Thread: Hurricane victims to begin moving to apartments

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Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005



Hurricane victims to begin moving to apartments

By Melissa Sanchez
Special to the Star-Telegram

DALLAS - Hurricane Katrina evacuees staying in Dallas shelters will begin the journey to their new homes this afternoon, city officials said.

Project Exodus in conjunction with The Mayor's Disaster Relief Plan, which exceeded $1.2 million Wednesday, will move evacuees to apartments and help with expenses for 60 days, officials said. The city hopes FEMA will then step in. The city still needs roughly $2 million to help all 1,500 evacuees.

As the number of evacuees dwindled to 800 in both shelters Wednesday, officials decided to consolidate them in Reunion Arena, city spokesman Celso Martinez said. The convention center will prepare for an upcoming conference next week, and Reunion Arena has "more than ample capacity," to deal with the rest of the evacuees, he said.

Those with special needs will continue to call Reunion Arena home until adequate housing can be found, Martinez said. Mayor Laura Miller is personally attending to those needs, Martinez said.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit will continue to provide transportation to all evacuees, and the Dallas school district will continue enrolling students, officials said. About 1,600 evacuees have been enrolled so far, school district officials said Wednesday.

Anyone who still needs government assistance should go to 7117 Akard St. and register with FEMA, senior FEMA official Justo Hernandez said.

"We will remain open for as long as we are needed," he said.

FEMA will also provide free transportation to evacuees who wish to return to New Orleans or to Biloxi, Miss., pending coordination with officials in those cities, Hernandez said.

Illegal immigrants affected by the hurricane can also receive benefits from FEMA if they have a relative who is a United States citizen, Hernandez said. They can also find help through their country's consulate, he said.

"We can help them if they provide us with their information," Hernandez said. "We will not give their information to immigration. We want to help them."

Illegal immigrants affected by the hurricane can also receive benefits from FEMA if they have a relative who is a United States citizen, Hernandez said. They can also find help through their country's consulate, he said.

"We can help them if they provide us with their information," Hernandez said. "We will not give their information to immigration. We want to help them."

Why not help them go back to their country of origin?