Beside Air Force Bases, there are many other facilities that your state may have that would work. In Wisconsin, we have several campgrounds with cabins that have opened them up for victims. The following is from an article in the Milwaukee Journal:
"Wisconsin's primary intake center will be the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center at the state fair complex in West Allis. The American Red Cross will run the center, which will assess the evacuees' needs and provide about 1,100 beds. Another 200 beds are available at the South Milwaukee Community Center.
"Anyone who comes to Wisconsin is going to find a warm, welcoming state," Doyle said.
Bud McKonly, chief executive officer of the Greater Milwaukee chapter of the American Red Cross, said he expects that some evacuees would stay in the temporary shelter for days, but others might stay much longer. He said he could not estimate how many people would be sheltered locally, but officials plan to keep the youth center available for at least 90 days.
McKonly also said he could not estimate the cost of the operation, but the state had donated use of the youth center and it would be staffed mostly by volunteers who would be supervised by Red Cross staff, with meals being provided by the Salvation Army. He said he didn't know when or how evacuees would arrive, but they could come by bus or even by plane 200 or 300 at a time.
Katrina is a "disaster of proportions that, while it may have been predictable, it was not expected," McKonly said.
Each room at the youth center has 12 bunk beds, a toilet, a shower and two sinks. The center also has additional public restrooms, a dining facility and a recreation room.
Officials plan to work with organizations such as Catholic Charities, which is experienced in relocating people to temporary housing, to eventually move evacuees out of the youth center. They said the intake center also would provide help in qualifying people for government benefits and in enrolling children in school."
Our public school system is waiving all records requirements to accept new students and Marquette University is admitting all Tulane and Loyola students, no questions asked. The main problem we're having now is getting people up here. A local bus company sent several buses down to pick up people, but they were turned away at the city's outskirts. So far, I don't think there's a main source of information as far as where people are staying and how to get them out of the area (but I won't blame the president
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