By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive Joel Giambra said Wednesday that a plan is on hold to bring as many as 150 hurricane victims to the county.
Federal and state officials have slowed down relocation efforts. Officials say they want to make sure victims are placed more carefully.
Giambra says they were told the first stop for any New York bound evacuees will be to a base near Syracuse. People will be triaged there to determine any medical needs and the best place to relocate them.
Giambra says it's difficult to say how many Katrina victims may ultimately end up coming to Erie County. But he says it now looks as if it will be next week at the earliest. The county is sending a team of local doctors and social workers to help with that triage effort.
Officials say they have received more than 100 calls from individuals and organizations offering housing and assistance. One person even said she'd be willing to adopt a child left parentless by the hurricane.