Heat forces FEMA center to close early

06:02 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2005

By Christina Lee & Reggie Aqui / 11 News

Click to watch Christina Lee's 5 p.m. report

FEMA opened its disaster assistance center Wednesday and less than four hours later was forced to close early after some storm evacuees began to collapse from the heat.

KHOU

So many people collapsed from the heat that FEMA closed the center early.

The center, in the 6,000 block of the South Loop East, will reopen Thursday.

The people at the front of the line started waiting Tuesday night, hours before the center opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

"We knew there was gonna be a lot of people, but we didn't expect this kind of a turnout today," said FEMA spokesman Mike Casella.

Rita aftermath:

Aerial tour: Damage survey video from Air 11

Map: Returning home to Houston

Safe Clear vehicle recovery: 713-864-4869

Relocated patients: For info call, 877-623-6274

DPS statewide traffic conditions, call 800-452-9292

City of Houston damage assessment form

Deaths associated with Hurricane Rita

Harris County OEM | Houston OEM | Galveston OEM

Extended school closings/Reopenings | Post closing/Reopening info | View others

Photos:
Submit your photos | View slideshow
Damage survey slideshow
Louisiana | East Texas | Beaumont and Port Arthur
Latest images

Sign up for KHOU.com's free: Tropical Weather Watch | Severe Weather Alerts

Flight tracker

Water and ice were passed out to people in line, but some succumbed to the heat.

The capacity at the grocery store-turned-FEMA center is more than 2,000 people at a time.

The center will be open seven days a week until everyone who needs assistance has received it.

If you have not yet registered with FEMA and you want to receive assistance, please register before going to the center. You may register by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going online to www.fema.gov.