Hundreds line up in heat for Red Cross debit cards
The Red Cross is giving debit cards Thursday, but only to evacuees registered at Reliant Park.
When word got out, hundreds of people lined up to receive their cards and the line wrapped around the Reliant Center.
Air 11 was over the scene when the crowd swelled and officials decided to temporarily close the gates leaving hundreds of people locked out.
Extra security was brought in to handle the crowd, but no problems were reported.
Some people did pass out from the heat.
Workers handed out water to the evacuees who are spending hours in line in the heat.
Red Cross workers had originally planned to hand out the cards to those registered at the GRB Convention Center on Friday, but they may put that off because of problems at the Dome.
The remaining registered evacuees staying in 25 other Red Cross shelters were scheduled to get their cards over the weekend.
The Red Cross has scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference to announce its plans.
A toll-free number will be set up for evacuees who didn't go to shelters to apply for the cards.
The cards will vary in value up to $1600 depending on the size of the family.
These cards are separate from the FEMA debit cards announced Wednesday.
FEMA began registering people for their cards Wednesday, but the cards won't be available for seven to 12 days.
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