Update From Governor’s Office On Texas Relief Efforts

AUSTIN (AP) – Here’s an update from Governor Rick Perry’s office on the latest Texas relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina:

— President Bush has granted Perry’s emergency disaster request, making Texas eligible for federal aid.

— About one-thousand, Texas National Guard troops will be deployed for in-state security and support operations.

— An executive order suspends Texas and local hotel and motel taxes for the next 60 days for Louisiana evacuees.

— The I-R-S has approved a waiver request to allow about 18-thousand vacant income eligible housing units to be used by refugees for Louisiana.

— FreeScale Semiconducter in Austin has offered an empty facility to take one-thousand evacuees.

— The OneStar Foundation will act as a volunteer-donation clearinghouse for anyone in the country wishing to donate cash and non-cash items, food or volunteer.

Call: 1-800-707-6768 or www.OneStarFoundation.org

— Texas now has 56 shelters open.

— Houston’s Six Flags Astroworld is expected to be open to hurricane refugees for free.

—

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-02-05 1735EDT