The Red Cross has taken over the Black River Coliseum in an effort to provide shelter and warm meals to flood victims and evacuees in a joint effort with the United Gospel Rescue Mission.
Red Cross Site Director Jeff Shawan said as of Tuesday morning, the shelter is housing 138 people.
"We may lose some today but depending on what happens with Black River, we could see our numbers rise significantly," he said.
The Red Cross provides cots and blankets to the flood victims, while the rescue mission is delivering three meals each day.
Fifty-eight year old David Succaw voluntarily left his home Monday morning and arrived at the shelter around 7 a.m. He said his decision to leave was a precautionary measure, as water hadn't yet reached his home when he left.
"I've lived on Truman Street for eight years now, and I'm hoping and praying it doesn't flood," Succaw said. "Oh Lord, I hope it doesn't."
Red Cross Southeast Missouri Disaster Program Manager Nick Nunn-Faron said between 200 and 250 people are expected to stay in the shelter this week. During the 2008 flood, Shawan said the Red Cross housed approximately 135 people, but this week's numbers have already exceed that figure.
"Another thing we're able to do are family reconnections, it's called Safe and Well," Nunn-Faron said. "If someone loses their phone or gets separated, we can give them an opportunity to check in so their family knows they're safe."
The Red Cross is currently in the initial response phase, but according to Nunn-Faron, will transition later this week to helping folks return to their homes by providing shovels, meals, and other items they may need to get back on track.
Shawan said he would like to ask the public to hold off on bringing supplies to the coliseum's campus today, as the Red Cross is establishing an off-site location for receiving donations that should be open Wednesday.
"We appreciate everything the community has done, but let's hold off until tomorrow on bringing things in. We're hopefully going to have an off-site location up and running by tomorrow and we will announce the exact location when it's known," Shawan said.
U.S. Representative Jason Smith visited the coliseum last night. He toured the shelter and visited with evacuees.
"His visit went well," Shawan said. "(Smith) said he has been living in the Eighth Congressional District all week bouncing from one disaster to another."
Aside from housing people, the coliseum is also providing safety for pets who have been displaced during the disaster. In a combined effort with the Butler County Health Department and the Animal Welfare Alliance, dogs, cats and even ferrets had found refuge on the Red Cross's site.