Red Cross discusses preparing for severe weather amid pandemic

(ALBANY, GA) – All eyes are watching the path that Tropical Storm Laura takes as it enters the Gulf of Mexico.

With Southwest Georgia potentially in the storm’s path, the Red Cross of Southwest Georgia has been working on preparing how shelters will operate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have identified shelters and locations who are willing to open facilities to us in this pandemic environment,” says Red Cross Southwest Georgia Regional Executive Director, Adelaide Kirk.

The Red Cross has made sure that any shelters that are being used for those impacted in either the Florida Panhandle or East Alabama are properly sanitized and can allow for proper social distancing.

While they want to provide a space for those potentially impacted by Laura, they also need to keep themselves safe as well.

Kirk tells us, “The primary focus is keeping both residents, and our workforce, and our volunteer workforce safe, that’s our focus. So we feel we’ve learned a lot of lessons in the last few months as we’ve had to open shelters for other things all across the country.”

Despite Laura’s path not being completely defined at this time, the red cross advises that you have a disaster kit ready and up to date.

“Take stock of your personal preparedness right now. Do you have your emergency kit? Do you have important papers in one place if you did need to evacuate,’ says Kirk.