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Tomblin Addresses Storm Crisis In Press Conference
By: WOUB Staff Writer
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West Virginia's Governor, along with local mayors and the WV National Guard held a press conference Saturday afternoon, updating residents on the storm cleanup and power restoration efforts.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin placed the state under a State of Emergency.
He says 53 of 55 counties in the state were affected by power outages, one of the most extensive power outages in the state and that it will take several days to get the power back on.
"We're moving as quickly as we can but people's got to be patient because it's going to take several days to get the power back on," Tomblin said.
FEMA is shipping in generators and water to the area.
Tomblin asks that residents stay off the highways unless there is an emergency: "Please stay off the highways unless it's an emergency so the power companies and the department of highways can get out there and get their jobs done."
Adjutant General James Hoyer with the West Virginia National Guard spoke at the press conference.
He said the National Guard is focusing on life safety first including hospitals, nursing homes and people on oxygen.
Hoyer says first responders are having trouble getting out to help, "We've got a lot of first responders — EMS workers, police officers, guardsmen, who are still trying to cut their way out to get to their duty station."