Hurricane Dorian: List Of Emergency Shelters Open In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — Emergency shelters are opening up in eastern North Carolina as thousands of residents move inland ahead of Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to lash the coast with winds up to 115 mph Thursday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, nine emergency shelters had been opened in Brunswick, Columbus and Durham counties.

Further south, shelters were filling up in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. 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.

Current shelters open in North Carolina:

Brunswick County

• North Brunswick High School, 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland, NC — pet friendly
• South Brunswick High School, 280 Cougar Road, Boiling Springs Lake, NC — pet friendly
• West Brunswick High School, 550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, NC — pet friendly

Columbus County

• East Columbus High School, 32 Gator Lane, Lake Waccamaw, NC
• Edgewood Elementary School, 317 E. Calhoun Street, Whiteville, NC — pet friendly
• Guideway Elementary School, 11570 Swamp Fox Hwy. East, Tabor City, NC
• South Columbus High School, 40 Stallion Drive, Tabor City, NC
• West Columbus High School, 7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy SE, Cerro Gordo, NC

Durham County

• Sears — Northgate Mall, 1620 Guess Road, Durham — pet friendly

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

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).

Patch Editor Kathleen Sturgeon contributed