Dallas officials now say North Texas is prepared to host up to 15,000 evacuees fleeing the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Ike.

Dallas area hotels are currently booked at 90% occupancy. Most budget hotels are completely sold out.

The Volunteer Center of North Texas has made an urgent appeal for help to deal with as many as 15,000 evacuees from Hurricane Ike. The center schedules volunteers to work at shelters throughout the area. Phone bank and clerical help is also needed. Call 866-797-8268 for more information.
• LINK: The Volunteer Center of North Texas

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today launched Operation Safe Shelter, a new emergency service that will provide registered sex offender information to evacuation shelter personnel. To aid emergency shelters, raise awareness and protect evacuees, the Office of Attorney General has established a 24-hour a day, toll-free emergency hotline that will allow shelter personnel to inquire whether evacuees are registered sex offenders. When evacuation shelters contact the Safe Shelter Hotline at (866) 385-0333, law enforcement officials with the Office of the Attorney General will access and share information from the state’s registered sex offender database.