Hurricane Dorian: List Of Shelters Open In Georgia

GEORGIA — The American Red Cross is working around the clock to prepare for Hurricane Dorian and help people who have been forced to evacuate. Millions of people live in areas that could be or have already been impacted by wind, rain, flooding and a high storm surge.

Evacuation shelters are open and the Red Cross is working with local officials and partners to provide support. On Monday night, more than 12,200 people stayed in 171 Red Cross and community evacuation shelters in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. This included nearly 11,700 people in 142 shelters in Florida; some 280 people in 10 Red Cross shelters in Georgia; and 290 people in 19 Red Cross shelters in South Carolina.

HOW TO FIND A SHELTER

Anyone who needs a safe place to go can find information for open Red Cross shelters in the free Red Cross Emergency App. Download the app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store or by going to redcross.org/apps.

It should be noted that evacuation centers are intended to get as many people out of harm's way as quickly as possible, and some of them may not have cots, food, running water or electricity, as they are meant to safely house people for about 72 hours until weather conditions improve, the Red Cross said. In time, and if needed, local officials may transition evacuation centers into emergency shelters after the storm passes.

People who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs, the Red Cross said.

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. The Red Cross doesn't require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and pre-disaster address.

More information on hurricane safety and preparedness is available here.

Current shelters open in Georgia:

• East Laurens High School, 920 HWY 80 E, East Dublin
• Dublin High School, 1127 Hillcrest Pky, Dublin
• Central Square Complex, 216 S MADISON AVE, Douglas
• Ware County High School, 700 Victory Drive, Waycross
• Glenn Hills High School, 2840 Glenn Hills Dr, Augusta
• Glenn Hills Middle School, 2941 Glenn Hills Dr, Augusta
• Cross Creek High School, 3855 Old Waynesboro Rd, Augusta
• Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 MONTE SANO AVE, Augusta
• Butler High School, 2011 Lumpkin Rd, Augusta
• Westside High School, 1002 Patriots Way, Augusta
• Technical Career Magnet School, 2500 Lumpkin Road, Augusta
• Frank Johnson Recreation Center, 2227 MERCER UNIVERSITY DR, Macon
• South Bibb Recreation Center, 7035 Houston Rd, Macon
• Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street, Columbus

What to pack:

Do bring:

• Bedding

• Clothing

• Medications

• Your child’s stuffed animal,

• Blanket or other “lovey”

• Your emergency kit

Don't bring:

• Alcoholic beverages

• Illegal drugs

• Weapons

If it’s not safe for you to stay home, it’s not safe for your pet either. However, to maintain a safe and healthy environment in Red Cross shelters, pets are not allowed. Make arrangements for your pet before coming to the shelter. If you need assistance, call your local Red Cross office or ask a shelter worker when you arrive: the Red Cross works with partners in the community who can open a pet shelter nearby.

LOOKING FOR A LOVED ONE?

People concerned about US Citizens traveling in Bahamas should contact the US State Department Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text 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.

GIVE BLOOD

Hurricane Dorian has forced the cancellation of nearly two dozen Red Cross blood drives and donation centers in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina resulting in more than 550 uncollected blood and platelet donations. The Red Cross is urging eligible individuals in unaffected areas to give blood or platelets to ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients. The Red Cross currently has an urgent need for blood donations following a summer shortage. In addition to cancelled blood drives, they anticipate low blood donor turnout in and around affected areas due to poor weather conditions this week.

Schedule an appointment today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Be prepared in advance

Be sure you’re Red Cross Ready. That means:

• Assembling an emergency preparedness kit.
• Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets.
• Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans.
• Educating your family on how to use the Safe and Well website.
• Download the Emergency App for iPhone >> or for Android >>.

In advance of Dorian, the Red Cross mobilized some 110 emergency response vehicles and 104 tractor-trailer loads full of relief supplies, including cots, blankets and 63,000 ready-to-eat meals. More than 1,900 trained Red Cross responders from all over the country are helping to support relief efforts

To assist local blood centers in Florida, the Red Cross sent approximately 350 blood products to ensure patients have access to lifesaving blood as hurricane warnings and evacuations keep many from giving. The Red Cross also pre-positioned additional blood products and stocked our hospitals in areas of the Southeast likely to be impacted by the storm this week.

Dorian has already devastated the Bahamas, leaving behind catastrophic damage. According to preliminary damage reports, more than 13,000 houses are believed to have been damaged or destroyed—equivalent to about 45 percent of all dwellings on Abaco and Grand Bahama. Bahamas Red Cross volunteers and pre-positioned relief supplies—such as tarps, hygiene items, jerrycans, and hand-crank cell phone chargers—are at the ready.

Related coverage:

• Hurricane Dorian To Pummel Georgia, Carolinas With Triple Threat
• Hurricane Dorian Puts More GA Counties Under State Of Emergency
• East Cobb Animal Shelter Rescues Dorian-Displaced Cats
• Hurricane Dorian: Savannah Closing Evacuation Area Tuesday Night
• Hurricane Dorian: Curfew Ordered In Savannah Ahead Of Storm
• Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens Camping To Hurricane Evacuees
• Southeast Offers 1,200+ Homes For Hurricane Dorian Evacuees

Hurricane Dorian has moved north to pound the coast of Georgia, making Savannah and the rest of coastal Georgia batten down the hatches with a curfew in place, bridges closed and emergency centers open.

Chatham County remains under a hurricane watch, flash flood watch, storm surge warning, and tropical storm warning, the county said. This means the conditions are favorable for tornadoes and tropical storm force winds. Expected winds for Chatham County are 45-55 mph sustained and 65 mph gusts.

The combination of dangerous storm surge and the tide could cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded with rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach 3 to 5 feet above ground if peak surge occurs during high tide. Water levels could begin to rise well in advance of the arrival of strong winds with potential of peak rainfall of 4 to 8 inches.

The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding will depend on how close the center of Dorian comes to the coast, and can vary greatly over short distances. It is likely that Highway 80 to Tybee Island and other low-lying roadways will be inundated with water during high tide periods, officials said.

The City of Savannah and Town of Thunderbolt have implemented a curfew from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. until further notice. There are no curfews in place for unincorporated Chatham County or any other jurisdictions within Chatham County at this time.