CNN reports that the Astrodome is full

[gristy]

Buses now being turned away! Fuckin'-a.

[Stephanie]

1. It's incredible! Full buses being told to go to another town!

INCREDIBLE!

[agates]

2. Aaron looks truly pissed off

Unbelievable!

[fishwax]

30. i'm sure glad he's pissed off

let's hope he stays angry, along with every other talking head.

[rocktivity]

3. But are the Super Dome and the Convention Center empty?

I heard something about some people being taken to San Antonio?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Glenda]

12. I did see the San Antonio mayor saying that they were ready for people

Can't remember what station... But he said his people were putting up the money and may get reimbursed by FEMA, but they weren't going to wait for that

[shugah]

46. the san antonio mayor

or whoever it was i saw on msnbc today - seemed very ready to welcome how ever many refugees came to that city. he said that they were ready to house them and do it so the victims of this tragedy could retain dignity. i wish i could remember his name - he was so decent and caring, and truly concerned. they cut away from his very honest and moving comments to cover jackoff (or chertof or whatever his name is) and gonzales, and all the other admin with time to hold press conferences but too busy to get water to the dying... we'll probably never hear about him again, but i know that those who escape new orleans and end up in san anton will fare better than many. i wish there was a way to let them know.

[incapsulated]

4. Oh, jesus fucking christ

Please tell me this isn't true.

[Bouncy Ball]

19. It IS true, but three other major cities in Texas are already

set up and receiving evacuees.

Don't worry. There's plenty of room here, we can take them all.

I know loads of people who are already offering up their spare bedrooms, spare blankets, food, everything.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Where? Where are they going to take them? Is there another dome

nearby?

---------------------------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm

[Stephanie]

9. Officials are not telling reporters

Officials giving instructions to bus drivers and buses turning away - estimated 5000 people inside - early reporting said 20,000 could be housed there

[Bouncy Ball]

15. Yes, in Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.

In Dallas, Reunion Arena is an unused sports arena, because they now have the newer American Airlines Center for sports events and concerts.

Yesterday, the city of Dallas offered up Reunion Arena for 1600 evacuees. They have cots, mats, blankets. Trying to set everything up quickly. Some have already arrived.

I'm not sure where they are staying in Austin. San Antonio has a dome/bowl, too.

[justabob]

34. Any idea what the condition of Carswell AFB is these days?

Should open that place up if possible.

[Bouncy Ball]

36. Eh, not so great.

Hasn't it been shut down for years now?

[justabob]

38. Yes I have just been trying to think of any places in DFW that have a roof

Cotton Bowl is open Tx Stadium open etc. Any chance Dallas will clear the schedule of our shiny new and enormous convention center?

edit: typos 2nd edit: removed way too cynical comment

[benito]

6. turned away to San Antonio

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/4887230/detail.html

The cities of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio will become a new home for storm refugees, many from hard-hit New Orleans.

[Floogeldy]

7. Except for all of those seats above the floor.

Just saw a live shot. All of those seats are empty.

[Bouncy Ball]

11. I don't think they want them up there.

Cots set up on arena floor.

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Buses are being sent to Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.

Reunion Arena in Dallas is already set up to take 1600 (seems like a small number though, that's a large arena)and there are already some evacuees trickling in there. They have cots set up, etc.

Ditto Austin. San Antonio is taking overflow from Austin, since it's another couple of hours down the road.

Major cities in TX will take them all in.

I'm proud of Houston and I'm proud of my state tonight.

[benito]

14. Louisiana DU'ers are proud of Texas as well

best of luck!

[Bouncy Ball]

17. Wow that made me tear up.

Most Texans really love Louisiana, our beautiful neighbor to the east.

Viva Louisiana. :cry:

[benito]

22. I'll be in Houston this Saturday and Sunday

for a needed break. Upon my arrival back in LA, we are going to volunteer as much as we can to help.

Thanks for helping Texas!

[Bouncy Ball]

24. ..

:cry:

We're making up the spare room and eyeballing our couches, seeing how many we can take in.

You are very welcome, Louisiana. :hug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. San Antonio seems excited about housing them, trying to make

them as comfortable as possible. Saw some of the prep on the local news . :woohoo:

[Bouncy Ball]

23. Austin and Dallas, quite excited too.

I know both of those cities have been preparing since Tuesday, just in case.

I think we knew Astrodome was just to hold the biggest chunk of people. Then anyone else would have to be siphoned to other cities.

If it gets really bad, there's the medium cities and El Paso, but that's SO far away.

[cmf]

32. I am a Louisiana native, but I lived in Texas for 7 years

And as heartbroken I am over what is happening to Louisiana, I am heartened by the response of Texans to this disaster. :loveya:

[Bouncy Ball]

35. ...

:loveya:

I am, too. I'm a Texan and my family has been here for time out of mind. I'm proud of my state tonight. We heart Louisiana.

