Millions create gridlock on roads
By Trevor McNally
Chris Rojas, a University of Texas student, received a panicked call from a friend in Houston on Sept. 21. Shiril Mathai had heard on the news that Houston should expect a storm surge of nearly 20 feet and thought it best to get himself and his family out of the city as quickly as possible.
Hurricane Rita was brooding in the Gulf of Mexico not yet a month after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans, and was projected to slam into the Houston and Galveston area by the weekend.
Groups help to employ the displaced
By Crystal Chavez
Kerry McDonald was an assistant foreman at an oil-storage facility in New Orleans and was content with his job before Hurricane Katrina swept through and took that away. Now he finds himself starting from scratch here in Austin, trying to find a job just to make ends meet.
McDonald said that finding work is "really important because that gives the family stability." He and his wife have to support three children, ages 7, 13 and 15. "It's like our children are used to seeing mom and daddy go to work," he said.
Future uncertain for local nonprofits
By Meredith Ballentine
In Austin and throughout Texas, a cloud of doubt looms.
As evacuees began pouring into Austin after Hurricane Katrina hit, local nonprofits and residents gave willingly. While volunteering and donations are up in the wake of the hurricane, Austin-area service organizations fear long-term consequences could arise if Austin’s charitable nature becomes spent.
Aid still needed for relief efforts
By Olubukola Obayanju
Providing adequate and timely long-term medical care to Hurricane Katrina evacuees remains a challenge because of insufficient government aid and a decrease in medical volunteers, local medical volunteer administrators say.
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System built to keep track of evacuees
By West Medlin
Using computers and the Internet, the City of Austin developed and organized a massive relief effort for Katrina evacuees despite extreme time constraints, overwhelming numbers of evacuees and no pre-established contingency plan.