Local evacuation shelters close

By Katie Stallcup

Published: September 5, 2008

After nearly a week in operation, the two Red Cross evacuee shelters in Opelika are closing, Lee County Red Cross Director Jennifer Ryan said Friday.

Buses came at 5:30 a.m. Friday to take home those housed at Southern Union State Community College, so that shelter closed Friday, she said.

At the other shelter, Covington Recreation Center, 16 residents were planning to spend Friday night and leave Saturday morning, Ryan said.

The Elks Lodge donated gas cards at that shelter to help evacuees get home, she said.

“When they did that, a bunch of people got on the road,” she said. “We have about 16 left. They told us after breakfast tomorrow, they’re all getting on the road. So, we plan to close it.”

The local Red Cross chapter was still watching Tropical Storm Hanna, Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine, she said.

“We want to make sure our volunteers get a little rest before they might be needed for other storms,” Ryan said.