NATCHEZ &045;&045; The Red Cross closed its shelter in Ferriday Friday, but that doesn’t mean all of the evacuees are gone.

Ferriday Mayor Gene Allen estimated close to 600 people are staying with friends and family in the 3,700-person town, many of whom are in the same position as his sisters.

&uot;I’ve got a sister from the Lower Ninth Ward and a sister from New Orleans East,&uot; he said. &uot;Neither of them has anything to go back to.&uot;

Allen said the city is working to fill all vacant housing with families, waiving inspection fees and deposits for expediency.

Ten families have moved into housing so far, Allen said.

While filling all available housing is a good start, Allen knows the town will need help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take care of all the evacuees.

&uot;We don’t (have enough vacancies) right now, but we’re hoping that FEMA will come in do what they’re supposed to do to help these people,&uot; he said.

Allen said bringing in trailers would be a welcome form of aid. A list of available sites has been submitted to FEMA and the town is waiting for a response.

FEMA has begun moving trailers into Concordia Parish. More than 30 units are at Donald’s Camper Village, and more were delivered to other campgrounds with openings. The way Civil Defense Director Morris White understands things, FEMA is trying to fill existing trailer parks before it opens new ones.

&uot;They’re trying to fill those up, then, these people with lots that have access, they’ll be next,&uot; he said.

Once a site is submitted, White said, all future dealings are between FEMA and the landowner. This makes it difficult for parish officials to keep up with what’s going in where and when, but they’re not complaining.

In the meantime, the Red Cross is making sure people in the area are fed and clothed.

Henderson Cook, a member of the LaSalle Community Action Agency, manages a food and clothing bank at the Ferriday Resource Center located at the old Seventh Grade School.

Food, clothes and incidentals for evacuees of every age occupy classrooms throughout the building.

The goods &045;&045; supplied by the Alexandria Red Cross food bank &045;&045; are available free of charge to anyone from the areas affected by either hurricane, no matter where they are staying.

&uot;We put a bag together for everybody, and if they want anything else, they ask for it,&uot; Cook said. &uot;If we have it, we give it to them.&uot;

What Linda Henderson of New Orleans wanted was a job.

She went to the unemployment office, where she met Cook, who saw she wanted to work. A few days later, he called to offer her a job at the food bank.

&uot;I’m thankful to have something to do, something to take my mind off of what happened,&uot; Henderson said.

Cook employs six evacuees and 10 volunteers. Allen said the food bank has served over 6,000 people since its inception.

Cook said the food bank would be open indefinitely. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.