I can't imagine us NOT taking in the people from Louisiana. That would just be heartless.

[tgnyc]

10. So the Atrodome is smaller than the superdome?

[Stephanie]

13. not smaller but they have cots set up on the main floor and they are full

[Rainscents]

16. Yea and Aaron was very pisst! These people had been lie to!

[Bouncy Ball]

18. No, no, no.

Three other major cities in Texas are taking them.

Don't worry, Texas is a HUGE ass place. We have private families offering up spare bedrooms, all kinds of room. We'll take them all if we have to.

[napi21]

21. Well, I have some suggestions. How about Crawford!

I hear there's a big house there with lots of food and caretakers!

I like the idea of Austin. Check with Gov. Perry. I'm sure he'll find some nice quarters for them.

Dallas has a BIG convention center!

OH, I just thought! They're in Houston now, right? How about the Exon building? I have to believe there aren't very many employees there anymore!

[Bouncy Ball]

26. No, they are going to Austin and Dallas first.

If they get to Austin and are too many, they will take the extras on down the road another two hours to San Antonio, another beautiful city.

Ft. Worth also probably has room and is trying to get ready.

There's Waco, too, though not as big.

[VADem11]

29. They are using

Kelly AFB and presumably every major city in Texas is taking in people. There are 3 other arenas in Houston alone so they should consider opening those as shelters.

[Barack_America]

25. There are two buses...

..about to leave the Superdome filled with 70 elderly and infants that have been rerouted to Ft. Worth...

However, these buses may have been intended for the VA hospital...talk that these buses may have been stolen and taken to the superdome instead.

[Skwmom]

27. Earlier the ability to put 25k in the Astrodome was questioned

but I think it was written off as they can't possibly be that screwed up - it must be able to hold 25k. Surprise, surprise!

[Bouncy Ball]

28. Here's a new article:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state of Texas agreed Thursday to take in three times more refugees from Hurricane Katrina than officials initially expected, bringing the total number of evacuees to nearly 75,000.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that 50,000 more refugees would relocate to Texas, with plans to house 25,000 each in San Antonio and Dallas. Those people would join 23,000 others who are already being sent from New Orleans to the Astrodome in Houston.

snip

A shelter is being created in San Antonio in a huge warehouse at KellyUSA, a city-owned complex that once was home to an Air Force base. In Dallas, the refugees will go to Reunion Arena, the former home of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

snip

Texas will also open its schools and hospitals to some of the hurricane's most desperate refugees. The state Health and Human Services Department planned to extend office hours to help people with Medicaid, food stamps and prescription benefits.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5250022,00.html

[Holly_Hobby]

31. Is the government attempting to incite riots?

Not only in NO, but throughout the entire country?

[benito]

33. more details please

[Bouncy Ball]

37. No need for this comment.

Just read this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5250022,00.html

Texas is taking in about three times more people than we originally thought, so they are being diverted to Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, where shelter, cots, food and water await them and many people have already volunteered their homes, as well.

[benito]

39. I'm willing to bet that

a LOT of these people have never visited or seen anything outside of N.O.
wrap your mind around that for a minute.

[Catherine Vincent]

40. What do you mean?

[benito]

41. a bit of culture shock maybe

everything will be completely new to some of them.

[Holly_Hobby]

42. The black communities will not take genocide in NO much longer

Add to that if the NG starts shooting to kill tomorrow.

What if riots break out in other cities? Wouldn't that be a wet dream for Bush?

I watched Detroit burn from my front yard as a child, so forgive me for having these kinds of thoughts.

I'm very very worried.

[Zen Democrat]

43. The Astrodome was filling up with the people already in Houston

from New Orleans who were living in their cars. Last night they initially said they couldn't take people other than those coming from the Superdome -- but they relented and admitted all the refugees. The hotels are full and these people were literally living like homeless.

The Astrodome is not putting people in seats, but on cots on the floor of the Dome. I just heard a report that they have no idea how many people are in there, but it is full and the fire marshall shut it down. There are people all over the city going to the Astrodome to adopt refugees and take them to their homes. Thank goodness San Antonio is taking the buses now. People will have to spend a few hours longer than expected on those buses, but they'll find a place somewhere in Texas -- and they'll be welcomed with open arms.

I just heard that the buses already at the Astrodome that haven't unloaded will be sent to other shelters opening up in Houston all the way to Huntsville. The buses that haven't arrived will go to San Antonio.

[greblc]

44. I was an engineer in the the USMC....

The military has the ability to throw up Tent Cities. Including Water purification, sanitation and Food.
All of this equipment should have been on planes 3 Days ago.

Our Country is Fucked! There is absolutely no excuse.

We need Leadership! We're not a 3 world country yet. But our leaders are trying their best to make it one.

[benito]

45. Can you get your hands on a few lifestraws?