The Cherokee County EMA says that all available storm shelters in Cherokee County will officially be opening beginning at 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening. If the need arises, they will open them sooner.

SHELTER LOCATIONS:

Leesburg FEMA Building
Sand Rock Storm Shelter
New Bethel Storm Shelter
Cedar Bluff Community Center
Cheorkee County Courthouse Basement
Centre First Baptist Church Basement

If you choose to use a community shelter, it is important you should use as many precautions as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 the best you can. You will need to bring a protective mask and hand sanitizer with you. The protective mask should be worn at all times while you’re inside the community shelter and hand sanitizer should be used often.

We want to stress that NOW is the time to make sure your family has an emergency plan in place. Know where to go, those places include the lowest interior room of your home away from windows or your basement. Top floors DO NOT protect you, Exterior rooms and rooms with windows DO NOT protect you and most importantly, NO place outside is safe from a Tornado.