Staff Reports

 

The ongoing shelter crisis may be nearing an end in Port Arthur.

According to the American Red Cross, there are 450 people in shelters in the area and hundreds more may be displaced after landlords throughout the city have handed out eviction notices. The timing is bad as Thomas Jefferson Middle School is one of the shelters but it will be closing as school opens next week. There are 250 evacuees sheltered at the school.

The people remain homeless after Tropical Storm Harvey dumped unprecedented rainfall on the area leading to widespread flooding in late August.

Earlier this week, the city and county announced berthing barges—rooms on ships—would be sailing to Port Arthur.

Then the Coast Guard deemed the vessels unseaworthy.

On Friday morning the city announced 250 tents will be available at the Bob Bowers Civic Center.

However, as of 11:30 a.m., City Manager Brian McDougal could not immediately say who would qualify for a tent or how anyone could get in line to get one.

That information is expected to be released later in the day.

The News will update readers as the information becomes available.