By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A Coast guard command usually based in New Orleans has temporarily relocated to St. Louis to oversee the response to Hurricane Katrina.
About 40 people will use offices in the Robert Young Federal Building. They'll coordinate rescue efforts, evaluate and mark waterways, and monitor offshore oil and gas facilities by air to check for damage.
The hurricane hit the Gulf Coast Monday morning with 145-mph winds and blinding rain. It submerged entire neighborhoods in New Orleans and caused destruction along the Gulf Coast.
Lieutenant Rob Wyman says response teams are much closer to the hurricane, staged outside of its path to provide assistance as soon as it's safe.