September 26, 2005 -- Dozens of evacuees lined up inside the El Paso International Airport to get a free pass to Houston.

"I enjoyed the city but I'm ready to go home," said Arthur Allen from Houston.

The evacuees from Texas and Louisiana stayed in El Paso for about five days running from Hurricane Rita.

For 10-year-old Matthew Rodriguez it was an experience he doesn't want to go through again.

"It was scary because they forced us to move, they forced us," said Rodriguez.

They left everything behind and some of them say they don't know what the extent of the damage is to their homes.

"The lights are out and everything inside my home is probably wet with mildew, everthing's gone," said Nola Graps from New Orleans.

Nola Graps didn't leave when Katrina hit but she made sure she got on a bus before she saw Rita's fury. She says she's not sure what she'll going home to.

"Probably nothing," she said, "I'll start over, find job and start all over."

More than half of the evacuees that flew into El Paso are leaving tonight. While most can't wait to go home, others would have liked to stay.

"We went to the store bought some new clothes and I want to stay here," said Rodriguez.

Some are just thankful they're alive.

"Just thank the good Lord again and again," said William Charles from Houston.

Funding for transporting evacuees to Houston will be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Out of the 295 evacuees being housed in the shelters, 190 took flights to Houston. There are more than 60 evacuees still in nursing homes and hospitals where they will remain until further notice.

Additional arrangements are in the works to address the transportation of the remaining evacuees.