Austin continues to assist its neighbors from the coast

For immediate release
Sept. 12, 2008

The Austin area is housing thousands of Hurricane Ike evacuees from the Texas coast tonight. Plans are under way to open temporary housing facilities at middle and high school gymnasiums throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. The evacuation shelters will provide a clean, air-conditioned environment with food, clean restrooms and in many cases, showers.

As of 8 p.m. there were 5639 evacuees in 21 Austin area shelters and officials say that number is growing. "We have seen a steady increase of traffic into the shelters over the course of the day," says Otis J. Latin, Sr., Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the City of Austin, "We are in full operation of our Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan."

The City's Emergency Operations Center is fully staffed tonight with representatives from 60 agencies and departments from local governments, school districts, the American Red Cross, area hospitals and several other volunteer groups.

Over 450 volunteers were processed today at the Volunteer Resource Center to assist with the operations, but with over 150 Austinites volunteering in shelters tonight, it is evident many more will be needed in the coming days. Austin area residents interested in volunteering at the shelters or in other operations are urged to visit the American Red Cross of Central Texas Web site at www.centex.redcross.org where they can fill out an online application and background check, then visit the center to be trained, scheduled and credentialed.