The Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross says it will close its shelter at the BJCC Friday and the evacuees will be taken to other shelters in the area.

A number of rumors have been circulating in Birmingham about why the shelter’s closing … some saying the BJCC is “kicking” the hurricane refugees out to make room for an event there.

Ike Pigott is the Public Affairs Officer for the Birmingham Chapter of the Red Cross. He says the allegation’s not true at all; in fact, the BJCC has gone above and beyond to help the displaced Gulf Coast residents.