Only 18 evacuees from the Gulf Coast stayed at the Nashville Area Red Cross shelter at Crievewood Baptist Church this weekend.
That’s down from an average of about 75 last week. Many evacuees are finding homes or staying with relatives.
Chris White is a psychiatric nurse practitioner volunteering at the shelter. White says evacuees are generally upbeat and are beginning to transition away from the events of Hurricane Katrina.
“I’ve talked to people today who’ve already obtained employment and who’ve rented apartments and are ready to move out. Interesting on that point is the impression or the consideration that having been in a shelter surrounded by people who’ve experienced something similar to them that they’re going to be moving into an apartment on their own and it’s going to be the first opportunity to kind of reflect on what’s happened.”
The shelter will be staffed through at least October if evacuees still need a place to stay.
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