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Morning Update: Hurricane Relief Operations Command Center-Status Report

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Release Date: August 31, 2008

SHELBY COUNTY OFFICE OF PREPAREDNESS

MEMPHIS & SHELBY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

(901) 515-2525

Morning Update

Hurricane Relief Operations Command Center-Status Report

More than 2200 people forced to evacuate from the New Orleans area are now staying in shelters in Memphis and West Tennessee. 2275 arrived last night and early this morning on Amtrak trains.

1020 were sent to shelters scattered throughout West Tennessee operated by the State of Tennessee. The other 1250 are being housed in Memphis at various Memphis Park Services community centers managed by the Red Cross.

“We know this is a frightening and most inconvenient time for the evacuees. However, we are doing all we can to keep them comfortable and meet their needs, said Bob Nations, Director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness and the Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency.

A nurse with the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is at each site. The Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are providing security at the registration areas and at the shelters.

Two other shelters are open for those who voluntarily left the hurricane zone. An estimated 200 people are staying at Catholic High at 61 North McLean and at Bishop Byrne High School at 1475 East Shelby Drive.

Should more shelters be needed, Memphis area faith-based organizations may be used. However, the Office of Preparedness/EMA wants to ensure the facilities meet building, fire and health codes before they open. “The safety of the evacuees is our top priority. We recommend churches that want to help in the relief effort contact our Emergency Operations Center. A Red Cross representative will be available for assistance,” added Director Nations.

The Memphis area relief effort is being coordinated from the Shelby County Office of Preparedness-Memphis and Shelby County EMA Emergency Operations Center.

For more information about the sheltering effort, call (901) 515-2525.

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