By By Janet Little Cooper
The Atmore Red Cross is actively preparing volunteers to man a local shelter in the event of a hurricane.
Escambia County High School has been designated; as the local Red Cross shelter to provide safe haven for Atmore residents should a natural disaster occur.
Atmore directors with the West Escambia Chapter of The American Red Cross will be conducting a brief meeting beginning at 10 a.m. Monday morning in their offices located in the back of The Atmore Advance building.
"It is extremely important that anyone who is interested in volunteering in a Red Cross shelter attend this meeting," Red Cross director Charlotte Boyle said. "We need to see how many people we have available and in what area they can best be of service. We have been blessed so far this hurricane season, but still need to be aware and prepared in the event of activity later in the season."
Boyle also said that people who are in need of life sustaining support would be provided shelter in Greenville at a special needs shelter.
"Anyone in a wheelchair can come to the shelter at ECHS as long as they have a care taker with them to assist their needs," Boyle said. "But we will not be equipped to handle special needs cases."
Boyle encourages anyone who requires medications to go ahead now and prepare by having prescriptions filled and ready in the event of an emergency.
The high school will hold 200 people and the Red Cross will provide snacks to evacuees. Individuals for their own personal consumption can bring in food and non-alcoholic drinks as well.
Boyle also said that the organization is in dire need of a generator for the shelter as well.
The West Escambia Chapter along with volunteer Sandy Zuiderhoek recently appointed Sandy Thomas and Bonnie Blackburn as the Atmore shelter assistants.
If you are interested in volunteering your time or donating to the local chapter of the American Red Cross call Charlotte Boyle or Dot Killam at 368-3643.