The city of Austin will soon be home to as many as 5,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees.

People will be sent to the Toney Burger Center shelter, run by the American Red Cross. When that is full, people will be taken to the Delco Center. The third shelter will be at the Austin Convention Center.

Refugees will be evaluated and then either sent to the hospital or a shelter. As of 4 p.m. the Austin Independent School District, city of Austin and the Office of Emergency Management were preparing the shelters. There’s no word on the when the bulk of the expected refugees will arrive.

The facilities will stay open as long as they are needed.

"We are working with the American Red Cross and other agencies to establish additional shelters. We are also preparing to handle as any as 500 evacuees with special needs. These include patients with chronic as well as acute medical conditions, also transfers from outside medical facilities. We are coordinating with local hospitals to provide the needed capacity," Collier said in a press release.

Brackenridge Hospital will receive 200 patients, a hospital spokesperson said.

The City of Austin Emergency Operations Center has been activated and staffing needs are being identified.

Capital Metro reports six buses that can hold 50 passengers each will be sent to New Orleans to help with evacuations.

Four mechanics, 12 operators and other staff are also making the trip. The buses have been loaded with food and water. The buses are on standby and are ready to go. Cap Metro has also given bus passes to the Red Cross to distribute to refugees.