COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolinians are opening their buildings, big and small, to refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

Across the state, public and private groups tried to find places to house some of the millions of people displaced when the massive storm came ashore along the Gulf Coast on Monday.

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said Friday his city will implement the same plan it would put in place to house thousands of people from Charleston and elsewhere along the South Carolina coast if a hurricane threatens the Palmetto State.

Small towns were getting in the act, too. "The whole town of Union" is helping bring at least five evacuated families to the town to live at no cost for at least two months, said Vicki Morgan, who is organizing the effort.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., called on church, civic and elected leaders to help him put 5,000 refugees in places such as empty military housing and abandoned strip malls.

"What we need to do is figure out a way to get the people here," he told more than 100 leaders at Columbia City Hall. "For some reason they can't seem to get the people out of New Orleans."

Clyburn wanted to use C-17 military transports planes from Charleston Air Force Base to bring evacuees to South Carolina, but he wasn't able to work out the details.

As of Friday afternoon, state government had not formed any plans to house evacuees, but local governments and private groups were offering their help.

Greenville offered the Palmetto Expo Center for up to 1,200 refugees.

In North Charleston, the city opened up its Armory Park facility with the help of the Red Cross. It can house up to 80 people, volunteer Mack Canterbury said.

The shelter opened Thursday night, but no one came. Workers expected a few families Friday night.

That doesn't mean the Red Cross hasn't been busy. Chapters across the state say dozens of families staying with relatives or in hotels have requested aid.

In Union, people aren't waiting for refugees to come to them. On Friday, a group of four people headed to Atlanta to pick up five families left homeless by Katrina.

They will be given a place to live, groceries and utilities for at least two months, Morgan said.

"We want these families to be able to sit down at a meal with Momma cooking at the stove and become a family again," she said.

The group, calling itself "Hurricane Hospitality," will take in as many families as it can, Morgan said.

"Our goal is to challenge every other town in the state of South Carolina and other states, " she said. "Let's get some families and give them an opportunity to get back on their feet and figure out what to do with their lives."