Katrina news from around San Antonio

Katrina victims experience new heartbreak, new joy in new place gives us some information about the out-of-business Levi factory. This article also gives us some numbers:

At a news conference Saturday, Mayor Phil Hardberger said the old Montgomery Ward store in the Windsor Park Mall is being readied for 3,300 people, and that the owners had donated $25,000 worth of food.

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Susan Simmons, the commander of the Texas Disaster Medical Assistance Team, was coordinating efforts at building 1536 at KellyUSA, which eventually will house 4,500 people.

Another article, Red Cross Discourages Opening Your Home to Evacuees, mentions that there are 2,000 now living at the old Levi factory.

UPDATED: Officials confiscate weapons from planes speaks for itself:

San Antonio officials also have discovered and confiscated a number of weapons evacuees left behind on the planes rather than risk arrest once they descend the aircraft, Rios said.

In Louisiana, "they don't have the manpower we have to do the screening when they deboard," Rios said.

SAPD and the Texas Department of Public Safety are working together to monitor evacuees and check their belongings, a meticulous process that's "almost like when you come into another country," Rios said, because they want to ensure no one brings in illegal items or items that could yield disease.

Mixed feelings. I would not want to be weaponless if I were a refugee, but the police will be held liable when a crime occurs (and you know they will), so what else are they going to do?

The Watchdog wants everyone to remember to donate blood:

Sometimes overlooked, the donation of blood is essential and can save lives. With patients being transported to hospitals here, there is a dire need for blood donations, especially since The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is also on stand-by alert to assist sites in the disaster area. The center is urgently asking eligible blood donors to give as soon as possible. You must be 17 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

Donors may give at any of the following locations: the headquarters, 6211 Interstate 10 West at First Park Ten Blvd.; Northeast Donor Room, 8527 Village Drive, Suite 106; Methodist Healthcare Donor Room, 4410 Medical Drive, Suite 220. Call first for hours and to be sure the center can accommodate all donors.

Authorities are also talking about the possibility of creating a tent city at KellyUSA if necessary. I think this should be an extreme last resort. Daytime highs are still routinely breaking 100, with heat indexes hitting around 105-110. This is not a good time of year to be living in an outdoor tent city, if it can be prevented. In addition, we are having scattered and localized, although quite intense, thunderstorms. Better to use the Freeman Coliseum first. At least then they would have a real roof and some shelter from the sun and weather.