Residents Statewide Urged to Take Cold Weather Precautions
Much of the eastern half of the country is still a wintry mess and the American Red Cross is responding across several southern states to help residents not accustomed to extreme cold and ice. More than 240 people spent Tuesday night in Red Cross and community shelters in Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina.
Overnight and through today, Georgia’s Red Cross operated three shelters in hard-hit Northeast Georgia to provide a safe-haven and food for residents in the Forsyth, Hall and Jackson county areas. The number of shelters will nearly triple tonight in advance of bitter cold temperatures moving into the state. In addition, the Red Cross continues to work with local EMAs and community organizations to support their warming centers and shelters in various locations with cots, blankets, food and volunteers.
The following Red Cross shelters will be open tonight for people who cannot stay in their homes because of power outages and other emergency conditions:
NORTHEAST GEORGIA
- Banks County
Nails Creek Baptist Church, 2743 Hwy. 51 North, Homer, GA 30547 - Barrow County
Winder First United Methodist Church, 280 North Board Street, Winder, GA 30680 - Forsyth County
Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Cumming Highway, Cumming, GA 30040 - Hall County
First Baptist Church, 751 Green St., Gainesville, GA 30501 - Jackson County
Commerce Civic Center, 110 State St., Commerce, GA 30529 - Lumpkin County
St. Paul United Methodist Church, 14 Martins Ford Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533 - Rabun County
Clayton Baptist Church, 120 South Church St., Clayton, GA 30525
First Baptist Church of Cornelia is also hosting a cold weather shelter in its facilities located at 325 Oak Street, Cornelia, GA 30531.
NORTHWEST GEORGIA
- Gilmer County
Gilmer County Middle School Gym, 1860 S. Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540
The need for Red Cross shelters remains fluid and updates on locations are entered regularly into the National Shelter System database, which can be accessed at https://www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter.
