Evacuees Escape Gustav in Chattanooga

Around 6,000 people will be evacuating to Tennessee, today 150 of them arrived at the Brainerd Recreation Center on Moore Road.

Jamila Edmonds and her brother Daoudi Edmonds have been traveling almost 24 hours from Kenner, Louisiana. Jamila is 8 months pregnant.

"At first I was going to just stay but my husband said he would feel more comfortable if I evacuated," says Edmonds.

The Edmonds along with over 100 other evacuees arrived this afternoon to the Brainerd Recreation Center. After a plane ride, buses brought 123 adults and 11 children from Knoxville. However these evacuees were supposed to be here yesterday, but complications between Louisiana and Tennessee delayed their trip.

"We finally got on board but the hardest part was riding two hours on a bus to get here. But I think everyone feels safe," says Jamila Edmonds.

"I've been through the earthquakes in California so I am doing fine, just here to help everyone especially my sister, " says Daoudi Edmond.

Getting ahead of the storm, the Red Cross and other agencies have been preparing for evacuees since Monday. They've put up highway welcome signs and prepared living space for 180 people in the Recreation Center gym. Aside from a few mishaps, official say this time is going better than the last.

"Instead of afterm we are getting people evacuated ahead of time, and trying to keep these people safe," says John Hitchins with the American Red Cross.

When these evacuees will be able to leave depends on where Gustav hits and how much damage is done. But officials say they are prepared for anything.

"I just hope Gustav, I hope he goes away and leaves Louisiana alone," says Edmonds.

Ecept for officials and volunteers, no outsiders will be let into the Brainerd Recreation Center until the evacuees leave. Red Cross volunteers say inside the center, evacuees are getting medical examinations and volunteers from several organizations are serving food.

The Red Cross is accepting monetary donations, if you want to donate of volunteer you can click on the link attached to this story to get to their website.