AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The City of Austin continues to provide shelter for evacuees from the Texas coast in the wake of Hurricane Laura.
Officials said Thursday afternoon that a reception center at Circuit of The Americas is still in operation. Once evacuees check in there, they'll be directed to a traditional shelter setting at the Austin Convention Center.
At the height of the storm, approximately 3,000 evacuees have been housed throughout Travis, Hays, and Williamson Counties at 21 hotels and the Convention Center. 795 hotel rooms were utilized in Travis County, along with 197 in Williamson County, 65 in Hays County, and 35 in Bell County.
Many of the evacuees in the Austin area came from Galveston, which is no longer under a mandatory evacuation as of Thursday afternoon. Those who arrived in Austin by bus will return home Friday morning; those who arrived by personal vehicle can return home after registering their entire traveling party with hotel staff, a government official, or a Red Cross volunteer.
Depending on how many evacuees remain in the area after Friday, and for those who are unable to return to their home communities right away, officials may consolidate some shelters in the coming days. Preparations are being made for longer-term shelter operations.
Evacuees should text “ATXShelter” to 888-777 to get updates about sheltering in the Austin area.