AUSTIN—A program launched by the Texas attorney general’s office has found at least 18 confirmed sex offenders living in shelters after evacuating for Hurricane Ike.

The attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that through its Operation Safe Shelter program, another 36 possible sex offenders have been identified as living at shelters. Their sex offender status is still under review.

Under the program, emergency shelters provide the names of evacuees to state officials for cross-checking against the state’s sex offender registry. When matches are found, the attorney general’s office notifies shelter supervisors and local law enforcement so that they can monitor those individuals.

The attorney general says sex offenders have been found in shelters in San Antonio, Mount Vernon, New Boston, Paris and Troup.