West Virginia offers safe haven for those evacuating with horses

Although West Virginia is in

, with remnants of the storm expected to pass through the state and cause dangerous conditions, including possible mudslides in mountainous areas, the state is also preparing to serve as a safe haven for people evacuating the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, or South Carolina.

As a part of the State of Preparedness, all West Virginia State Parks will offer a 55% discount on all rooms, cabins, and campsites through Tuesday, September 18. On Monday, the state will evaluate if that needs to change based on updated forecasts.

“We want to make sure that those needing to evacuate will have an affordable place to stay,” said Gov. Justice.

However, that does exclude Mountain Creek Lodge at Pipestem Resort State Park, Blennerhassett Island and East Shore Campground at Bluestone State Park, which are all closed because of expected conditions from Florence. The state will closely monitor the weather to determine the status of the aerial trams at Pipestem Resort and Hawks Nest State Parks along with the scenic chair lift at Canaan Valley Resort State Park.

In addition, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture is waiving movement entry requirements for all animals evacuated into West Virginia.

Meanwhile, the State Fair of West Virginia is offering temporary shelter for any evacuated horses. It can accommodate up to 100.

“Two years ago, West Virginia needed help from surrounding states during a massive flood. It is our turn to open our doors for those in need,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.

Normally, all horses entering West Virginia from other states are required to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within 30 days and a negative Coggins test within the past year. State Veterinarian Dr. James Maxwell made the decision to waive those requirements.

“Just like people, we must get animals out of harm’s way,” said Dr. Maxwell. “This is common practice in emergency situations.”

However, West Virginia is not the only state waiving animal import requirements. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is doing the same, provided animals meet all import requirements if they plan to stay beyond Sept. 30.

Shelters and resources for horses in Virginia can be found

.

The West Virginia State Fair is requesting anyone seeking accommodations do so by calling in advance to 304- 645-1090 during business hours and 304-667-5089 after hours. Owners will be responsible for the care of their own animals. There will be no stalling fee for horses. Owners wishing to camp can do so at a minimal charge of $15 per night for full hook ups.

The State Fair of West Virginia is located in Fairlea, in Greenbrier County, just off the I-64 exit.

For hurricane response in the Mountain State, 50 West Virginia National Guardsmen and women have placed on duty for preparation and staging across the state.

In addition, the WVNG’s swift water rescue team, a joint endeavor with Clendenin and Glasgow Volunteer Fire Departments, is on standby for staging and deployment depending on the tracking of the storm.

At the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, 20 Air Guard personnel have been working hand-in-hand with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 3 to prepare a staging area for disaster relief supplies. Since yesterday, nearly 70 tractor-trailer loads of water, food, tents, cots, blankets and fuel arrived at the airbase, where the supplies will await distribution as needed pending Hurricane Florence’s impact.