HOUSTON -- After accepting more than 11,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees, officials said the Astrodome was full and began sending buses to other shelters in the Houston area Thursday night.

"We've actually reached capacity for the safety and comfort of the people inside there," American Red Cross spokeswoman Dana Allen said.

Buses that continued to arrive were being sent on to other shelters in the area and as far away as Huntsville, about an hour north of Houston.

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"We're asking that people be patient. Ultimately they are going to be comfortable," Allen said.

The total of 11,375 inside the Astrodome was less than half the estimated 23,000 people who were expected to arrive by bus from New Orleans in Houston.

Thousands Of Evacuees Arrive At Astrodome

Thousands of Hurricane Katrina refugees arrived at the Astrodome Thursday weary from days in the sweltering, miserable conditions at the Superdome -- and happy to get a shower, a hot meal and a cool place to sleep.

"First thing they wanted to do was get in an air conditioned building. Of course, the second was shower. The next thing was to get cleaned up. They did not want us harping about who they are," Harris County Office of Emergency Management spokesman Frank Gutierrez said.

After enduring miserable conditions inside the Superdome, Katrina refugees now have a place to sleep and shower inside the Astrodome.

"I'm homeless right now but I hope they can help us the best way they could," evacuee Denise Young said.

Many evacuees will also receive medical attention.

"We will be worried about tetanus exposure, exposure to hepatitis A, people eating spoiled food, drinking spoiled water," Harris County Health Department spokeswoman Herminia Polacio said.

Doctors and nurses set up a clinic to help people with high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. Ambulances waited in the parking lots for those needing hospital care.

"Many of them have been in situations in the Superdome where they have been under quite a bit of duress, such as several days without medication," she said.

The American Red Cross is coordinating the massive shelter operation.

Thirty deputies working on overtime provided security and searched refugees for weapons. A few people were arrested, although Sheriff Tommy Thomas didn't have an exact count. He said some men were arrested for going into the female showers. Others were arrested for fighting over cots.

Everyone who enters the Dome is screened for weapons. More officers will be added to the Dome security, officials said.

Organizers spent the past two days setting up cots that covered the Astrodome's cement floor, which previously was its football field. They provided phones and a message board so refugees could contact loved ones, and gathered supplies such as bottled water, soap, toothbrushes and diapers.

Outside the Astrodome, trucks delivered sandwiches and paramedics assessed new arrivals for health problems under tents in a makeshift triage center.

Evacuees were thankful for Houston's help.

"It's fine because they have provided things for us. Other than that, we'd be in the water still," 16-year-old evacuee Shekeithe Young said.

"We could be dead," Denise Young said.

Evacuees, most who hadn't bathed since the hurricane hit Monday, showered in one of four locker rooms once used by the Houston Astros and the Houston Oilers. Those teams now play in new stadiums, one within walking distance of the aging Astrodome.

Officials said that many of the refugees arriving on the buses are worried about family members who have been missing since the hurricane.

"These people who are inside have the ability to call out. Please anticipate a phone call from your relative. Do not call in," Red Cross spokeswoman Margaret O'Brien Malina said.

About 25,000 refugees are expected to take shelter at the Astrodome by Friday.

Besides the 500 buses expected from the Superdome, two airplanes and an Amtrak train were headed to Houston filled with refugees.

"Whatever it takes we will do to help the victims," U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay said.

Relatives Arrive At Astrodome In Search Of Loved Ones

The first busload of survivors from their drowning city's damaged Superdome arrived at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday. An hour and a half later, four more buses arrived.

"We are going to do everything we can to make people comfortable," O'Brien-Molina said. "Places have to be found for these people. Many of these people may never be able to rebuild."

Relatives of evacuees lost in the storm also began showing up at the stadium in search of their loved ones.

"My son is here to pick up his brother-in-law and this is where he was told to pick him up at," Ellis Gaines told Local 2.

John Walton said his daughter didn't evacuate New Orleans. He said he told her to drive her own car out of New Orleans until she ran out of gas and then to hitchhike.

"I'm hoping that she is (at the Astrodome). I thank the Lord that I went and got her kids last month so they could start school. I'm not worried about the grandbabies, but I'm worried about her," Walton said.

Jackie Jackson told Local 2 she showed up at the Astrodome in search of her cousin and nephew, who were in the Ninth Ward when the storm blew through.

"The last thing we heard is that they were caught up in the top of their attic. We haven't heard anything from them since then," Jackson said.

Astrodome To House Evacuees As Long As Possible

State and county officials originally said it would only accept people who were stranded at the Superdome, a rule that was changed Wednesday night when an Orleans Parish school bus arrived, filled with families with children seeking shelter. At first, Astrodome officials said they couldn't come in, but then allowed them to enter for food and water. Another school bus also was allowed in.

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said Wednesday that the 40-year-old Astrodome is "not suited well" for such a large crowd long-term, but officials are prepared to house the displaced New Orleanians as long as possible.

"We want folks to move on with their lives and not spend the next six months in a stadium with 20,000 of their friends. I just think psychologically they are going to have to do that," Eckels said Thursday.

Eckels said the hurricane refugees would be freer to move about in Houston and have more comforts. Organizers also plan to find ways to help the refugees contact relatives, something that has been impossible in New Orleans.

The Astrodome's new residents will be issued passes that will allow them to leave and return as they please, Eckels said, adding that the stadium will be closed to the public. The stadium is located near the city's rail line, which leads to downtown. There are also numerous shops and restaurants nearby.

Houston Puts Hurricane Contingency Plans To Use

Just 350 miles to the west on Interstate 10, Houston bears distinct similarities to New Orleans: sultry weather and the risk of hurricanes, a thriving oil industry and a love of Cajun food. On Sunday, Houston welcomed those fleeing Hurricane Katrina, with some hotels offering reduced rates and the city allowing free parking to cars with Louisiana plates.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided 500 buses to transport refugees.

"We are incredibly sorry for the loss that has occurred," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said, adding Texas won't only house but also educate hurricane refugees' who want to enroll their children in public schools. "They are welcome as long as they want to stay in this state."

Houston developers detailed plans for turning the rarely used 40-year-old Astrodome into a hotel earlier this month not knowing that within weeks the Dome would be retrofitted into a temporary home for up to 25,000 hurricane evacuees.

The plan to turn the Astrodome into a shelter grew out of a conversation between Perry and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco. The Astrodome has long been in Houston's hurricane plans in case the Bayou City were ever to experience a tragic scenario similar to what came true in New Orleans.

"I think we all understand it's by the grace of God that this terrible tragedy didn't come ashore a few hundred miles west," Perry said Wednesday.

It is far from a hotel, but a step above the dank, sweltering Superdome, where the water was rising, the air conditioning was out and toilets were broken.

Until temporary housing can be established in Louisiana, Perry said the evacuees could call the Astrodome home.

The Astrodome's schedule has been cleared through December. The dome is used on occasion for corporate parties and hospitality events leading up to football games, such as the Big 12 championship, played at neighboring Reliant Stadium. The Astrodome hasn't been used for professional sports in years.