Southeast Missouri hurricane shelters close

Though two hurricane shelters in Southeast Missouri are officially closed, relief efforts continue in Southeast Missouri.

"It was the largest relief effort that we ever dealt with in Southeast Missouri in terms of sheltering this many people for this long and assisting almost 1,000 people," said American Red Cross director Mary Burton.

The American Red Cross assisted more than 200 hurricane evacuees at the shelter at the Charleston Baptist Association Camp in Benton, Mo., and Camp McClanahan near Kennett, Mo.

After five weeks of operation, the Benton camp closed on Monday. An average of 16 Katrina evacuees stayed since it opened on Sept. 1. The last group to leave were 50 Hurricane Rita evacuees who went home to Port Arthur, Texas.

About 175 people stayed at Camp McClanahan. It closed after three weeks of operation on Sept. 23.

"We reunited a great number of people immediately because they were separated from their families," Burton said. At least 57 people left as soon as they were reunited. The rest either moved to their families in other areas or settled in Missouri.

"We have about 35 families that have decided to settle permanently within Southeast Missouri," Burton said.

As of Monday, the Southeast Missouri chapter still had 974 families that they will be assisting for up to six more months. Volunteers and donations are still needed.

"This relief effort in Southeast Missouri is easily going to cost us $300,000," Burton said, and likely more once all the bills are tallied.

Though thousands of dollars were donated to hurricane relief through the local chapter, none of it was used locally. The Red Cross honored each donation that was specifically designated for hurricane relief, Burton said, and every single penny was sent to the national office.

"We've retained nothing here," she said. Donations made to the local general fund will assist disaster and facilities operations in Southeast Missouri.

In total, 346 people volunteered. About 35 of them went to hurricane affected areas, while 130 received formal training for national disaster assignments. People who volunteer now have the best opportunity to receive formal training for future disasters, Burton said.

jmetelski@semissourian.com