Sept. 23, 2009 -- As rising flood waters cover the Southeast, hundreds have looked to the American Red Cross for shelter. Last night alone, more than 400 people took refuge in Red Cross shelters in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Georgia has been hit the hardest, particularly around the city of Atlanta where as much as a foot of rain fell Monday. Governor Sonny Purdue has declared a state of emergency in 17 counties.

The Red Cross is providing a safe place to stay, food to eat, and a shoulder to lean on for those affected by the flooding. Preliminary estimates from emergency management officials indicate that as many as 1,000 people could potentially need sheltering.

Long Islanders can help people affected by disasters, like the current floods, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit www.redcross.org.

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