Hurricane Evacuees Urged To Go To Circuit Of The Americas

AUSTIN, TX — The reception center at Circuit of the Americas was still operational on Thursday with limited space is available as shelter for Hurricane Laura evacuees from the Gulf Coast, officials said.

The hurricane made landfall as a Category 4 storm overnight, and has since weakened. In its wake, the powerful storm left a trail of destruction in its path.

Evacuees coming from outside the area seeking shelter in the Austin-area should continue to go to the reception center located at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., officials said. Currently, The City of Austin, Travis County, Williamson County, and Hays County are in communication with the State of Texas and coastal counties to assess damage to communities along the coast.

An update about returning evacuees to their home communities was expected to be issued later on Thursday. "At this time, it is critical that evacuees do not leave their shelters without first registering their entire family with hotel staff, government or a Red Cross official," officials advised.

Evacuees are directed to text “ATXShelter” to 888-777 to get updates about sheltering in the Austin area. At this time, the Capital Area Shelter Hub has housed approximately 3,000 evacuees in more than 1,000 hotel rooms and in space at the Austin Convention Center, where officials said 135 shelter spaces were set up.

Mayor Steve Adler, Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden and Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Juan Ortiz on Wednesday evening updated the public on efforts to house evacuees locally. Ortiz said a section of the Austin Convention Center that had been set up as a field hospital to treat a potential influx of coronavirus patients was kept intact, while another part ot the building was set aside to accommodate evacuees.

Given the ongoing reach of coronavirus, Hayden said protective face coverings would be provided to them if needed while the tactics of physical distancing would be observed. "We are going to ensure that our guests have their meets met," she said, noting that guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be followed. She said resources also were at the ready should evacuees find themselves in need of medical treatment.