On Tuesday, Austin's Parks and Recreation department began sending staff to American Red Cross shelters around the city.
Three staff members per shelter will visit from 10 a.m.-noon and 6:30-8:30 p.m. weekdays, and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, to facilitate play and exercise time for children.
The American Red Cross is partnering with the city at three shelter locations: Wilhelmina Delco Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Drive, Austin; the Toney Burger Activity Center and Stadium, 3200 Jones Road, Sunset Valley; and LBJ High School at 7309 Lazy Creek Drive, Austin.
Lanier High School at 1201 Payton Gin Road, and Reagan High School at 7104 Berkman Drive are also expected to open as shelters following an announcement by Mayor Steve Adler on Monday that Austin could host as many as 7,000 evacuees from southeast Texas due to Tropical Storm Harvey.
Geof Sloan, public affairs spokesperson for the Central Texas American Red Cross, said most of the evacuees he has encountered at the Delco shelter are from Corpus Christi, Rockport, Victoria, Coastal Bend, Harris County and other areas.
A mobile laundry truck made its first visit to the shelter Tuesday since evacuees began arriving Friday, Sloan said.