# @statesman on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CEXzYWqAG_O
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/15004675-statesman-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7121b996e5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-08-27T00:02:33.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Austin Statesman (@statesman) — https://gondola.cc/statesman

## Caption

Hurricane Laura evacuees have come by the hundreds to Austin in hopes for a hotel voucher paid for the by then city. Most of the evacuees came from areas expected to be hit hardest by the Category 4 like Port Arthur and Beaumont. Hundreds of cars held entire families, some even with pets. Most had to wait in line for hours with hopes of obtaining a voucher. Some returned from yesterday when they were turned away after vouchers ran out and hotels were full. People have slept in their cars in parking lots at hotels and nearby. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, sheltering from a hurricane in Austin had to be different from previous disasters. Instead of staying in one or a few large spaces, evacuees would be sent to hotels where they could more easily isolate from one another. "It has been chaotic," said Raymond Morris, who is from Beaumont. "We got a lot of things to deal with, we have three people in the car that are sickly."
Morris was scheduled to have stents put in his heart on Wednesday, but ended up in Austin Tuesday night to shelter from the hurricane. When he and his family arrived, Morris said the hotel they booked had given their rooms away. “Right now, we are stuck out," Morris said. "We have to get a gas card here just to go to San Antonio because there are no rooms in Austin." People who don't want to use Circuit of the Americas can call 211 for help finding other shelter. Wonderful to share a byline with the talented kelseybrad 
.
Evacuees staying in Austin can text "ATXShelter" to 888-777 to be signed up for updates. They can also call 512-978-1510. #hurricanelaura #hurricane #category4 #austin #atx #texas #cota #portarthur #beaumont #galveston #orangetx 📸 brontewittpenn

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 671
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 6

## Tags

orangetx, category4, hurricanelaura, austin, texas, cota, hurricane, atx, beaumont, portarthur, galveston

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