ATLANTA, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 — The American Red Cross opened evacuation shelters in Georgia overnight to accommodate residents along the Southeast coast in the path of Hurricane Dorian. While the storm’s track is still uncertain, thousands from Florida through the Carolinas are looking to escape the wind, rain, flooding and high storm surge that Dorian may bring.
Some 1,600 trained Red Cross volunteers from all over the country were mobilized to help Georgia volunteers over the weekend, along with emergency response vehicles and supplies that are staged in key areas to support sheltering. The Red Cross works closely with emergency partners to identify areas that can best accommodate large numbers of people evacuating and is prepared to add more shelters as demand increases.
The following Red Cross Evacuation Shelters are Open in Georgia (as of 9-3-19 at 10:00 a.m.)
Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 (Richmond County)
Westside High School, 1002 Patriots Way, Augusta, GA 30907 (Richmond County)
Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th St., Columbus, GA 31901 (Muscogee County)
Coffee Square Complex, 216 S. Madison Ave, Douglas, GA 31533 (Coffee County)
East Laurens High School, 920 Highway 80E, East Dublin, GA 31027 (Laurens County)
Dublin High School, 1127 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin, GA 31021 (Laurens County)
Liberty Park Community Center, 1040 Newmantown Rd. Rd., Grovetown, GA 30813 (Columbia County)
South Bibb Recreation Center, 7035 Houston Rd, Macon, GA 31216 (Bibb County)
Sweetwater Park Gym, 180 Sweetwater Road, Thomson, GA 30824 (McDuffie County)
Ware County High School, 700 Victory Drive, Waycross, GA 31503 (Ware County)
Red Cross shelter locations may change daily. Updated Red Cross information is available at www.redcross.org/shelter, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts, open shelters and expert advice on hurricanes.
Connecting with Loved Ones
For Georgians with loved ones living in or around hurricane evacuation zones, encourage your friends and family to register on the Red Cross Safe & Well Website. This can help them stay connected and help relieve your stress and anxiety during the storm. Register at RedCross.org/safeandwell
About Red Cross Evacuation Shelters
Evacuation shelters are intended to get as many people out of harm’s way as quickly as possible and may not have resources such as cots or blankets found in longer-term emergency shelters. People who plan to stay in a Red Cross evacuation shelter are encouraged to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Also, bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, and for family members who have unique needs.
Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status. All disaster assistance is free. People are not required to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and pre-disaster address.
If an emergency threatens your community, prepare to evacuate quickly and leave the area if local officials tell you to do so:
• Have your disaster kit ready. Review your emergency plan with everyone in your household.
• Plan your evacuation route and alternates, in case main roads are impassable. Where will you go and how will you get there? Will you go to a hotel, a friend or relative’s home, or an emergency shelter?
• Don’t forget your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.
For more information on what to do before, during and after a hurricane, visit redcross.org/hurricane
HOW GEORGIANS CAN HELP
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane DORIAN by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word DORIAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. This includes providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance.
PLEASE GIVE BLOOD
Eligible donors in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets to help maintain the nation’s blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling
1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
BECOME A VOLUNTEER Trained disaster volunteers are always needed. Join us at RedCross.org/volunteer.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization thatdepends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. ###