A hot meal and a cool place to eat provide relief to Kwon Rose and his aunt. Their home hasn't had electricity in almost 10 days.
"I've been spoiled by the air conditioning really bad," Rose says with a deep sigh.
As if the heat wasn't punishment enough, he's now having to spend time in a jail cell.
"Feels like I've done something since I'm in prison!" exclaims Rose.
He's not really in prison.
Rose is one of dozens finding refuge at the old Amherst County Jail. It's been serving as an emergency shelter since the June 30 storm hit.
"A lot of people were hesitant at first about staying at a jail as an emergency shelter, and it's been different," said Amherst County Sheriff, Jimmy Ayers, who authorized his former jail to be used as a shelter.
The accommodations have been comfortable for the families who needed a place to stay.
Jason Baker has nine kids and four grandchildren. Sleeping in a hotel would have been too expensive.
"It's been nice," Baker said. "It would have been almost torturous for us to stay at home."
The old jail closed a few months ago when a new regional facility opened. All of the cells still had beds in them, which made the jail an ideal spot for a shelter.
"Of course we keep the doors ajar," said Ayers. "Nothing is locked or secured like it was for a jail."
Since last weekend, the jail has housed up to 40 people every night.
Stephen Richardson is 90 years old, but he hasn't had a problem sleeping on a cot for more than a week.
"When it gets dark, you can't tell the difference," said Richardson. "But it's not like your own bed, by no means."
He should have his own bed back soon. Appalachian Power expects to have service fully restored in Amherst County by Tuesday morning.
