MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County Chapter of the American Red Cross has found a new home.

Forced to relocate with the closing of the former governmental building on South Main Street, the Red Cross moved even farther south to settle in its own building at 105 Sunset Circle, just across the street from Colquitt Urgent Care.

“We’re thrilled to have our new location, and I think it’s going to be adequate for us — not near the size we had before. The only drawback is we have to pay for it now,” Red Cross Chair Ron Horn said.

Two and a half years ago Georgia could claim 110 Red Cross chapters. Now, only 27 remain. The Colquitt County chapter’s charter narrowly escaped the ax, but its membership and the community pulled it through.

That dedication is best demonstrated by last year’s blood collection. Colquitt County came in seventh out of 2,700 blood collection efforts for the entire year.

The new building will cost between $7,000 and $10,000 a year in extra expenses, and so far, the chapter’s campaign drive is lagging. Members have raised only one-third of the goal, Horn said.

The transition has been fairly smooth with the exception of communications, board member Dale Culp said. The tower and radio system, crucial in a disaster, are still at the governmental building. The Red Cross and the Colquitt County Emergency Management Agency are still working out what to do, Culp said.

Hurricane season is here. The National Weather Service warns that there is an above average probability for tropical cyclones and U.S. hurricane landfall.

The number of U.S. tornadoes for May has already doubled the number of last year, taking the lives of 42 people compared to four in 2002, National Weather Service scientists said. Because of the unusually high instance of tornadoes this year, the national American Red Cross is stressed for resources, and where do they turn for help in a times of crisis? They tap the local chapters, Horn said.

“The bucket is empty,” Culp said. “Folks need to be aware that needs go on.”

“If you spent one day in a Red Cross family services center, you would see how many thousands of dollars go out to families immediately,” Blood Services Chair Lee Russell added.

“But thanks to the generosity of the American public, all disaster services and training are free,” Executive Director Helen Sewell said.

A large part of the Red Cross is education. It provides brochures on disaster preparedness and fire prevention. The Red Cross also supplies the training materials for a certified nursing assistant class.

On top of bracing for storm season, the chapter has been inundated with requests for military services because of the war with Iraq.