Red Cross provides relief for Hurricane Milton evacuees at Pensacola Bay Center

PENSACOLA, Fla. ( WKRG ) — As Hurricane Milton plans to make landfall Wednesday evening, the Pensacola Bay Center opened to evacuees Tuesday night in partnership with the American Red Cross Association.

Bay Center officials once again opened their doors to evacuees, after folks traveled from Tallahassee during Hurricane Helene to avoid the storm’s path.

Members of the American Red Cross are at the Pensacola Bay Center where they have water, food and sleeping arrangements for those who came from the South Florida area.

Pensacola Bay Center where American Red Cross currently hosts an evacuation site. (News 5 photo)

Currently, there are seven evacuees at the center, but people are able to come by and pick up necessities such as food or water if staying in a nearby area.

Kristopher Dumschat, Public Affairs Manager for the Red Cross, said his team is always prepared with supplies in case of a major storm. He wants people to know they have somewhere to turn in trying times.

“When we know a disaster is going to come into a specific region or community, that’s when we make sure we are positioning our resources, positioning our trained disaster workers in specific safe areas so that we can immediately respond to when the conditions are safe,” said Dumschat.

Dumschat said if people return to find their homes lost to the storm, the Red Cross can host those for weeks, providing hot meals and places to sleep.

The Bay Center shelter is animal-friendly, allowing families to travel with ease while evacuating with their pets.

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