Hurricane Gustav Evacuees now have a temporary home in the Physical Education Complex. Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is partnering with Red Cross disaster relief workers to have a place to stay for these evacuees.
NEIU is one of 500 locations across the country and “the only mass care shelter in Chicago providing a safe haven to evacuees of Hurricane Gustav,” according to a press release sent throughout the campus on Sept. 1. The press release reports that up to 40 evacuees are expected to arrive from hurricane affected states including Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
“We open our doors to the Gustav evacuees with the hope that the University will provide some comfort and support during this relief effort which we understand is the largest operation of its kind launched by the American Red Cross since Hurricane Katrina in 2005,” said NEIU President Sharon K. Hahs. “We stand ready and willing to assist in any way we can.”
“There are currently two families here,” said Linda Marks, a volunteer for NEIU’s shelter, “These families are free to come and go as they please, and we’re here for any questions.”
“We are supplying the immediate needs; diapers, food and shelter for the families that come in,” said Emily Olson, site supervisor. “A lot of people just fled [Gustav] without a place to stay and these two families had people they knew in Chicago and were able to find this place.” Olson also explained that across the country these shelters are mostly learned about by word of mouth.
Sue Smith, another volunteer, commented that Red Cross is partnered with Grainger to set up these shelters, “When the time comes.” The program aptly named “Ready When the Time Comes” sets shelters up across the country after floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and any other natural disaster where relief is needed. There is no confirmation when the families are due to return home.
Now the people who live in the Southeast coast and the Gulf of Mexico will have their eyes pealed to see what Tropical Storm Hanna’s damage is. There is also Hurricane Ike, which is due to make landfall later this week.