By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
An Emergency Declaration sought from President George W. Bush for Texas by Gov. Rick Perry today was granted, making Texas eligible for a portion of the $10.5 billion in federal aid approved by Congress to assist with the rescue and recovery of the thousands of Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Texas has opened its arms and its borders to tens of thousands of evacuees, who are being housed in shelters from Houston to Marshall, with other cities as far away as Lubbock offering shelter facilities.
With the influx of these thousands of evacuees to Texas, some cities are facing strains on their medical facilities and medical supplies as well as other available resources. The federal funding will help the state deal with these issues.
"Hurricane Katrina, a disaster for our neighboring states, has created emergency conditions in Texas that will require all available resources of both federal and state governments to overcome," Perry said in seeking federal assistance. "We will do all we can as a state and a people to help our neighbors to the East who have lost so much."
Following is a list from Gov. Rick Perry's office outlining the aid and support being offered to Louisiana evacuees by the state of Texas:
- 1,000 Texas National Guard troops have been deployed for in-Texas security and support operations.
- Gov. Perry issued an Executive Order suspending both the state and local hotel/motel taxes for the next 60 days for Louisiana evacuees.
- On Sept. 1, the governor requested an Emergency Declaration from the President Bush. IRS approved the waiver request that will allow an estimated 18,000 vacant income eligible housing units to be used by refugees for Louisiana.
- On Sept. 1, the governor issued an Emergency Proclamation in the state as Texas deals with the thousands of evacuees from the Gulf Coast.
- 25,000 evacuees will be sheltered in the Houston area including the Astrodome.
- 25,000 evacuees will be sheltered in the San Antonio area, including Kelly USA.
- 25,000 evacuees will be sheltered in the Dallas Area including Reunion Arena.
- Governor Perry is requesting additional Texas cities open additional shelters to house incoming evacuees.
- Corpus Christi has agreed to take in 5,000 evacuees.
- Austin has agreed to take 5,000 evacuees.
- FreeScale Semiconducter in Austin has offered an empty facility to take 1,000 evacuees.
- Lubbock can take 1,000 evacuees.
- Amarillo will receive 500 evacuees.
- Bell County 400.
- El Paso 350.
- The governor's office has received calls from Utah, West Virginia and Arkansas to take evacuees.
- Governor Perry has activated the OneStar Foundation to act as a volunteer/donation clearinghouse for anyone in the country wishing to donate cash and non-cash items, food or volunteer. 400 hundred phone lines. 1-800-707-6768 or www. OneStarFoundation.org.
- Five school districts in the Houston area are preparing for an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 school-aged children that will be arriving at the Astrodome. Texas is currently working through capacity and transportation issues as well as trying to provide additional teachers for those schools that have a large influx of new students.
- The Texas Workforce Commission is going to assist with Unemployment Insurance Claims and with helping folks find work who want to go to work.
- The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, along with several private organizations, are identifying apartments and other housing options where the refugees can take their FEMA vouchers and to find a place to live during this time.
- The Higher Education Coordinating Board is assisting students with getting enrolled in Texas colleges and universities. College students displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be eligible for in-state tuition rates at Texas colleges and universities.
- The Health and Human Services Commission is helping identify food stamp eligible individuals and those who need prescription drug support.
SHELTERS
- 56 shelters are open
- There are a total of 10,594 evacuees in the shelters as of 6:00 pm.
- Houston Astrodome - currently over 10,000 evacuees
- First buses began arriving just after 11 pm Wednesday night and will continue to arrive throughout the next several days
- Evacuees are able to contact their relatives, 1,000 phone lines also being installed in the Astrodome
- Medical personnel on hand to check out storm victims as they arrive. Counseling services are being provided
- Expecting to open Six Flags across the street to evacuees at no charge
- Officials stressing rest for the time being. Getting folks food and water. Security procedures are in place
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ACTIONS
The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) field offices will extend office hours as needed to help clients with such needs as Medicaid and expedited Food Stamp benefits, as well as referrals to other federal, state and local resources offering assistance
HHSC has provided Texas pharmacies with information on how to provide assistance to Louisiana residents on Medicaid who need to fill their prescriptions in Texas
Louisiana residents with Food Stamp benefits can use their electronic benefits cards at many large retailers including HEB, Kroger and Wal-Mart
HHSC's emergency services program is working to provide water and ice to Texas sites housing evacuees
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is providing assistance with the placement and monitoring of Louisiana foster care children as needed, including 49 children from a New Orleans facility
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services is coordinating the use of available nursing facility beds on an as-needed basis
The Texas Department of State Health Services is working to provide Louisiana clients on the Women, Infants, and Children Program with access to their food and nutrition benefits in Texas
Louisiana evacuees may dial 2-1-1 for around-the-clock information about evacuations, shelters and other resources. Due to the uncertainty of cell phone access from providers outside of Texas, the 2-1-1 Texas system has implemented a toll-free number, 1-888-312-4567, for disaster information
SECURITY
The Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department, and Department of Public Safety have instituted a security plan at the Astrodome
DPS will provide whatever security resources necessary
DEPLOYED
Task Force 1: 80 Search and Rescue
35 Person Water Rescue Team
8 UH-60's Blackhawks with Search and Rescue capability
2 CH-47 Chinooks
1 C-23 STOL (short take off and landing)
1 C-26 FLIR (forward looking infrared radar)
3 C-130 Cargo Aircraft
1 ISIS Communications Package
50 Game Wardens with 50 trucks and boats
6 HEMMT fuelers (heavy equipment material transport trucks)
50 Ambulances
1 IMT 60 persons (incident management team)
LNO team Baton Rouge (liaison officer team)
300 Military Police
120 Combat Engineers
350 Forward Support Battalion
50 ANG Spears Package
80 Medical Personnel
1 Tanker Airlift Control Element (TALCE)
FUTURE ANTICIPATED REQUESTS
5 Medical Doctors
69 Nurses
10 HEMMT Diesel Fuel Trucks
300 National Guard Security Forces, Non-Law Enforcement
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
12 Helicopters (Private)
2 Fixed Wing Aircraft (Private)
60 Ambulances
2 Disaster Trailers
254 EMS Personnel, EMT & Paramedics
486 Nurses
576 Doctors
25 Respiratory Therapists
8 Mental Health Workers
128 Pharmacists
PRICE GOUGING
Texas has established a network to monitor price gouging
Texas has been working with business associations to obtain their assistance to prevent gouging
Texas is prepared to quickly address price gouging as soon as it is reported
TOTAL PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO LOUISIANA
Army National Guard: 1,087
Texas Task Force 1: 123
Texas Forest Services: 69
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: 50
Governor's Division of Emergency Management: 3
TOTAL: 1,232
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Traffic management will be handled by local law enforcement personnel and DPS Troopers
The Texas Department of Transportation has set up electronic road signs with information on the 2-1-1 service