Minnesota could receive up to 5,000 Katrina refugees

09/03/2005

September 3, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Thousands of refugees from Hurricane Katrina could soon be arriving in Minnesota, where people may be asked to open their homes to victims of the devastating storm.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Saturday on WCCO-AM that Minnesota has been asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house up to 5,000 people displaced by the hurricane that ravaged the Gulf Coast.

The refugees could begin arriving in a “matter of days,” Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty said the state is looking at National Guard armories and perhaps Camp Ripley in central Minnesota as an initial receiving station. Part of the plan might involve Minnesotans opening their homes to hurricane refugees, he said.

Pawlenty said Minnesota is happy to help.

“This is a national tragedy, and it really requires a national response,” he said.

Meanwhile, a State Emergency Operations Center hot line was activated Saturday to give Minnesotans a place to call for answers about Katrina and the disaster response.

The hot line will operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

People can call for advice about how to help hurricane victims, locate family and friends, and register for assistance if they’re a hurricane victim.

The hot line numbers are (651) 297-1304 in the Twin Cities area and 1-800-657-3504 in the non-metro area. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is 1-800-657-3822.