S.C. stops Katrina evacuees as Ophelia churns off coast

Oscar Avila, Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO -- The involvement of several Southeastern states in aiding Hurricane Katrina victims was complicated Saturday by the potential arrival of an unwelcome visitor: Hurricane Ophelia.

With weather forecasters predicting that Ophelia could make landfall by Monday, most likely in South Carolina, emergency officials in several states worked to balance goodwill toward Katrina survivors and their responsibilities to their own citizens.

The latest challenge to Katrina relief comes as federal officials continue to manage a massive relocation from states struck by the storm. About 250,000 victims have taken refuge in 774 shelters in 23 states, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said Saturday.

But at least one state is closing the door temporarily.

South Carolina officials said Saturday that they have asked federal officials to indefinitely suspend evacuation flights to their state until the Ophelia crisis passes.

At least 700 Katrina evacuees have been airlifted to inland Columbia and Greenville in recent days, said Chris Drummond, spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

Other evacuees in coastal areas are scrambling. A guest service agent at the Mainstay Suites in Wilmington, N.C., said one family that relocated to the hotel this past week is considering leaving because of Ophelia's threat.

Hurricane forecasters on Saturday predicted that there was a 1 in 4 chance that Ophelia would make landfall in South Carolina on Monday.

Georgia officials said they are thankful that the influx from Katrina into their shelters has been less than expected. Most evacuees seem to be living with friends or relatives.

But Eddie King, the emergency management director in Pender County, N.C., said he had to withdraw offers of help to Katrina-affected regions. The storm forecast has Ophelia hitting his county Tuesday.

"We are walking right into the middle of hurricane season," King said. "It's not that we don't want to help anybody. But we felt like we had to make sure that we could face any problems that arise here."