North Texas
(2008-09-22)
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Dallas Emergency Management Director Kenny Shaw says hundreds of others have been boarding buses Monday and Tuesday to return to Houston and other hard-hit areas.
Shaw says shelter operations went pretty smoothly, though he hopes FEMA will provide stronger financial support to future evacuees.
Shaw:
Rule number one is people who utilize shelters don't have money, otherwise they wouldn't be staying in shelters. If they are going to put them in hotel rooms they need to have a food program that goes with that. A way for them to get transported back and forth, whether it's local transportation or buses or whatever.
Shaw says many in the shelters qualify for hotel rooms but can't take advantage of the option because FEMA and the state haven't provided the meal and expense vouchers or debit cards offered after Katrina and Rita.
The City of Dallas has spent about $1 million for shelter operations following Hurricane Ike. The federal government will reimburse the city.
Evacuees whose homes are uninhabitable will be offered housing assistance or access to a shelter nearer their communities.
© Copyright 2009, KERA
