The Iowa State and the Ames community have offered to house victims of Hurricane Katrina as part of the state’s effort to provide relief.

John McCarroll, executive director of university relations, said the idea of housing victims in Wilson and Wallace residence halls has been mentioned.

“The governor’s office has been looking to take in people from New Orleans,” McCarroll said.

“Right now, nothing has been locked in.”

Where victims would stay and for how long will depend on the number of people that need accommodation, McCarroll said.

Warren Madden, vice president of business and finance, said along with vacant student university housing, the Ames community could also provide living arrangements. With the recent number of housing developments, there may be vacancies in Ames that could accommodate some of the victims, Madden said. The state of Iowa has offered to accommodate up to 5,000 people, he said.

“The governor’s office continues to relate to FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] about where people can go,” McCarroll said.

“We have made the offer, but the how and when have not been finalized.”

Both McCarroll and Madden said a decision regarding the issue could be made in just a few days.

Doug Yetman, executive director of the American Red Cross Lincoln Way chapter, said he has received calls and e-mails from people who are offering places to stay.

“Right now we are keeping a list and taking people’s numbers and will possibly keep in touch with them,” Yetman said.

In reaction to the vast number of people who are willing to donate their time and effort to help the hurricane victims, the Red Cross has set up additional training classes for disaster relief.

“We teach introduction disaster courses every few months, but there was such an outpouring of support, we needed additional training as soon as possible,” Yetman said.

An introduction to disaster services in mass care will be taught this Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the south auditorium of the Mary Greeley Medical Center. A family services course will be taught Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Way chapter, 426 Fifth St., and a shelter operations course will be taught on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., also at the Lincoln Way chapter.