GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – “We have plenty of food, it’s warm and dry in here.”
More than three dozen Green Bay residents who live along East Mason Street have been transported to Preble High School as it serves as a temporary shelter.
“We had a total of thirty-nine people check-in,” explains Colleen Swenson, with the Red Cross. “We have had people now able to leave with family and friends.”
Colleen Swenson is a veteran with the Red Cross, but admits that the scene Friday morning was fast-paced and required a number of volunteers.
“It can be a little hectic, but our biggest thing is when they walk through the doors we want them to feel comfortable, we want them to know we care, we’re here for a reason, it’s to help them,” she explains.
She says the plan is to keep doors open into the weekend as many residents could be coming home to a bad surprise.
“Because you never know with the times changing and stuff,” she says. “People getting home from work and like, ‘Oh no, my house was damaged and I didn’t even realize it.’”
If need be, they can still house evacuated individuals into next week as Preble High School will be entering spring break.
For now, the doors are open to anyone, but pets will have to find a home elsewhere.
According to Swenson, they already helped one person in finding a spot for their pup.
“We contacted the humane society and through Human Health & Services they worked with them and are actually housing the dog for them,” she says.
Cheryl Long lives on Cass Street, which is right by the East River.
Early Friday morning she attempted to stay in her residence, but hours later was forced to leave and get picked up by a boat.
That gave her only minutes to quickly toss together some items to take with her.
“Just had to grab what you can right away and go because you had to get in there,” she says. “I grabbed my mittens, a soda, a couple of pairs of clothes.”
She was being transported to Preble High School and wasn’t sure what her plan would be afterward.
Long mentioned that she was calling her daughters in order to hopefully pick her up later.
On top of all of this, she’s concerned about her vehicle, which was parked on the street and almost entirely submerged when she was taken by boat from her residence.
“I’m worried about my car, because I said, ‘There goes my transportation now,’” she explains.
