Posted on 09/03/2005 8:49:17 PM PDT by SolidSupplySide
HOUSTON — With more than 220,000 hurricane refugees camped out in Texas and more coming, Gov. Rick Perry warned today that his enormous state was running out of room.
"Texas is committed to doing everything it can to help our neighbors from Louisiana, but we want to make certain that we can provide them with the medical care, food, shelter, safety, education and other services they need to start getting their lives back together," Perry said in a statement. "Local officials are beginning to notify us that they are quickly approaching capacity in the number of evacuees they believe they can assist."
About 18,500 survivors were housed in Houston's Astrodome and an adjacent meeting hall. More than 120,000 refugees were in 97 shelters in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and dozens of smaller cities across the vast state, Perry's office said, with another 100,000 in hotels and motels. Uncounted more were in churches or private homes.
Buses continued to arrive at the Astrodome, where many were redirected to other evacuation centers after people were processed and evaluated for medical conditions.
"We have notified FEMA and Louisiana officials that we are nearing capacity," said Robert Black, a spokesman for Perry.
More than 50 military and commercial flights deposited more than 7,000 evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. At Dallas' luxurious Wyndham Anatole hotel, a few guests looked forward to a quieter evening, compliments of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, after spending Friday night on the roof of New Orleans' Baptist Memorial Hospital ferrying patients to safety.
Hospital worker James Bell felt guilty.
"I could be down (at a shelter) and have a couple families here," he said.
Evacuees also were housed at Reunion Arena in Dallas. As a few people smoked cigarettes outside, a plane emerged overhead trailing a sign that read, "Shame on You George Bush."
(*And, I have been trying to do my part by getting a room for that N.O. Mayor a room in Pinevile.)
***
what is Pineville?
Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have all added a new suburb overnight. These new suburbs have no land, money, infrastructure, or government. When you account for all the small towns around Texas that have shelters, many of the Texas towns have immediately matched their growth plans for the next decade.
So sweet. It's hard to think of the little ones going thru this terrible disaster.
I've donated money and hugged my grandchildren tighter.
I work at the charity hospital here in Baton Rouge; we have been defined as a decrepit, falling-down, outdated, campus that should have been torn down. Well I'm sure that there are many patients that we are caring for that are grateful that we haven't been "put down". "All" the evacuees are not being shipped out the state. Baton Rouge had a pop of 225-250K; by this weekend we expect to be around 600K +/- and are taking care of the sickest of the sick as we are the closest. Your "refugees" will soon begin to filter back and will be in Beaumont, Lake Charles, Crowley, Lafayette, and finally Baton Rouge as a holding area. Thanks for your help and don't worry I can assure you we have a lot more that you. I don't know what your "notions as to why" are, but if you had a notion to come give a hand here I'd thank you personally!
Bump.
You rock.
I'm still waiting for the big liberal cities to take in their 'fair share'
"Evacuees also were housed at Reunion Arena in Dallas. As a few people smoked cigarettes outside, a plane emerged overhead trailing a sign that read, "Shame on You George Bush."
What? Is Cindy now flying around in a plane?
Perry is a do-nothing, go-along-to-get-along, moderate, big government Republican
Where is Ted Kennedy? Have not heard of any offers to help out from him.
They aren't all being moved out of state, the population of Baton Rouge has more than doubled
Thanks Texas, we are busting at the seams here in Baton Rouge and will probably pop. We (BR) really don't like being the largest city in La.
In Austin, one friend who works at a daycare yesterday inherited an adorable 4-month old, who everybody's clamoring for, while waiting for parents.
My daughter's high school is absorbing 85 refugees Monday. They'll be the only blacks on campus.
I think the problem is the refugees are being taken in by people somewhat different culturally and I'm not sure if this is a good thing in the long run.
Sorry, Mpls/St. Paul is full-up with Hmong, Somalian and Mexican.
Americans are last in line for social services here. And I aint-a-kiddin'.
Detroit and Cleveland have had declining populations for decades. They should each be able to take in 50,000 and provide them with land for housing. Buffalo, Erie, Youngstown, etc. all have room for at least 10,000 each.
Call me caloused, but I won't donate a red cent to the NO refugees. Mississippi, yes. NO no. They elected their inept leaders that are now blaming everyone else for their woes. NO's problems are self created. Levees not high enough? Fed's fault. BS! They've known of this problem for years. Where's the mayor's disaster preparedness plan? The governor's? Non-existent. Now it's Bush's fault? I DON'T THINK SO!!!
Especially when he could have offered himself as a barge service.
Thanks for your help and don't worry I can assure you we have a lot more that you
*****
I'm in Missouri, so I expect you do.
He's a former 'Rat ...pathetic RINO.
Louisiana insane asylum. Discussion HERE.
You left out 'country club'. All that you wrote is true; unfortunately he is the best bet in the primary.
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