Red Cross on standby

GAINESVILLE - The Red Cross is ready to open shelters in northeast Georgia if conditions warrant.

Cheryl Vandiver, development director for the Northeast Georgia Chapter, says whether shelters are opened will depend on the need and the duration of the problem.

"We have approved shelters," Vandiver said, "(and) if it were to be a flooding area or high winds that caused power outages, if its only two or three families affected, we would (not open shelters, but) put them in a hotel."

Forecasters say our area is subject to winds gusting to more than 50 mph and 6-8 inches of rain, with 10-12 inches possible for the mountains.