Some refugees from Katrina to head to Ohio

A Mahoning County official said he knew of no effort to bring refugees here.
COLUMBUS -- Hundreds of refugees from Hurricane Katrina are expected to arrive in Ohio cities later this week, officials said Monday.
Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati are expected to get an undetermined number of refugees, tentatively scheduled to arrive in plane loads Thursday, Columbus Red Cross spokeswoman Lynn Cook said.
Walter Duzzny, executive director of the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency, said he wasn't aware of any organized effort to bring refugees to this area. He added, however, that government agencies were to announce today how local residents can provide aid to hurricane victims.
Franklin County officials have been asked to prepare a staging area for 300 refugees in Columbus. Akron is expecting about 100 refugees to arrive in the next few days after a request from Federal Emergency Management Agency, said David Lieberth, chief of staff for Mayor Don Plusquellic.
Housing, schooling
The Red Cross has asked officials in the four cities to help arrange housing for the refugees. School districts, which have enrolled small numbers of refugee pupils so far, said they would be prepared to accept more children if necessary.
Hanna Greer, a spokeswoman for the Franklin County Commissioners, said the county will provide food and place for the refugees' children to play at the staging area in Columbus.
Meanwhile, Ohioans are continuing to go to the Gulf Coast to help, including about 50 firefighters leaving from Cincinnati today for Hattiesburg, Miss.
The state has sent about 1,500 National Guard members to Louisiana and Mississippi, and 85 police officers are volunteering. Dozens of other emergency workers and volunteers from church groups and charities also are in the region.