Mega Shelter Opens in Alexandria
Families looking for shelter from the impact of Hurricane Laura are now being directed to a mega shelter in Alexandria. The Department of Children and Family Services has set up the reception center at the Alexandria Recreation Center at 8125 Hwy 71 South.
The Reception Center at Shrine on Airline at Zephyr Field has now closed.
Evacuees in need of shelter must go to the reception center to be placed in a non-congregate shelter as one becomes available. Anyone who arrives directly at a hotel will not be admitted and will be required to go to the reception center.
Evacuees will be required to wear masks and social distancing rules will be observed. It is the goal of the state to get families into area hotels as quickly as possible. But that might take some time and these families may be at the mega shelter for a little while before placement.
The reception center is open 24/7 until further notice.
You can get this information by texting LAShelter to 898-211 or by calling 2-1-1.
For those who have evacuated to other states, DCFS has also advised that SNAP benefit cards issued in Louisiana can be used in any state.