAGERSTOWN…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…MARTINSBURG…CHARLES TOWN…MOOREFIELD 251 PM EST MON JAN 6 2014 …WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST TUESDAY… * WIND CHILL…15 TO 20 BELOW ZERO…AS LOW AS 30 BELOW ON   RIDGELINES. * TIMING…THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE LOWEST   WIND CHILLS ARE LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH MIDDAY TUESDAY. * TEMPERATURES…FALLING INTO THE TEENS THIS EVENING…THEN LOWS   ZERO TO 5 ABOVE TONIGHT AND 10 TO 15 ABOVE TUESDAY. * WINDS…WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * IMPACTS…DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS COULD LEAD TO FROSTBITE   AND HYPOTHERMIA THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE  COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

Meteorologist Bryan Hughes with WOWK-TV reports that the storm of 1995-1996 brought on several freezing issues in homes and businesses such as:

  • Scores of people were dealing with dead car batteries.
  • Numerous water lines burst…both in homes and even main town supplies.
  • Overworked furnaces resulted in outages for many residents and businesses.
  • Natural Gas shortages were reported due to dwindling supplies from prolonged cold and the freezing up of gas wells in some locations.
  • Local power companies set all time usage highs.
  • House fires resulted as some tried to thaw their pipes.
  • Ice jams on rivers…which causes barge traffic to slow and even back up.  When the ice broke days later…many barges broke off their moorings and had to be rounded up.  River navigational aids were displaced or damaged by the ice.

Meanwhile across the state precautions are being taken to make sure folks can stay warm.
Jefferson County

In Jefferson County the Health Department has partnered with Asbury United Methodist Church, American Red Cross and the Eastern Panhandle Medical Reserve Corps to open the center at Asbury United Methodist Church, 110 W North St, Charles Town, W.Va., for those with inadequate shelter that cannot provide protection from the extreme cold.  Days and hours of operation: Monday, January 6, 2014, 4 p.m. and will stay open until Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 8 a.m.

Dr. David Didden, Jefferson County Health Officer issued the following statement: 

With the combination of cold air and high winds due in our area, please be mindful of the increased chances of frostbite and hypothermia under these conditions. At wind chills of 20 to 30 below, frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less if skin is not protected. With prolonged exposure to cold, our bodies may not have the energy to maintain adequate heat. This condition is known as hypothermia and is extremely dangerous, particularly to infants and the elderly. Take a few simple but vital precautions to avoid health problems caused by the extreme cold: dress warmly and stay dry by wearing layered winter clothes, especially hats, scarves, gloves, and a water-resistant coat to minimize exposure to wind and moisture; avoid unnecessary time outdoors for infants and seniors; if your home does not have enough heating, use the emergency warming center; and if you are at increased risk for heart disease be sure to check with your doctor about avoiding extra stress on your heart.

Kanawha County

Kanawha County Emergency Management and the City of Charleston is urging caution when using alternate heating sources. A news release says rooms where alternate heating is used should have good ventilation, the heater should be three feet away from furniture, fabric and other objects and there should be a working carbon monoxide detector.

Updated: Warming shelters in Kanawha County are open: the Hansford Center in St. Albans will close at 4:30 p.m.and reopen if necessary. The Salvation Army and Red Cross shelter on Tennessee Ave. will stay open all night. South Charleston Community Rec Center will stay open all night. Homeless shelters in the county are open for anyone as long as space is needed.

Anyone who needs help or knows of someone needing help can call the Metro Community Support Line at 304-744-6843.

Buckhannon

Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 88 S Kanawha St, will offer a warming station beginning at 6 p.m. Hot food will be served.

Wheeling

Cold weather has prompted Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack to cancel Tuesday’s live greyhound races. Wheeling Island said the racing schedule will resume Wednesday. Other gaming operations and hotel accommodations will remain open. The National Weather Service says Wheeling’s high temperature on Tuesday is expected to be 4 degrees. Wind chills may reach 32 degrees below zero.

Berkeley County

The Berkeley County Health Department, in cooperation with the Berkeley County Office of Homeland Security, Rescue Mission, and the Bethany House will be opening warming shelters in response to the frigid temperatures expected over the next two days and nights.

The shelters will be located at the Rescue Mission and the Bethany House. Adult men are welcomed to shelter at the Rescue Mission at 602 West King Street, Martinsburg and Women and children will be sheltered at the Bethany House at 216 East John Street in Martinsburg. Meals will be available at both locations.

For more information contact the Rescue Mission at (304) 263-6901 or the Bethany House at (304) 263-3510.

A complete list of shelters and warming stations that are open across the state is available at the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management web site.

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