UPDATE: El Paso Police assigned to NRG Center mega-shelter
Sgt Robert Gomez says the EPPD officers have been assigned to provide shelter security at the NRG Center.
The massive facility was opened Tuesday night and can house up to 10,000 evacuees, according to Houston media. As many as 1,030 people had arrived there as of early Wednesday morning.
The department sent 31 officers, four sergeants and one lieutenant more than 500 miles to support the local law enforcement in Houston.
“All the officers that came on this journey are volunteers,” Gomez said. “They are here because they want to help and make a difference.”
The unit left El Paso Sunday, spent the night in San Antonio and arrived to the flooded areas of Houston Monday. Gomez tells ABC-7 they are on standby until they receive orders from the Department of Public Safety.
” We know how taxing it is on any department,” Sgt. Robert Gomez said. “To have a hurricane come through has got be a tremendous task.
“We are just trying to hash things out,” he added. “We know things are chaotic to get our marching orders and we will do whatever we can to lend a helping hand.”
The department is scheduled to stay in Houston for 10 to 15 days, however its stay is dependent on the resources needed.
