evacuees

By Angie Long

Operations went smoothly at area emergency shelters during Hurricane Dennis, said Jane Thrash, Red Cross director for Butler, Crenshaw and Pike Counties.

"I think everything went really well. We were fortunate to have the wonderful Butler County DHR staff members as volunteers to run the county shelters. They have been Red Cross trained to handle such situations, and did a super job," Thrash said.

Shelters were open at McKenzie School and Beeland Park, with an additional special needs shelter located at Greenville High School. Food vouchers were provided by the Red Cross, with DHR volunteers doing the grocery shopping for the shelters.

Thrash said the McKenzie shelter was actually able to close early, once the high winds and heavy rain had passed Sunday night.

"That shelter was near capacity. Even though they lost power that afternoon, the workers just kept right on going," Thrash said.

More than 75 people, along with shelter volunteers, rode out the storm at the Beeland Park (Boys and Girls Club) facility. That emergency shelter ceased operation early Monday morning, Thrash said.