State officials estimate that as many as 373,000 new residents, evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, are calling Texas home; some just temporarily, but others may stay here permanently.
State and local officials are counting on the federal government to help shoulder the financial burden.
Just days after Hurricane Katrina hit, Texas was one of the first states to open its doors to evacuees. State and local governments worked to get everyone settled, clothed and fed. Now, two weeks later, the focus is on long-term needs.
"From rescuing lives to rebuilding lives," Gov. Rick Perry said at a Wednesday press conference. "There's no certainty as to when this community will be reestablished."
There's also no certainty about how much it will all cost. Nearly 20,000 evacuees are still living in Texas shelters, and as of Wednesday morning 38,000 had enrolled in public schools.
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Federal help
State, local governments want to be reimbursed.
 
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"That's an increase of 4,000 from the previous day. So, we don't know when it's going to slow down," Texas Education Agency spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said.
Austin's shelters are also in the final phase of transitioning evacuees.
"We're about to enter this third phase which is the ongoing, long-term support for these folks, with housing vouchers, jobs and transportation options," Austin Mayor Will Wynn said.
Most leaders agree those services are vital to help get evacuees back on their feet. But those services also cost money. That's why state and local officials are turning to the federal government to pick up some of the long-term costs.
"Sixty billion dollars has been appropriated by the federal government. We just need to make sure it gets to the right places," Perry said.
"On a preliminary basis, it looks like the city of Austin has already spent $3 million ... so our meter's ticking," Wynn said.
Wynn's waiting for the federal government to pick up the cost of housing vouchers.
"So, a landlord knows their new tenants have the wherewithal for a year's worth of rent," Wynn said.
On the education side, FEMA will pay for things like extra portable classrooms. But for other education needs, the TEA is pinning its hopes on the U.S. Department of Education.
"Teachers and textbooks... those are the two most costly items our districts will incur. That's what they're hoping the federal government will pick up the tab for," Marchman said.
Wynn and Perry say they've been assured by national leaders that the localities won't have to go it alone.
But there's no word on when, or how much, the federal government will pitch in.
On Wednesday Perry named Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams as a new state liaison. Williams will be the point-person in charge of coordinating long-term plans for Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Texas. Those long-term plans include ways to find Katrina evacuees permanent housing and jobs.
