Flat Creek Baptist Church at 5504 Flat Creek Road in Hall County opened Wednesday as a warming center. The church will offer a hot meal Wednesday night and breakfast Thursday morning for any guests who stay at the center.
The American Red Cross warming center at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, which opened Tuesday, will close at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The following Red Cross shelters will be open tonight for people who cannot stay in their homes because of power outages and other emergency conditions:
*Banks County
Nails Creek Baptist Church, 2743 Hwy. 51 North, Homer, GA 30547
*Barrow County
Winder First United Methodist Church, 280 North Board Street, Winder, GA 30680
*Forsyth County
Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Cumming Highway, Cumming, GA 30040
*Hall County
First Baptist Church, 751 Green St., Gainesville, GA 30501
*Jackson County
Commerce Civic Center, 110 State St., Commerce, GA 30529
*Lumpkin County
Dahlonega United Methodist Church, 107 South Park St., Dahlonega, GA 30533
*Rabun County
Clayton Baptist Church, 120 South Church St., Clayton, GA 30525
The warming center at Cumming First United Methodist Church at 770 Canton Highway was open overnight and remains open at last report.
Other centers are open in Commerce, at 100 State Street and at First Baptist Church in Cornelia at 325 Oak Street.
Also, Dawson County will open at warming shelter at Rock Creek Park at 445 Martin Road in Dawsonville at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The shelter will remain open until 8 a.m. Friday, February 20. No meals will be served at the Dawson County site and those planning on using the shelter will be responsible for their own food, bathing supplies, personal items and any necessary prescription medications. A cot and blanket will be furnished. The shelter is for Dawson County residents and no animals, other than service animal, will be allowed. For more information contact Dawson County Board of Commissioners at (706) 344-3501 or Dawson County Park and Recreation at (706) 344-344-3646.
Barrow County has opened two day shelters for Wednesday - Winder Community Center at 113 E. Athens Street in Winder and City of Auburn Council Chambers on 4th Ave. in Auburn, next to the police station. Both warming shelters are open from noon to 5 p.m. At this point, no overnight shelters have been opened.
In Jackson County, a shelter at the Commerce Civic Center (110 State St.) will remain open through Thursday morning. Two Jefferson Fire Stations (129 Athens St. and 2758 Old Hwy 129 N) will open as warming stations only.
Steve Nichols with Jackson County EMA said that only the Commerce location is acting as a full shelter that can accommodate overnight stays. Red Cross personnel will be on hand at the Commerce Shelter.
First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland has offered their church, which is located on North Main Street in Cleveland, as a place for people to go to warm up of even spend night. Call the church at 706-865-6499 for information.
Anyone who needs a warm place to stay while waiting for power to be restored at their homes is welcome to stay at the shelters.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/2/285346