Almost a dozen people bid farewell to a place that gave them so much comfort after the June 29 storm.
The King Center on Donnally St. has served as an overnight shelter for displaced storm victims since last week. American Red Cross volunteers have been working at the site, serving victims, meals, drinks, and above all, comfort.
But the center closed its doors Saturday morning, and the Red Cross officials said it's for the best.
"It's not good for them to stay here. It hinders their recovery process for them," said Debra Palmer, the disaster public affairs representative for the Red Cross.
On Friday, Red Cross volunteers notified the families staying at the King Center about Saturday's closing. Palmer said the Red Cross has been working its hardest to ensure these families find places to live, whether permanently or temporarily.
On Saturday morning, only two families remained at the shelter site. One family of eight said they had potentially found a new place to live.
"We really do care about them," Palmer said. "This is an emotional time for all of us, even if some people have only been with them a day or two."
But some people said they still felt unsure about their own futures.
"I feel like I don't have the right to ask for help because so many others are worse off than me," said William McYoung, a man whose Cabell County home was destroyed on June 29. He brought his girlfriend and 17-year-old son, Brandon, to the King Center on Thursday evening, after weeks of roaming the state.
"I just don't know where to turn now, I'm at a loss."
The Red Cross gave him a list of local homeless shelters, but McYoung said he did not want to resort to that option. He ran out of money on Friday.
Palmer added that the organization had conducted case work on the families who stayed at the King Center to learn more about their situations, and the Red Cross will keep in touch with victims to see how they fare.
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