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Emergency and disaster management briefing for August 28, 2020: TVA was fined by the NRC for allegedly violating whistleblower protection regulations; damage assessments continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura as more than half a million people remain without power in Louisiana; the NHC is monitoring two new tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean for possible development; a chemical fire erupted at the BioLab facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, after it sustained damage from Hurricane Laura; the FAA fined O’Hare International Airport $1.57 million for failure to follow established safety procedures; severe storms cut power to thousands in western Pennsylvania as they brace for more storms and heavy rainfall from remnants of Laura; a nationwide recall has been issued for dog food due to potential salmonella contamination; and California remains under a state of emergency amid multiple wildfires and lightning complexes burning across the state.

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1) The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was fined more than $600,000 in a civil penalty for violating whistleblower protection regulations. TVA was fined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) after an investigation revealed that some nuclear engineers were disciplined and then fired, after voicing concerns over safety issues at the Sequoyah and Watts Barr nuclear power plants in Tennessee. According to the NRC, the TVA executive who deliberately engaged in misconduct has been banned from any involvement in nuclear activities overseen by the NRC for the next five years.

2) Six people were killed and more than 520,000 residents in Louisiana remain without power following the impact of Hurricane Laura. Laura made landfall around 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning near Cameron, Louisiana, as a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds of 150 mph and gusts of up to 185 mph. Access to the town was still being blocked by storm surge flooding and debris-littered roads that made streets impassable. Many homes in the area and to the east, including Lake Charles, were heavily damaged or destroyed. Also, the hurricane toppled trees and power lines throughout its path.

3) As residents across Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas begin cleaning up after Hurricane Laura, two new tropical waves have formed in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts a low chance of development for both systems over the next two days, due to adverse conditions. However, the chances for gradual development over an extended period is possible for each of these systems as they move westward.

4) A chemical fire broke out at KIK Custom Products BioLab in their Lake Charles, Louisiana, facility on Thursday. A statement from the company noted that the fire started in one of the plants at the facility due to damage sustained by Hurricane Laura. Residents were ordered to shelter in place, close windows and doors, and turn off their air conditioners until further directed by emergency management officials.

5) The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) was allegedly at fault for not following its established snow and ice safety guidelines that led to a jet skidding off the runway at O’Hare last November. According to reports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $1.57 million fine for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for failure to follow its established safety procedures that led to the November 11 incident. According to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), no one was injured when the Envoy Air Inc. jet went off the end of the icy runway and damaged its landing gear.

6) Severe storms rolled through western Pennsylvania on Thursday, downing trees and power lines and cutting electricity to thousands of residents in the area. On Friday, nearly 22,000 people remained without power as more storms and heavy rainfall from remnants of Hurricane Laura were forecast for the area. An elementary school was closed Friday due to the power outage. Extra crews were called in to assist with restoring power, although power may not be fully restored to the area until sometime Saturday.

7) A nationwide recall has been issued for Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food due to potential salmonella contamination. Sunshine Mills, Inc. voluntarily recalled the product after a sample in Georgia tested positive for salmonella. Both the 3-pound and the 13.5-pound bags are being recalled, and a full list of the items involved in the recall can be found on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) website.

8) California remains under a state of emergency due to multiple wildfires and lightning complexes that continue to burn throughout the state. Over two dozen wildfires and lightning complexes are being fought by more than 15,600 firefighters. Assistance from other states has begun arriving, including 96 engines that were assigned to fires on Thursday. Weather conditions have improved, increasing humidity levels and lowering temperatures, helping firefighters gain wildfire containment. A complete list of active wildfires and lightning complexes, along with updates and the statuses of individual fires, can be accessed via the CalFire website.