Mo. steps up to help after Hurricane Gustav

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast hundreds of miles away from Missouri, but there were efforts around the state Tuesday to lend support to those recovery efforts.

The Coast Guard set up shop at a federal building in downtown St. Louis to coordinate its activities, Anheuser-Busch provided cans of water instead of beer to spots in need of aid, and emergency shelters were on standby around the state, though largely unused.

About 180 people were coordinating the Coast Guard's response to the hurricane from temporarily expanded offices in St. Louis, relying on a network of computers, radios and cell phones, said Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Adam Wine, who is normally based out of Washington, D.C.

While local emergency responders had assisted Louisiana residents, the Coast Guard had not needed to conduct any rescues due to the hurricane, Wine said Tuesday morning. He largely credited that to the public receiving advance word of the hurricane and taking precautions to keep out of harm's way.

"It's definitely people heeding the word," he said. "People did the right thing."

Gustav came ashore about 70 miles southwest of New Orleans on Monday morning. Eight deaths were attributed to the storm in the U.S. after it killed more than 90 people across the Caribbean. About a million people were reported to be without power Tuesday.

About 1,300 members of the Missouri National Guard were deployed to assist in the hurricane-stricken region. They helped with evacuations and were expected to assist when residents return home.

The Guard was assisting with the movement of supplies, providing security and doing aircraft maintenance, said Jessica Robinson, spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt.

St. Louis-based brewer Anheuser-Busch said about three-quarters of a million cans of drinking water had been distributed ahead of the hurricane to wholesalers along the Gulf of Mexico. The water would be distributed by relief agencies in areas hard hit by Gustav.

The brewer geared up again Monday to ship nearly an equal amount of water from a production line in Jacksonville, Fla., due to the approach of tropical storms Hanna and Ike.

The brewer said it was in a unique position to provide water to those in need.

"When a natural disaster strikes, very simply put, we have a responsibility to package and provide water to our neighbors, and we're proud to do so," Peter Kraemer, vice president of operations, said in a statement.

Louisiana asked Missouri to provide assistance in four areas, including providing National Guard support and contributing 10 ambulances, emergency vehicles and 22 personnel to transport those with medical or special needs. Missouri also was asked to help respond to needs on the water with six boats and 12 water patrol and conservation staff; and to set up emergency shelters.

State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Susie Stonner said Missouri originally heard 3,000 to 5,000 people might be air evacuated into the state.

She said Friday's shelter request resulted in a massive effort to prepare shelters around the state by Sunday at noon, at which point Missouri learned those evacuations likely wouldn't occur.

Stonner said Louisiana will assume the costs related to setting up those shelters. Meanwhile, Red Cross shelters remained on standby.

"There are other storms coming in," she said, pointing to the prediction of more hurricanes and tropical storms in upcoming weeks.

Two residents from the St. Louis region, Mike Wood, 54, and Larry Boyer, 68, drove a special Red Cross vehicle to Shreveport, La., where they prepared to distribute hot meals and snacks Tuesday.

Wood said trees "were bending pretty good" the night before, and he was still looking out at a steady downpour from Gustav. But he said he hadn't thought twice about helping out.

"I've always believed what you give is what you get," he said. "One of these days it could be me."