As Gustav nears, Gulf Coast UR students are reminded of Katrina

University officials say they are watching Hurricane Gustav's path with interest and are prepared to offer need-based assistance to students who are directly affected by the storm.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine ordered 13 Virginia National Guard members to Louisiana Tuesday to help respond to Hurricane Gustav. The soldiers will help with support planning operations and will coordinate the part of the response.

"We will provide the Gulf states with resources as they are needed, and we also will ensure the Commonwealth is prepared at home for any future emergencies," Kaine said in a statement.

Kaine activated the state's emergency resources Friday in response to Hurricane Gustav as Gulf Coast residents evacuate their homes.

Here in Richmond, many students who have family and friends in the Gulf Coast are watching 24-hour news coverage of Gustav closing in on Louisiana.

Julie Kokemor's family lost its home during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and said she was trying to keep in contact with her mother and sister.

"We would miss school because of hurricanes, but they would never hit us," she said. "Then three years ago, Katrina hit us. It's surreal to watch it happening again.

"My family evacuated to Baton Rouge, so hopefully they will be safe there."

When Katrina hit in 2005, the university accepted some students from universities in New Orleans, including Tulane University and Loyola University, which shut down because of storm damage. They were offered temporary admittance to Richmond with all expenses covered, and several eventually applied and were accepted as full-time students.

Kaine activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Friday and ordered a team of 30 officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to Baton Rouge, La. The team is equipped with rescue equipment and is trained in search and rescue operations. Many more state agencies are ready to send relief if needed.

The team is expected to arrive Monday morning ahead of the storm, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts will make landfall between 9 to 10 a.m. Gustav is expected to reach New Orleans around noon.

Despite progress in repairing damaged levees and bolstering others, several that did not break after Katrina are still at risk.

"It's mind boggling," Kokemor said. "The government knew that there was a good chance that New Orleans would be hit with another hurricane, but things are still not repaired correctly."

The National Hurricane Center at NOAA is showing Gustav is moving west of New Orleans and will hit Houma, La., directly at noon Monday. As of 11 a.m. EDT Monday, the Hurricane had been downgraded to a category 2 from a category 3 and had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Collegian staff writer Dan Petty contributed to this report.

This story was updated Tuesday to include Kaine's decision to send 13 Virginia National Guard troops to Louisiana to coordinate recovery operations.

Contact staff writer David Larter at david.larter@richmond.edu