OK Under State Of Emergency

Oklahoma is under a state of emergency. Governor Brad Henry made the declaration on Saturday, preparing to receive thousands of Gulf Coast evacuees as they flee from Gustav.

The state Department of Emergency Management says about 150 patients from Louisiana hospitals are expected to arrive at Oklahoma City's airport sometime Saturday night. The Oklahoma National Guard is flying them to safety here in the Sooner State.

Once on the ground, EMSA will take them to area hospitals.

"In times like this, we hope to give back quite frankly whether it's an ice storm from here, a tornado in Oklahoma or a flood. People always come from different states or around the country. So, we have the opportunity to possibly give back and we're doing our best to be prepared so we can do that," said Michelann Ooten, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Meantime, Tulsa's Red Cross is waiting to see if we'll receive any evacuees. Four shelters are already on standby. Hundreds of volunteers received word they could be needed.