By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. –
A massive processing center for hurricane evacuees is rising inside an empty aircraft hangar at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.
Relief agencies and state and local governments are preparing to receive up to 2,000 victims over the next few days.
Jeff Rainford is chief of staff for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.
He says organizers will issue vouchers for hundreds of hotel rooms but adds that will probably be a two to three week fix.
"But that would obviously allow us a little bit more time to find the right housing for people who decide they want to stay in St. Louis," Rainford said. "I've heard of many people who just don't want to go back to New Orleans because of what they've been through, and we need to be prepared to find housing and jobs and social services for those folks as well."
The facility will include portable showers, a cafeteria, medical services and day care.
To hear an interview with Rainford, click on the 'listen' icon above.