SANDUSKY, Ohio — The American Red Cross has opened a temporary shelter for Erie County residents who were displaced during last week's extreme weather.
The shelter opened Thursday at New Jerusalem Baptist Church located at 1920 Shelby Street in Sandusky.
Anyone who shows up to the shelter will be provided with cots, blankets, personal hygiene products and meals, according to the American Red Cross.
Residents will be allowed to bring personal belongings with them as long as they fit under their cot. The American Red Cross is also encouraging residents to bring any prescription medications with them.
"I know that no one wants to stay in a shelter," sympathized Regional Communications Director of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio Jim McIntyre. "No one wants to be forced from their homes. I can't imagine the uncertainty that's running through the minds of these families who don't know what their next steps are going to be, and we're just hoping that we can help them forge their path forward."
Father of four, Anthony Bonness, is seeking help from the shelter after last week's floods condemned his Sandusky apartment and displaced his family.
“Just one of the rooms, it smelled like wet garbage," he described their living conditions before they were forced to move out. "You could see the walls were wet, like cardboard. It was malleable. The smell was horrible."
Bonness told 3News his kids are struggling with the changes, but hopes the Red Cross can connect them to resources for permanent housing.
"It's a little bit hard because they were all kind of wondering why we were leaving our house and stuff, and they were sad," he said of the four children. "They were kind of frustrated."
McIntyre said the shelter goes beyond providing basics like water and cots, but will also providing mental health counselors and will connect people who have lost their homes, like the Bonness', to permanent housing resources.
The temporary shelter is expected to be open for the next five to seven days.
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