Katrina Survivors to Arrive in Philly Today

Living up to its moniker of the City of Brother Love, Philadelphia welcomes Hurricane Katrina survivors today. City officials expect 600 survivors to arrive later today. Philadelphia's newest residents will go to two buildings converted to shelters -- one located at 1701 N. 11th St. in North Philadelphia and other at the Palumbo building at 11th and Catharine Streets in South Philadelphia.

Governor Ed Rendell has ordered school districts in Pennsylvania to waive residency and other requirements for Katrina survivors in order to get kids enrolled at local schools as soon as possible.

Mayor John Street estimates that the city can provide temporary housing and services for up to 5,000 evacuees.

If you'd like to help out with Operation Brotherly Love, let the city know if you have temporary housing space available. You can also sign up to be an Operation Brotherly Love volunteer at the city website. United Way will be coordinating volunteer activity.

Not everyone is happy about the city using its resources to help Katrina survivors - a handful of protestors showed up at one of the temporary housing sites yesterday, asking that the city take care of its "own poor" first. 23% of Philadelphians live in poverty.

Mayor Street responded, "We're going to do everything we can here. But in this operation, we are taking care of people who have nothing."

Photo credit: NBC10