The Red Cross has a simple message for those wanting to help those impacted by the storms that passed through Georgia Wednesday afternoon:
Send money.
“It’s more efficient for us to have the money on hand to spend for whatever is needed,” said Ruben Brown, spokesman for the Metropolitan Atlanta chapter of the American Red Cross. “Otherwise we may be left with a lot of stuff left sitting in storage.”
In Adairsville, a disaster shelter has been set up at the Manning Mill Youth Facility at 162 Manning Mill Road. Damage in town was extensive, said Jeffrey Putnam, director of the Northwest Georgia Red Cross chapter.
“A majority of the damage was commercial but we’re seeing a significant impact on residential areas,” Putnam said.
As of late Wednesday afternoon Red Cross workers were still waiting for the go-ahead from local officials to go into areas that sustained the worst hit.
“We’re still getting our hands around the scope of the damage,” Putnam said.
Monetary donations can be made by phone (1-800-RedCross), email (redcross.org), text (90999) and traditional mail (P.O. Box 1955 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342).