Dallas will open ‘mega shelter' for 5,000 more Harvey evacuees

DALLAS - The city of Dallas is preparing to house up to 5,000 more people evacuated after Tropical Storm Harvey at a 'mega shelter.'

Officials opened its third shelter Sunday morning at the Samuell Grand Rec Center in Old East Dallas.

Mayor Mike Rawlings visited 300 evacuees at the Walnut Hill Recreation Center Sunday morning, which is at capacity with 290 guests. The Tommie Allen Rec Center has 123 people.

"The weather continues to be bad in Houston, " Rawlings said. "And we've got to prepare for the next level."

The Office of Emergency Management in Dallas is prepared to shelter up to 5,000 more people and plans to have a 'mega shelter' at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center ready by Tuesday morning at the request of state officials.

Meanwhile, crews at the Salvation Army are preparing their kitchen in Dallas to stand ready so they can feed the evacuees coming in.

Salvation Army officials say they've already sent 42 mobile feeding units to the coast and have thousands of volunteers in place.

Since Friday, the Texas Baptist Men have been packing up feeding equipment to prepare 135,000 meals for first responders. Those in shelters are in eight different locations along the coast.

"We've been inundated by phone calls and emails. Everybody is looking for help," said Texas Baptist Men Director Terry Henderson. "I think as the water recedes, that request is going to get larger."

In DFW, they are preparing to be able to feed in the likely case Dallas gets thousands of evacuees.

Anyone interested in helping evacuees in Dallas is asked to donate new underwear, new socks, new warm-ups for men, women, children and infants, toiletries/hygiene products, baby formula and baby wipes, bottles, diapers and the Graco Pac n' Plays for babies to sleep in.

People can drop off items at 15660 N. Dallas Parkway, just north of Arapaho on the north side of the Parkway. The donations center will open daily from 3 to 8 p.m. daily.