CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The West Virginia National Guard will have 600 soldiers on the ground by the end of Thursday, doing welfare checks, installing generators, and delivering food and water.

Adjutant Gen. James Hoyer says that's up from about 230 earlier this week.

“We continue to work with other state agencies, counties and local municipalities to offer help and assistance to the citizens of West Virginia,” said Major Gen. James A. Hoyer, West Virginia Adjutant General. “Although we are making great progress and have helped thousands of people, we realize that there are still many more in need and we are trying our best to reach out to them.”

Guardsmen are going door to door with firefighters, police, church groups and others to reach people who are still awaiting help six days after violent, devastating storms.

Hoyer has been in the guard for 31 years and says he's never seen a statewide disaster of this magnitude. It's affected 53 of 55 counties, leaving some 100 percent powerless.

He says the recovery has been monumental, and no one should compare it to response failures after Hurricane Katrina.

He says West Virginia officials are on top of the situation.