The City of Houston and the UT Health Science Center at Houston started using the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston as a temporary shelter and medical clinic for the Katrina-disaster victims as of September 2. About 5,300 evacuees are expected to be phased into the facility. As with the Astrodome shelter, around-the-clock volunteer coverage will be needed. They should enter at the Polk Street Entrance (south end). Ample free parking is available in that area. Volunteers should report to Hall E on the south side of the Convention Center. Individual volunteer shifts will last four hours. Volunteers should appear on site 30 minutes before start-of-shifts. Standard shifts times are:

 

8 a.m. to 12 Noon

 

12 Noon to 4 p.m.

 

4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 

8 p.m. to 12 Midnight

 

12 Midnight to 4 a.m.

 

4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

 

Non-medical volunteers can just come by to volunteer, but they do run the risk of being told that  shifts for that day are covered if there is an excess of volunteers. (The editor of this Web site will post “filled-for-today” notices when he is aware that such an overflow has taken place.)

 

Because of the presence of the clinic, a steady and strong involvement of medical personnel will be needed at this location. Medical personnel should call 713-654-8071 to schedule their shifts.

 

Although in-kind donations were initially being accepted at the center, authorities have asked that such donations NOT be dropped off there any more.