Dallas to Houson: Maybe we have room for you guys after all

Remeber earlier in the week, when Dallas said it couldn't handle the 40,000 Harris County evacuees the state might ask it to take in case of a hurricane? Well, now Dallas-area officials are starting to backpedal on that, apparently after realizing that it makes them look rather uppity and selfish. But Houstonist is confused — isn't that why we love Dallas?

Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher said yesterday that local officials should try to find shelter sites to house the evacuees that could hit the Big D if a hurricane devastates Houston. And she said she thinks the region will be able to meet the challenge: "If the state thinks it is 40,000, then we need to work with the state and identify where 40,000 people would go," Keliher said. "No doubt that we would step up and do what needs to be done." Well, actually, there is some doubt, considering that Dallas emergency management director Kenny Shaw worried that things could get "chaotic" if 40,000 evacuees descended on the area. Yeah, Houston knows a little bit about that, thanks.

Shaw said Wednesday that Dallas doesn't have the capacity to do what the state expects — but he also hinted that the city would be willing to work with the state if it makes the first call. Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry, said the state has already met with Dallas officials regarding the evacuation plan, but if Dallas turns down evacuees, officials will find other places for them to go. Perry seemed optimistic about the situation, saying Dallasites are "good and compassionate individuals, and when something happens to their neighbors, they are going to be there to take care of them."

We'll see.