Number of Evacuees in Shelters Decreasing
CITY OF TYLER COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Laura Jett Krantz
September 28, 2005

Shelters in Tyler and Smith County continue to house Hurricane Rita evacuees from the Gulf Coast. As the numbers of evacuees continue to drop, several of the shelter locations were consolidated.

There are currently 17 shelters operating in Smith County housing 1,565 Hurricane Rita evacuees. This number includes five Red Cross shelters and four non-Red Cross special needs shelters. The remaining shelters are not Red Cross shelters, and are intended for temporary housing only.

These numbers are constantly changing, but totals as of 9 a.m. today were approximately 1,565 evacuees in Tyler or Smith County shelters. This number does not include the number of evacuees currently housed in hotels/motels or private homes. A poll of remaining evacuees indicates they are from the Beaumont, Port Arthur and Jasper areas.

Tyler and Smith County officials have been advised that residents may return to communities west of I-45 as well as these counties: Chambers, Liberty, Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Orange, and the remainder of San Jacinto and Angelina. Travel is still discouraged in Hardin and Jefferson counties.



SHELTER LOCATIONS
American Red Cross

First Baptist Church
400 W. Locust
Tyler, Texas 75701
Population: 155 Max intake: 200

Rose Heights Church
2120 Old Omen Road
Tyler, Texas 75701
Population: 88 Max intake: 77


Mt. Calvary Family Life Center
806 Duckenfield
Tyler, Texas 75701
Population: 60 Max intake: 100


Lindale First Methodist
402 W. Hubbard
Lindale, Texas
Population: 147 Max intake: 150


Lindale First Baptist
103 E. Van St.
Lindale, Texas
Population: 143 Max intake: 200



Non-Red Cross Shelters


Tyler Junior College
(special needs shelter)
1400 E. Fifth St.
Tyler, Texas
Population: 131 Max intake: 131


Primitive Baptist Church
(special needs shelter)
6502 Old Jacksonville Road
Tyler, Texas
Population: 65 Max intake: 65


Lindale Healthcare
(special needs shelter)
215 Margaret St.
Lindale, Texas
Population: 27 Max intake: 27


Azleway Ranch
(special needs shelter)
15892 CR 26
Smith County
Population: 85 Max intake: 75


Arp Methodist Church
Barto St.
Arp, Texas
Population: 9 Max intake: 18


Arp ISD
Closed

Bethel Baptist Church (Chapel Hill)
Closed

Chapel Hill Varsity Gym
Closed

Colonial Hills Baptist Church
Closed


Freedom Praise Church
113 Magnolia
Troup, Texas
Population: 14 Max intake: 10



Glass Recreation Center
509 W. 32 St.
Tyler, Texas 75702
Population: 82 Max intake: 225


Metro Church Camp
9428 CR 2228
Tyler, Texas
Population: 85 Max intake: 75


Rocking C Ranch
CR 235
Red Springs, Texas
Population: 10 Max intake: 10


The Salvation Army
633 N. Broadway Ave.
Tyler, Texas
Population: 62 Max intake: 100


Timberline Baptist Camp
15363 FM 849
Lindale, TX
Population: 30 Max intake: 33


Troup ISD
Closed


Tyler State Park
Population: 230 Max intake: 400


Winona ISD
Closed

Attention: The population of these shelters continues to fluctuate by the hour as evacuees leave the area for home or other destinations.

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