Since the Flood of 2009 forced Robert Ray and his family out of their Austell apartment two weeks ago, the Red Cross shelter at the Cobb Civic Center has been "home."

But early Thursday morning, they and about 60 others said goodbye as the shelter closed.

"We are ready to go," said Ray, who is moving to a townhouse in Mableton with his three teenagers and a cousin. "But we've come to know a lot of great people here. It's been hectic because everybody's got their own stress and then being pressed into a big open room among strangers. But everybody's handled it well. We'll be staying in touch with some of these people."

Sixty-eight people slept at the shelter Wednesday night, Red Cross officials said. At its peak, the shelter was home to 260 people.

About 30 people moved to a temporary shelter at Zion Baptist Church in Marietta on Thursday morning. The others have been placed in "long-term accommodations," said Red Cross spokesman Ruben Brown.

Staffers of the Federal Emergency Management Agency have also been at the shelter since Sept. 24, when President Obama signed the federal disaster declaration.

"The shelter population was indeed our first priority, to get them on the road to recovery," said Dianna Gee, a FEMA spokeswoman. "But we want to help as many people as we can.

"No matter how much your damage is, large or small, even if you think you don't qualify - don't disqualify yourself. You're not going to hurt anyone, or take away from anyone else, by applying.

"FEMA covers uninsured and underinsured losses to your primary residence. If you register, that's the first step. Number two is get an inspection and see if we can verify that the damages were the result of the flood. If so, you may be eligible for grants - money you don't have to pay back - to get you back on your feet."

Gee said that since the federal disaster declaration on Sept. 24, her agency has disbursed $37 million to Georgians affected by the floods. That represents about 17,000 applicants, she said.

To register with FEMA or get more information, call 1 (800) 621-3362 or go online to www.disasterassistance.gov.