Gov. Joe Manchin has ordered the inspection of all schools and other public buildings where roofs may be in danger of collapsing because of heavy snow.



State emergency management director Jimmy Gianaoto says officials are working to avoid a repeat of the winter of 1998 when roof cave-ins were blamed for at least three deaths.

Authorities are focusing on buildings in the Eastern Panhandle, which received up to 3 feet of snow over the weekend and could receive another 16 inches by tomorrow.

So far, collapses have been limited to a handful of porch roofs and awnings.

Manchin said he's concerned about the risk of flat roofs collapsing from heavy snow, like those at supermarkets and schools.

The weight of accumulated snow varies from place to place, depending not only on the volume, but also on whether it melted and refroze.

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