Governor Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia has declared a state wide state of emergency for West Virginia due to the snow storm currently burying parts of the state. He contacted state Senator John Unger (D) and asked what more was needed for the eastern panhandle of the state. Unger contacted the Rev. Dr. Edward Grove to check on the status of the local homeless population. He offered to open the Army National Guard building as a temporary shelter if needed.

Ten humvees were dispatched to the Martinsburg City Hospital to transport medical personnel to work. These same vehicles are available to bring any homeless person in from the cold. Many of the local homeless people have moved into buildings in one fashion or another. One living room currently has eight people sleeping on the floor. It appears that a Good Samaritan has allowed them in so they wouldn’t freeze to death.

A telephone check made to a known homeless group has found them short on cigarettes but alive and well.

2.6.10
DJ McCoy