Houston Katrina evacuees by the numbers

[PDittie]

These are from yesterday's Astrodome news conference:

• 16,000 hurricane victims are living in the Dome (down from 17,500 from Monday)

• 4,500 in Reliant Arena (up from 2,300)

• 2,400 in Reliant Center (down from 3,800)

• 2,500 in the George R. Brown Convention Center (up from 1300)

• 40 new arrivals last (Monday) night, 51 this (Tuesday) morning

• 300 cases of the Norwalk virus.

• 0 cases of cholera despite rumors to the contrary.

• 0 curfew violators (implementation of 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew postponed a day to get the word out).

• 37 arrests, from disorderly conduct to public intoxication.

• 2 reports of sexual assaults; one proven to be false and one still under investigation.

Prior to the opening of the hurricane shelters in Houston (and elsewhere in Texas), there were an estimated 55,000 Louisianians lodged in Houston-area hotels and motels. Many of those were forced to relocate at the end of last week, due either to their own dwindling resources or at the lodgers' request. There is no reliable estimate of the number of people who fled Katrina who stayed with friends, family, at churches, etc. A minimum of 100,000 people -- and estimates as high as 250,000 -- were (and remain) relocated from Louisiana to Houston and nearby cities as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The Houston Chronicle's DomeBlog has proven to be the best source for this kind of information (and a lot more).

(edited for clarity)

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. kick

[intheflow]

2. Nominated and kicked.

I'm going to post a link to this thread in GD, see if we can get it on the Greatest Page. Thanks for the info!

[PDittie]

5. Thanks for the boost, intheflow n/t

[NoPasaran]

3. nominated

[all.of.me]

4. 16,000 people is bigger than my whole county!

nominated.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Thanks sweetie.

The Norwalk makes sense, now that I've read the description.

Another poster the other day mentioned a friend who was a nurse, I believe in Biloxi...said they were seeing flesh eating bacteria show up, that they thought was washed in with oysters from the storm surge.

People's shoes being in such bad shape and soggy; they were stepping on the oyster shells and cutting their feet.

You rule Dittie, have I told you that lately? Mrs Dittie found herself a helluva fella! :loveya: !

:hi:
FSC

[PDittie]

7. you are the sweetest cookie

I know. I hope you're feeling well.

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. Aw shucks....

:blush:

FSC

[PDittie]

8. The numbers are going DOWN fast

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3342643">Tally of evacuees drops dramatically

According to the latest tally, considered the most reliable to date, 8,066 hurricane victims are still stranded at the three Reliant Park shelters and the downtown George R. Brown Convention Center, down from 25,400 reported just Tuesday. It's evident at a glance that evacuees have more breathing room than they did last weekend, but it's hard to track how many people are simply switching shelters, moving in with relatives or actually finding more permanent housing. In fact, it's hard to get an accurate headcount at all.

After Reliant Park imposed a curfew for the first time last night, authorities were able to do their most accurate headcount so far. But during the day, no one stands guard at the gates to ask evacuees whether they're going out for groceries or leaving for good, so even the latest numbers are fluid. People are free to pack up and go without notifying anyone, and they do just that.

"I wouldn't say there was a large exodus in the last 24 hours," said Coast Guard Lt. Joe Leonard, who's in charge of Houston's megashelters.

Although lines are shorter and no one's fighting over cots anymore, there are still plenty of people in need of help. This morning's tally of evacuees came to 2,930 in the Astrodome, down from 16,000 on Tuesday; 1,800 in the Reliant Arena, down from 4,500; 2,000 in Reliant Center, down from 2,400; and 1,336 in the George R. Brown Convention Center, down from 2,500.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. Too bad they aren't asking where they're going

I would never REQUIRE that evacuees say where they were headed, but it would be nice to know.

[Courtesy Flush]

9. Houston is awesome

I live in South Louisiana, in a small city. Everything here is at or beyond capacity. All rental property is filled and stores are packed.

Without Houston and its magnanimity, we'd be in deep poop.

My mom married a Houstonian two years ago, and he brags endlessly about Texas. It's not just talk!

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Just remember some of that love...

the next time folks start bashing Texas!

FSC :hi: