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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Four flights late Saturday and early Sunday brought about 450 refugees from Hurricane Katrina to Utah, where they were found food, clothing, shelter, church services and dog kennels.
Another flight with about 150 was due late Sunday.
"Right now I think people are looking at the basics -- hot showers, beds and food," said Carol Sisco, state Department of Human Services spokeswoman.
As soon as they got off the planes, they had an immediate health screening and crisis counselors were available for those needing immediate help.
They were then taken to the Camp Williams, a 28,000-acre National Guard training camp 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, where they were housed in barracks.
Church services were held Sunday, with a Catholic service in the morning and a 5 p.m. service involving all of the black ministers in the area, Sisco said.
Some of the refugees were able to bring their dogs on the plane with them, and veterinarians provided shots and any needed medical care. There were kennels and the refugees were able to have their dogs with them.
Crisis counselors were on duty from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What their long term needs in Utah will be still was uncertain.
Gov. Jon Huntsman offered the state's help Thursday. Texas Gov. Rick Perry ordered emergency officials Sunday to begin preparations to airlift some refugees who fled to Texas to other states that have offered help, including Utah.
Volunteers from throughout the state were donating money, food and water the help the arriving victims.
Jeanetta Williams, president of the NAACP Salt Lake Branch, said youths were putting together kits with items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes to help the victims through their stay.
"The NAACP just wanted to let them know we were here in Utah and ready to help," she said. "They're familiar with the myth that Utah is an all-white state. We wanted to make sure they know that the NAACP has a presence here."
Utah's population is about 1 percent black.
The Best Friends Animal Society, which operates an animal sanctuary in southern Utah, was working with its sister sanctuary, the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary, to establish an animal rescue operations base in Tylertown, Miss.
Capital Animal Care, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit animal welfare organization, was taking its mobile veterinarian clinic to Tylertown.
Capital Animal Care will have stainless steel cages for up to 50 animals, hot and cold running water, heat and air conditioning, an onboard generator and three operating room stations, Best Friends said.
It said critical care animals rescued in New Orleans were being shuttled to Louisiana State University's veterinary school.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
