More than one thousand evacuees, most of them from the New Orleans area, have arrived in Louisville to watch and wait as Hurricane Gustav approaches the Gulf Coast.
The evacuees began arriving late Saturday on FEMA-chartered flights. They’re being housed in a shelter in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center, where officials say they could stay for at least five days, depending on the ferocity of the storm.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said during a visit to the shelter that the state is also sending help to the Gulf Coast. He’s activated more than 300 National Guard troops to help with storm relief in Louisiana and Texas.
“We (also) have Fish and Wildlife people that have been activated along with some state police who are actually on standby and may end up going down to help with the law and order part of this,” Beshear said.
Officials at the Louisville shelter says local citizens who want to offer assistance to the evacuees should not bring items to the expo center. They say the best way to help is to make a donation to the Red Cross.
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