(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman and Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy received notice today from officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that up to 500 FEMA-managed storm evacuees could be sent to Nebraska on Saturday.

Word of an evolving federal plan to rotate state responsibility for receiving relocated victims of Hurricane Katrina was first discussed during a conference call with the nation’s governors held Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.

FEMA has decided to place selected states at immediate preparedness levels on specific days for at least the next two weeks. Nebraska’s turn in the rotation is Saturday, along with Oregon and Ohio. No state will receive more than 500 evacuees on a rotation day.

Massachusetts, Wisconsin and South Carolina are on the federal rotation today. Iowa, Rhode Island and Michigan are set for Friday. On Sunday, South Dakota, Illinois and Indiana are expected to be prepared to receive storm evacuees.

“We and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency received notice this morning that our preparations may be called upon this weekend,” Gov. Heineman said. “We all understood the fluid nature of this situation, and we appreciate the willingness of our communities and The American Red Cross to stay prepared.”

Omaha’s Civic Auditorium has been designated by state, local and private relief officials as the single point of entry, housing and care for FEMA-directed evacuees this Saturday. The American Red Cross, the City of Omaha and Douglas County have arranged temporary shelter there for up to 500 evacuees. The Red Cross is equally prepared to house up to 200 people at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church with help from the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County if needed at a later date.

Members of the media and the general public will be notified after the state receives official confirmation from FEMA on whether evacuees are headed to Nebraska. The times and specific location of evacuee arrival may not be known until federal notice is received. More information on storm relief efforts is available online at http://www.nebraska.gov.