Evacuees using 13,000 Texas hotel rooms

[TexasStooge]

The Dallas Morning News and Associated Press

Hurricane evacuees are still housed in about 13,000 Texas hotel rooms despite efforts to place people in long-term housing while New Orleans rebuilds, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Wednesday.

As some evacuees move out, others move in after wearing out their welcomes at the homes of relatives or friends, FEMA said. Others are arriving from different states, and some move from hotel to hotel in an attempt to avoid government workers and enjoy hotel accommodations.

Lee Shannon, special assistant to the federal coordinating officer for Texas, said evacuees are avoiding the strike teams sent out to gather information about housing needs.

"It could be fear," he said. He noted a misconception among evacuees that officials plan to summarily evict them.

The agency announced it would stop paying evacuee hotel and motel bills Dec. 1. That deadline has been extended until Jan. 7. However, a federal judge ruled Monday that it must be extended until Feb. 7 in some cases.