Evacuation centers in Middle Georgia now open to those fleeing Hurricane Milton

Several centers are open across Middle Georgia, including in Bibb, Houston and Monroe counties.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Pauline Rasmussen says she and her husband Ned have experienced several hurricanes together, but she had to convince him Milton would be different and that there was a need to evacuate.

“I don’t want to have to stand there and watch everything get demolished, or anybody have to come rescue me,” Rasmussen said. “He doesn’t really like to go away like this. And I said, ‘If you don’t go, I’m going without you, because I’m afraid of what we’re going to hear.'”

While millions of people across the southeastern United States are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, officials in Florida and neighboring states are preparing for Hurricane Milton to make landfall on Wednesday. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross have partnered to open evacuation centers for Floridians like the Rasmussen family.

Several centers are open across Middle Georgia, including in Bibb, Houston and Monroe counties. According to Holly Long, the Executive Director of the Central Midwest Chapter of the American Red Cross, these centers will remain open for as long as they are needed.

“Our amazing team of Red Crossers are going to provide hope and care and hugs and comfort as these people are fleeing their home,” Long said. “That’s a really emotional situation. They don’t know what they’re going to go home to. And so, our priority is going to be to give them hope, comfort and a safe place to come and be together as we ride out this storm.”

As for Rasmussen, she says many of she and her husband’s friends in The Villages were debating about whether to leave before the storm hits. She prays they ended up making the right decision.

“Just leave,” she said. “I would tell everybody to just leave and get as far away as you can. That’s what I would say, for your own sake, and for the people who love you.”

For a full list of evacuation centers in the area, click here: https://gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-milton