Kennesaw State invited residents displaced by Hurricane Florence to its football home-opener game against Alabama State University on Saturday, Sept. 15, as the storm approached the Carolinas.
All residents with a valid North Carolina or South Carolina ID were able to receive a complimentary ticket to the game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, according to the athletic department’s website.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this hurricane,” Director of Athletics Milton Overton said. “For those families displaced by the storm and seeking shelter here in northwest Georgia, we welcome you to our home and hope that a few hours of college football can provide a sense of normalcy during this difficult time.”
A limited supply of tickets were available on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to the department’s website.
KSU’s athletic department also hosted Coastal Carolina University’s women’s soccer team on Friday, Sept. 14, according the KSU’s website. The team was scheduled to play against Arkansas-Little Rock, but the university could no longer host the game in South Carolina after students evacuated and the campus closed in anticipation of the hurricane’s arrival.
Coastal Carolina reached out to KSU women’s soccer coach Benji Walton about the team playing their game against Arkansas-Little Rock at KSU, and the KSU’s Department of Event and Venue Management coordinated an agreement with Coastal Carolina, according to KSU’s website. The game was held at KSU’s Sports and Entertainment Park.
“We were more than happy to offer our facilities and work out the details quickly to give Coastal Carolina this option,” said Zach Kerns, executive director of the KSU Sports and Entertainment Park. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our students, so we welcome any university that seeks our assistance in helping keep their students safe.”
According to WSB, the storm has brought heavy flooding to North Carolina and South Carolina since it made land on Thursday, Sept. 13. The largest amount of rain recorded so far was in Swansboro, North Carolina at 34 inches of rain.
“That is going to drive the heaviest rain north out of South Carolina, eventually out of North Carolina — although it will likely be another couple of days before all is said and done in North Carolina,” WSB Meteorologist Katie Walls said.
Florence was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday, Sept. 16, according to WSB.
