The Chronicle, 9/15/2005: A Surge in Baton Rouge: "Charities in Louisiana's capital struggle to cope as refugees from Katrina double the city's population
By Ian Wilhelm
Baton Rouge, La.
In a matter of days, the population of Louisiana's capital doubled as people fleeing the wrath of Hurricane Katrina arrived by foot, in buses, and even barges.
Eighty miles north of New Orleans, the city attracted many of the poorest residents of the Crescent City, and local charities have been pushed almost to the breaking point. The coordination of their efforts at times has been chaotic, but the Baton Rouge groups are facing an unprecedented situation.
'With 250,000 new people in town, it is straining all the services of our agencies,' says Kenneth L. Hinrichs, chief executive officer of the Capital Area United Way, in Baton Rouge. 'It's sort of mind-boggling.'"
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