Inside Houston Shelter, A Loud And Sometimes Chaotic Night

The city of Dallas, Texas has opened six shelters for victims of Hurricane Harvey, including its downtown convention center where preparations are underway to house as many as 5,000 evacuees.

Ariel Wadler, 21, marveled that everything she owned she carried in her purse: mostly dry clothes, shampoo, and conditioner. The confirmed death toll from the hurricane is three, but that is likely to rise.

Near Galveston, social media helped rescue a number of elderly women sitting in waist-deep flood waters in the swamped La Vita Bella Nursing Home of Dickinson, Texas.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings held a press conference early Tuesday morning saying, “It’s still raining down there as you can see and they’re still in a rescue operation”.

At times there are long lines of people arriving at the shelter, tired, waterlogged and some still in shock.

Crews overwhelmed by thousands of rescue calls during one of the heaviest downpours in US history have had little time to search for other potential victims. Some left town to stay with friends and family but others have nowhere to go. On Monday, rumors swelled that officers were checking the immigration status of those arriving at the convention center.

Once positions within the mega shelter command structure have been appointed, people will be moved from the four existing shelters to the mega shelter, where they will be registered.

“Certain toxins can build up, but most importantly, potassium and fluid can affect the heart”, she says.

Tim Dixon, professor at the University of South Florida, agreed that FEMA and groups providing shelter can’t be all that choosy about where they put people, specifically in big populations centers like Houston. Those evacuees are staying in Irving, he said.

Fort Worth on Monday opened emergency shelters at the request of the state. “They’ve been so merciful to us”.

People evacuated by Harvey fill up cots at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston.

One man delivered supplies dressed up in full costume as “Batman”, and his 4-year old son joined him, dressed up as “Little Batman”.

As floodwaters continue to rise in parts of Houston, health workers are trying to keep people safe and well, though that challenge is escalating.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters that other sites for a “major” shelter were being discussed, but officials hadn’t announced where they would be by Monday night.