Evacuees aren't coming here

Plans to bring a mass number of Louisiana and Mississippi evacuees to Omaha have been put on hold.

Gov. Dave Heineman made the announcement in a press conference Wednesday morning while expressing his awe at Nebraskans' willingness to open their community to those whose lives were blown away by Hurricane Katrina.

"I would like to begin today by applauding the amazing efforts from Nebraskans in answering the federal government's call to prepare for the possibility of receiving evacuees from the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina," Heineman said. "The level of preparation is very, very effective. All of this is by volunteers who want to help."

Volunteers worked to help set up the Omaha Civic Center and St. Mark's Methodist Church in Lincoln to house hundreds of evacuees.

"I can say without hesitation that their level of preparation is impressive," he continued. "I understand that more than 200 volunteers helped set up the Lincoln shelter on very short notice Tuesday evening. I know that situation has been repeated in faith-based communities, businesses and relief agencies across Nebraska. I am confident that our state, our communities and our people can and will respond."

After praising the work of Nebraska volunteers, the governor announced that evacuees won't be coming to Nebraska as a secondary evacuation site as earlier planned.

However, there are some in the state who are staying with family members and friends, but for now no one will be staying in make-shift emergency shelters, he said. The cancellation of evacuation plans into Nebraska is due to those who have already been moved to sites in nearby southern states who simply don't want to move again.

"This is still America, and until there is enough demand for relocation, the federal government has suspended its secondary relocation efforts. It is our understanding that many evacuees prefer to stay closer to home as they resolve issues regarding property, employment, finances and the safety and status of family members."

As of now, Nebraska is on stand-by, he said.

"There may be a time in the not-so-distant future when our help will be called upon."

Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy said that even though evacuees from the Gulf Coast aren't coming now, the preparations have served as a drill to test the state's response readiness.

"This has also tested Nebraska's homeland security program," Sheehy said. "This shows that we have the communications in place with the various agencies where we can care for those in need."

Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joann Schaefer said Nebraskans should remember why the ones who are here and may come here in the future aren't in their own homes.

"There's no amount of understanding that we can have to be in the shoes of people who have been through this," Schaefer said. "We're going to treat them with the utmost respect. We don't know exactly what to expect, but we have an idea of what to expect based on conversations with states that have already treated evacuees. They have medical issues. Many are suffering dehydration. Many are badly bruises. There's substance abuse and psychological issues. They are traumatized."

Even though evacuees aren't coming right now, the governor asked that the current temporary shelters stay set up for at least two weeks and that people across the state continue to look for potential shelter sites in their communities.

Randy Jones with the Lancaster County Chapter of the American Red Cross said Americans currently are facing the largest relief effort in U.S. history and being placed on "standby" doesn't mean that's the end of the story.

"Standby for the Red Cross means that we are ready to turn on the light switch if we hear that we are needed," Jones said. "We can be fully operational within an hour's time. We have staff ready and food lined up. We're ready if we get that call still to provide assistance in Omaha and Lincoln.

"That's not unusual," he said. "We have to ready in Nebraska in case of tornadoes and floods."

What has been set up is simply an expanded version of what is normally prepared around the state.

How you can help

If you would like to make a financial contribution to help the victims of Hurrican Katrina, donations can be sent to:

* Salvation Army: Hurrican Relief Katrina, P.O. Box 967, Fremont, NE 68026-0967; online at http://www.salvationarmyomaha.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

* American Red Cross: Hurricane Fund, 439 N. Main St., Fremont, NE 68025 or by calling (402) 721-2386.