Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Red Cross closing shelter in Calhoun County

WMUK

A news release says that shelters in Kent and Ionia Counties opened after Sunday's storms will also close. Other shelters including in Kalamazoo, Cass and Van Buren Counties will remain open. 

The various shelters and warming centers were opened after Sunday's severe storms left many people in Southwest Michigan without power. Shelters in Calhoun, Kent and Ionia Counties will close at 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. But the Red Cross says other shelters will remain open 24 hours a day, as long as they are needed. 

The following is the news release from the American Red Cross:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., November 20, 2013 – The American Red Cross of West Michigan is closing shelters in Calhoun, Kent, and Ionia Counties at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20. These are three of seven Red Cross shelters that were opened after widespread power outages following the severe weather on Sunday. Approximately 75 people have stayed in or visited Red Cross shelters since they opened Monday. Four shelters will remain open 24 hours a day in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties as long as there is a need. The Red Cross of Calhoun County will be open during business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., as a warming center. A warming center is also available at the YMCA Camp Algonquin in Barry County. The locations of the shelters and hours of warming centers are as follows: BARRY COUNTY – Warming Center YMCA Camp Algonquin, Open 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. 2055 Iroquois Trail, Hastings, MI 49058 BERRIEN COUNTY - Shelter First Church of God 2627 Niles Ave.; St. Joseph, MI 49085 CALHOUN COUNTY – Warming Center American Red Cross, Open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 14600 Beadle Lake Rd.; Battle Creek, MI 49014 CASS COUNTY - Shelter Dowagiac Armory Headquarters 700 W. Prairie Ronde St.; Dowagiac, MI 49047 KALAMAZOO COUNTY - Shelter American Red Cross 5640 Venture Ct.; Kalamazoo, MI 49009 VAN BUREN COUNTY - Shelter American Red Cross 301 N. Center St.; Hartford, MI 49057 Those seeking shelter are encouraged to bring the following items if possible: appropriate bedding, blankets, and pillows; prescription medications; personal hygiene items; a change of clothes; and any necessary items for infants or the elderly. Residents are encouraged to call 211 for assistance. A list of open shelters is updated regularly at www.redcross.org/nss. In addition, available shelters can be found by downloading the free Red Cross Tornado App. The American Red Cross responds to a disaster every 8 minutes. Help people recovering from disasters by donating to the Red Cross at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.