The American Red Cross cooling center in the Multi-Purpose Building of the Hancock County Humane Society will remain open on Thursday, according to Executive Director Todd James.

"Our operation of the cooling center will be decided on a day by day basis, based on the number of people coming to the center each day and the number of homes in the area still without power." James says the center served over eighty meals on the 4th of July.

Hours for the cooling center will be noon - 5 p.m., with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. H.A.T.S. will be providing free transportation, with funding from the United Way of Hancock County. Rides can be arranged by calling 2-1-1.

James says that since the Red Cross opened the emergency shelter following the severe storm on Friday evening, they have provided 140 over stays, served over 3,800 meals and snacks and distributed more than 6,000 bottles of water.

If you would like to help people affected by disasters like this, you can make a donation today to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.hancockredcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Your gift enables us to provide safe refuge in our shelters, feed those who have had to leave their homes and offer comfort to those touched by disasters down the street, across the country and around the world.