AP: Texas

09/07/2005

Associated Press

REFUGEES

The estimated number of refugees staying in Texas shelters and hotels is slightly less than 240,000, according to Gov. Rick Perry's office. It was believed the number declined over the weekend because some evacuees were beginning to find relatives or other places to stay out of state.

The largest numbers were living or registered in:

HOUSTON

Astrodome, 22,900

George R. Brown Convention Center, 2,900

DALLAS

Reunion Arena, 7,122

Convention Center, 9,825

SAN ANTONIO

Former Kelly Air Force Base and other shelters: 6,200

People displaced by the hurricane were also know to be staying in shelters at the following cities or counties: Austin, Amarillo, Beaumont, Bell County, Brenham, College Station, El Paso, Galveston County, Hardin County, Jacksonville, Lubbock, Lufkin, Marshall, Mont Belvieu, Nacogdoches County, Orange, South County and Tyler.

The list does not take into account people staying in private homes, campgrounds or places such as church-run shelters.

DEVELOPMENTS

_ The U.S. Department of Labor announced immediate release Tuesday of more than $23 million for the Texas Workforce Commission to help evacuees find jobs.

_ The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized cities and counties to pay for travel vouchers out of state for evacuees. FEMA also plans to give out $2,000 debit cards to evacuees for essential items.

_ Plans to temporarily house 4,000 evacuees aboard two cruise ships were canceled. Refugees were concerned about living on water.

_ Gov. Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, who's a nurse, on Tuesday visited hurricane evacuees at shelters in Killeen, Tyler and Beaumont.

_ Coordination of federal lawsuits painkiller Vioxx was to be moved to Houston from New Orleans.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Labor; Ted Royer, spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, federal court.