ST. LOUIS – The demand for storm recovery assistance is high, as the American Red Cross opens its fifth shelter location for victims in St. Louis.

“We have five shelters and added one over the weekend,” said Sharon Watson, Communications Director for the American Red Cross. “We’re seeing the population stabilizing from 225 to 250; that number changes every night as people come and go. But we see the need and will continue to keep the ones we have open and open additional ones as needed.”

Much like the tarped roofs of St. Louis, inside a shelter is a tapestry of forty or more cots with blankets and personal items.

Many arriving at the shelter are looking for a path forward in life, following the tornado’s devastation.

“Well, they are not trying; they’re getting us to our doctor appointments or therapy,” said Sonja Hemphill, who lost her home in the tornado. “They have mental services we need. They’re doing everything to make sure that we are okay.”

In University City, the Red Cross is working in conjunction with Refresh Community Church to offer a place to sleep, three warm meals a day and assistance with doctor appointments.

“One of the things we do is we make sure that someone is assigned to you going forward for the long term,” Watson said. “Helping find housing or whatever your need or even finding a job. So there’s a lot of things happening at the shelter to help people get back on their feet.”

Sharon Watson says there is financial help also available through the American Red Cross to those that qualify. According to Watson, the shelters will continue to be open until further notice.