With the most recent track change for Hurricane Ike, North Texas area counties have learned that there are 288 bus loads of people in the storm’s path are being sent to North Texas. The Counties are working with area cities, school districts and universities to find additional shelter sites for the increased number of people expected to arrive this evening.

The City of Dallas is reconfiguring its main shelter location at the Dallas Convention Center to accommodate an additional 450 guests. The Dallas Convention Center will be able to accommodate 1,450 people.

DONATIONS
Dallas residents should NOT drop donations at the Dallas Convention Center shelter location nor should they come to the Dallas Convention Center shelter location to offer volunteer assistance. Donations and volunteering should be routed through the North Texas Food Bank, the Salvation Army, the Volunteer Center of North Texas, or by contacting your favorite local charity.

FOOD
Donations to help purchase food can be made to the North Texas Food Bank through their Web site: www.ntfb.org

OTHER ESSENTIALS
Donations to help purchase other essentials can be made to the Salvation Army through their Web site: www.salvationarmydfw.org

VOLUNTEERS
May register for assignments with the Volunteer Center of North Texas through their Web site: www.volunteernorthtexas.org or by calling 1-866-797-8268.

CASH DONATIONS
To help provide other assistance can be made to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or at www.redcross.org.