KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |3500 Hurricane Victims Seek Refuge In Tyler

September 1, 2005

Hurricane Katrina Information

The City ofTyler called for a limited activation of its emergency operations center at 8 a.m. today. The purpose of the limited activation is to share and coordinate information among various public and private agencies needed to maximize local assistance for hurricane evacuees. The center will remain open on a daily basis as the situation demands.

The Red Cross shelter at First Christian Church is currently full with 200 evacuees. The second Red Cross shelter site at Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin, is now accepting evacuees. When evacuees arrive at a shelter site, they need to register with the Red Cross. By registering, the Red Cross has the ability to track individuals in shelters and makes it easier for family members to locate each other. Additional shelters may be opened as needed. As of 10:30 a.m. today, the Red Cross was serving 558 evacuees at its shelters.

Provisions are in place at the shelters to assist evacuees with food, medical needs, and registration of claims through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For additional social services call 211.

Hurricane evacuees who need to visit a primary care doctor for immediate healthcare needs can visit select ETMC First Physicians without concern for ability to pay. This policy will remain in effect through Sept. 16. The clinics seeing family members are:

Fifth Street Clinic (Tyler)

1000 Fifth Street

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

(closed noon to 1 p.m.)

Chandler

125 Hwy. 31 East

9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday

(closed 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

Whitehouse

602 Hwy. 110 North

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(closed 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.)

Lindale

2410 S. Main

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(closed 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

In addition, a number of local pharmacies are accepting Red Cross vouchers. These pharmacies include Woody Weaver, CVS, Walgreens, all Wal-Mart pharmacies, and the Brookshire's in Bergfeld Center.

Red Cross officials are requesting that no donations be brought to the shelter locations. The shelters cannot accept prepared or opened food items. Instead, volunteers are needed and monetary donations are welcome at their office, the East Texas Food Bank, Salvation Army, PATH and Goodwill centers.

Volunteers are encouraged to attend the Red Cross training center at Bethel Bible Church 17121 S. Hwy. 69, or by calling (903) 839-5007. This training is required before volunteers report to the shelters.

To locate next of kin, go to www.pleasenotifyme.org. Registration on this site provides information and tracking on displaced individuals.

For evacuees with animals, livestock sheltering is available. Call 905-535-0005 for more information.

For evacuees with small domestic pets, Hound Dog Hotel will house pets of evacuees as room permits at no cost. For more information, call 903-566-4992. Other facilities that have room to house animals of evacuees include City Small Animal Clinic, 903-592-7411; South Tyler Animal Clinic, 903-561-1717; Smith County Humane Society, 903-597-2471. Evacuees are instructed to call these sites to check space availability.

EVACUEE SHELTER LOCATIONS

Marvin United Methodist Church

300 W. Erwin

Tyler, Texas 70702

903-592-7396

First Christian Church

4202 S. Broadway

Tyler, Texas 75701

903-561-8138

MONITORY DONATION CAN BE MADE AT THESE LOCATIONS:

Food Bank of East Texas

P.O. Box 6974

Tyler, Texas 75711

903-597-FOOD

http://www.etexfoodbank.org/help.html

Salvation Army

633 N. Broadway

Tyler, Texas 75702

903-592-4361

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

Red Cross

320 E. Rieck Road

Tyler, Texas 75711

903-581-7981

1-800-HELP-NOW

1-866-GET-INFO

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

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