AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- As Hurricane Laura continues to grow into a major hurricane in the Gulf, evacuees from the Texas coast coming to Austin are having trouble finding shelter Wednesday morning after area hotels being used as shelters have filled up.
As of about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, officials said all of the hotels that had been set up as temporary lodging for those seeking shelter from Laura were full. Gates at Circuit of The Americas, which is serving as the intake point for those arriving in Austin, were closed. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, COTA had re-opened as a rest stop, and evacuees are welcome to wait if more hotel rooms become available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Both the City of Austin and Travis County have issued disaster declarations in response to the hurricane. Officials say they're working to stand up a non-hotel shelter option at the Austin Convention Center for evacuees.
People are now being asked to drive to Ennis or Mesquite to seek shelter. Evacuees heading to Ennis should check in at the Knights of Columbus Hall, at 850 South IH-45; evacuees heading to Mesquite should check in at the reception center at 15515 East IH-20.
Officials had said Tuesday that the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan, which includes Travis, Hays, and Williamson Counties, was prepared to house 3,000 evacuees in at least 18 hotels across the area.
Additionally, city officials have set up a system to provide evacuees with status updates and information. You can text the word ATXShelter to 888-777, or call a recorded line at 512-978-1510.