Utah offers to take 2,000 refugees

Utah officials have cleared the way to take in as many as 2,000 refugees devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but as of Friday, none had shown up.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. Friday doubled the number of refugees the state can accommodate. The refugees will likely arrive in Utah via Texas, where the Astrodome is already at capacity.

A Utah Air National Guard refueling jet returned from New Orleans Friday night without any refugees. Military personnel had hoped to pick up refugees in Texas, but Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have not yet authorized the state to begin airlifting evacuees, said Lt. Doug McCleve, a Utah Department of Public Safety spokesman.

Police, medical and military personnel were prepared to welcome as many as 50 refugees Friday night. But when the KC-135 refueling jet arrived in Salt Lake City, only military personnel were on board.

"We're still working on getting refugees back here," said Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, the Utah National Guard adjutant general, just minutes before the refueling jet departed for New Orleans. "It's just very difficult on the ground right now. We're ready to help, we're prepared to help and we want to help, but this plane will come back empty."

Utah officials continue to prepare for an influx of refugees. Utah was one of four states asked Wednesday by Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to take in victims of the killer hurricane.

Huntsman on Friday told Texas Gov. Rick Perry that the state of Utah is ready and willing to take in people with "immediate medical needs who are the most vulnerable." Texas officials thanked the Utah governor and said they are still awaiting approval from FEMA and the Defense Department.

"We've opened the door, and we're just waiting to see if anybody will come in," McCleve said. "Right now we don't know who's coming or when they're coming. All we know is, we have room if they want to come."

Another KC-135 filled with supplies and soldiers from the Utah National Guard's 19th Special Forces Group is leaving for New Orleans this morning, said Utah National Guard Lt. Col. David Thomas.

Friday, a team from the Utah Air National Guard deployed to New Orleans to fulfill President Bush's promise to crack down on looting in the devastated city.

The 15 soldiers from the 151st Security Forces Squadron arrived in the chaotic city Friday afternoon, where they are expected to provide security at hospitals and for food convoys, Lt. Col. Paul Reutlinger said.

"You can see they need us desperately," Reutlinger said. "I don't know how I would act without food or water; your mindset changes an awful lot. It's just heart-wrenching."