What happens at intake: IDs, cots, and medical needs

Intake is a folding table, a tired volunteer, and a form. It is not customs. You are not applying for a favor. You are getting in out of the wet.

They will ask who is with you, whether you have pets, and whether anyone needs medical help. Answer in plain words.

If you walked out with nothing, say that. Most Houston flood shelters still take you.

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Have names, birth dates, and a phone number ready, even if the phone is almost dead.
Tell intake about insulin, oxygen, mobility gear, pregnancy, or a missing family member immediately.
Ask where meds can be stored if they need a fridge.
Keep your bag on your cot. Do not leave IDs on the table when you walk to the restroom.

IDs and the form

A driver’s license speeds things up. It is not a moral test. If yours is in a flooded nightstand, say so. Staff can still log you.

They may ask for an emergency contact outside the building. Give the out-of-area person, not the cousin who is also in the gym.

If you have a parole, custody, or protective-order issue, tell the supervisor quietly. Do not argue it at the public table.

Cots, noise, and medical reality

Cots are close. Take earplugs if you have them. Keep shoes on or under the cot. Flood shelters are not hotels.

If someone in your group is crashing, diabetic, or short of breath, do not wait for morning clinic hours. Tell staff and ask for EMS.

Red Cross and city nurses, when they are on site, can do basic triage. They cannot refill a month of narcotics. Bring the bottles you grabbed.

Verify live. Status changes hourly. Intake rules, ID flexibility, and on-site medical support vary by building and hour. Ask the desk at the site named by ReadyHarris, City of Houston OEM, or Red Cross Gulf Coast.

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