Red Cross shelter opens in Knoxville ahead of Hurricane Florence

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - Even before Hurricane Florence makes landfall, the American Red Cross is already prepared with shelters set up.

There are three shelters in Tennessee in Johnson City, Chattanooga and Knoxville. The Knoxville shelter is located at Central Baptist of Bearden, according to TEMA.

"Diasters happen, natural disasters. We all know they happen. Might as well be prepared for it, organized,"

said Alan Ganzman, a volunteer for the Red Cross.

Ganzman and his wife Carrie are working the first overnight shift at the shelter. It was set up Thursday afternoon in a few hours. Although no one has arrived yet, Ganzman says it's better to be prepared.

"We can't plan for everything, but we can certainly plan for what we can think of,"

said Ganzman.

How long the shelter stays open will be assessed on a day-to-day basis. There are two checks daily, one in the morning and one at night, taking a count of how many are staying at the shelter at those times.