As hundreds of people from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast fledHurricane Ivan, Gov. Kathleen Blanco assured evacuees at the RedCross shelter in the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse that her administrationwould do everything in its power to get the lives of Louisianaresidents back to normal.
Blanco told residents to exercise caution before venturing backto their homes.
Bob Mann, communications director for the governor’s office,said Blanco spoke on Wednesday morning to President George W. Bush,who promised necessary federal aid to the state.
Mann said the governor also met with the undersecretary of theFederal Emergency Management Agency to discuss emergency aid forLouisiana residents.
Kendall Hebert, public relations manager for the LouisianaCapital Area chapter of the American Red Cross, said the shelterset up in the Maddox Fieldhouse has a normal capacity of 3,000.However, Hebert said the shelter only will be taking 1,200evacuees.
Hebert said there are two additional shelters in East BatonRouge Parish, Woodlawn Elementary and Baton Rouge High School.