CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - About 77,000 homes and businesses in West Virginia are enduring another oppressively hot day without electricity.

 

State officials are urging residents of the affected areas to take advantage of cooling stations and shelters to escape temperatures which forecasters said could reach 100 degrees again.

 

The American Red Cross housed 85 people in shelters across the state last night, and it had 15 emergency response vehicles on the roads today delivering food and water to residents in need. The West Virginia National Guard also was serving meals in various locations.

 

Power was knocked out across the state on June 29 when violent storms tore across the Mid-Atlantic region.

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