St. Joseph will provide aid to Louisiana residents as Hurricane Gustav picks up energy heading for the Gulf Coast. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency made it official with a call at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“St. Joseph will get some 200 evacuees Sunday from Louisiana,” said Bill Brinton, Buchanan County emergency management director.

A team of disaster services coordinators gathered Saturday evening at the Civic Arena to walk through the building and discuss plans. The arena will be the emergency shelter site.

“The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross, with their experience, will be the shelter operators,” said Mary Robertson, the city’s spokeswoman.

Its expected that many of the evacuees went through Hurricane Katrina, said Karla Long, the Red Cross emergency services director.

“When the evacuees get here we want them to be able to get their bearings without being overwhelmed,” said Kevin Kirby, local Red Cross director. “So we’re asking people to please not congregate near the Civic Arena Sunday.”

The city hasn’t received a definite arrival time but a chartered jet is expected at Rosecrans this afternoon, said George Albert, the city’s emergency management director.

The Red Cross and city staff started work early today transforming the Civic Arena moving in food supplies, cots, bedding and other needed items including television and Internet. St. Joseph Transit will have personnel and buses at Rosecrans when the evacuees arrive.

The city expects the shelter to be open for 10 days to two weeks, Mr. Albert said.

Heartland Health and the St. Joseph/Buchanan County Health Department are ready to assist, Ms. Robertson said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph Police Department will provide security and other services. The Missouri Air National Guard and the Salvation Army are assisting too.

The state’s emergency management office got a call Friday and started preparing to support the hurricane relief effort, said Susie Stonner, a State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman. Missouri agreed to accept 5,000 airlifted evacuees who will be sent to seven or possibly eight locations, Mrs. Stonner said. In addition to St. Joseph, the cities of Cape Girardeau, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield have agreed, she said.

The Missouri Army National Guard is sending a task force of 500 soldiers, along with a 20-member group from the 7th Civil Support Team and a 12-member aviation maintenance team to Louisiana to support preparations for Hurricane Gustav and any necessary recovery operations, said Capt. Tamara Spicer, a spokeswoman for the Guard. Many of the soldiers have specialized training as military police, Mrs. Spicer said.

There will be 12 Red Cross trained volunteers to assist St. Joseph’s evacuees today, Mrs. Long said. And eight to 10 volunteers will be needed to work round the clock each day the shelter is open, she said.

The Red Cross doesn’t require in-kind donations such as food, clothing or products at this time, Mr. Kirby said.

“We do need money and volunteers,” he said.

The Red Cross will have a special training class beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at their building located at 12th and Faraon streets for individuals who want to volunteer. Volunteers will be required to register, consent to a background investigation and complete the training program. Money can be sent to the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross or go on line to the Red Cross Internet site: www.american.redcross.org.

Marshall White can be reached

at marshall@mpgco.com.