Chattanooga flood victim says he's thankful to The American Red Cross for providing him shelter

Four people are dead and hundreds more are displaced after severe flash flooding swept through Chattanooga and parts of northwest Georgia. In just a matter of hours, much of the city was underwater — with some areas seeing nearly seven inches of rain.

As floodwaters rose, residents were forced to abandon vehicles and evacuate their homes. The American Red Cross opened the Chris L. Ramsey Sr. Community Center (also known as the Brainerd Rec Center) to provide shelter for those in need.

“If they need a place to stay, or if they need to just pick up some cleaning items, we have some cleanup kits available as well,” said Julia Wright with the Red Cross.

More than 20 people and their pets sought refuge at the center Tuesday night. Volunteers provided cots, meals, and cleanup kits containing