Red Cross consolidates remaining shelters into Salem Avenue location

After nearly two weeks of providing aid to tornado victims, the American Red Cross has consolidated shelters to one location.

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The Bethesda Temple on Salem Avenue in Dayton is the remaining Red Cross shelter where nearly 65 people will stay Wednesday night, approximately the same number of people who stayed at the shelter Tuesday night, said News Center 7’s Monica Castro.

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“We wanted to get everybody on the same page and in the same place and provide the best service for them,” said Carolyn Burns, Red Cross mass care-shelter coordinator. “It was easier to have everybody together because we’re more centrally located.”

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Now that residents of Kelly Avenue apartments in Dayton are expected to vacate by Friday, the Red Cross said they don’t know whether they will see an increase of people needing shelters.

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"I would not be surprised if we see more clients here and we would certainly welcome them and help them find other places to go," Burns said.

Many tornado victims have relied on the Red Cross for shelter since the day after the region experienced the outbreak of a record 15 tornadoes.

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"It's one day at a time, that's all we can do," said a woman who lives off Valley Avenue, Elizabeth Tedford.

Tedford was staying at a different shelter until the Red Cross closed it, but she is now at the Bethesda location.

“All of the volunteers here are wonderful and great,” she said. “I would like to thank them for all their help.”

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