1 Million People Can't Go Home for Months

The new arrivals "seem to be doing fine," Malanum said. "We'll have people to help with psychological and emotional issues."

According to FEMA spokesman Butch Kinerney, the agency has been involved in placing more than 229,000 people into shelters. Another 63,000 survivors have been evacuated with unknown destinations. He said a significant number of people in Louisiana and Mississippi are still living in shelters without electricity or running water, and that their relocation out of the area is a top priority. Almost 60 percent of Louisiana and 40 percent of Mississippi remain without power, he said.

Texas officials decided to stop accepting new evacuees after placing almost 130,000 in shelters and providing hotel or family lodging for 100,000 more.

"We are concerned about our capacity to meet this great human need as thousands more arrive by the day," Perry said. "We want to make certain every evacuee has a safe haven where they can receive medical care, water, food and other assistance."

Perry said that some evacuees will be moved to other facilities in Texas, while others will be flown out of state from Houston and Dallas. It was unclear how officials would decide which evacuees would be sent elsewhere, or how much choice they would have on where to go.

"So far, people just seem to be happy to have a place to stay and some food to eat," Kinerney said.

Staff writer Lisa Rein in Houston contributed to this report.