San Antonio steps up to help Houston refugees

  • 2017-09-07
Hurricane Harvey has inundated Houston and driven thousands of people from their homes, but San Antonio has stepped in to help their fellow Texans.

Although the city experienced high winds and intermittent rain, it was spared the worst of the storm. Now, officials are welcoming Houston refugees.

The city has three emergency shelters that are already providing temporary shelter to Houston residents, and they are getting ready to accept even more. In the last few days, almost 600 patients have been brought to hospitals in San Antonio from Houston and several other areas including the city of Victoria, where the power to the hospital system went out.

San Antonio city officials, along with those of Bexar County, said they were in touch with officials in Houston. They also revealed that they expect to receive more medical patients, as well as other refugees.

Emergency officials sent 250 buses from San Antonio to Houston to aid in the evacuations. When the buses come back, some may be sent elsewhere, but the county and city have been informed they might receive up to 10,000 evacuees.

One family praised the volunteers working in their shelter, saying it seemed like they never went home, and were doing everything they could to help.

In situations like this, officials can help by working with a flyer printing company to create a list of local resources, their addresses, and directions to find them.