NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The senior vice president of disaster services for the American Red Cross, says the agency has opened shelters in four states. Joe Becker says the agency has been asked to open more than 100 shelters for 40,000 people in Louisiana.
Becker spoke at a news and teleconference in Washington, D.C. He says the Red Cross has supplies and people to open more if the designated buildings are available. Becker says that if every building identified as a possible shelter in Louisiana is used, the Red Cross could shelter 68,000 people.
He says reasons not to use them could include the building's condition, a need to use it for other functions or a need to go further north. But Becker says everyone in the city can get to a safe place tonight -- and in New Orleans, that place is NOT your home.
