Red Cross Operation Moving To Next Phase
Shelter to close, cooling and feeding operations to continue
(JULY 2, 2012) The American Red Cross of Hancock, Seneca and Wyandot counties will be closing its emergency shelter in Findlay on Tuesday, July 2 at 8 am it was announced today. Then, beginning at Noon on Tuesday, the Red Cross will open a cooling and feeding center in the Multi-Purpose Building of the Hancock County Humane Society.
Executive Director Todd James says disaster assessment teams found that the number of homes in the area that were damaged and not safe to live in was very low and that the widespread power outage was the biggest problem facing residents. "The greatest need for residents who have visited our shelter are meals and a cool place to spend the day. So, we are going to refocus our energies on providing relief from the heat during the day and meals for those without power." James says the Red Cross is making other arrangements for those families with special needs that cannot return home until power is restored.
The cooling and feeding center will be open from Noon-8 p.m. daily, with meals served at 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will be water and snacks available throughout the day at the center. H.A.T.S., the Hancock County Transportation Service, will provide free rides to and from the center for anyone in the county. The rides are being funded by the United Way of Hancock County and can be arranged by calling 2-1-1 to make an appointment for pick up.
James says the cooling center will remain open until power has been restored to a majority of homes in the county. "We'll look at the situation each day and make the decision based on how many homes are still affected by the outage."
In Wyandot County, James says that mobile feeding units will be on the road again on Monday, visiting some of the areas hit hardest by the storm last Friday. "Harpster and Nevada were both heavily affected by the storm as well as parts of Upper Sandusky that are still without power" says James. Jennifer Garza, lead Disaster Action Team volunteer in Wyandot County is organizing the feeding efforts. "Jennifer, her volunteers and our partners agencies and businesses are doing a great job meeting the needs of residents in Wyandot County."
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