Storms caused by Hurricane Katrina could hit Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana could begin to see heavy rains and thunderstorms from Hurricane Katrina as early as this afternoon, especially in southern and central areas of the state.\n"We don't know what's going to happen -- the thing is just barely on shore," said Mike Shartran, a manager at the National Weather Service's Indianapolis office.\nThe heaviest rains -- as much as three to five inches -- could fall in Southern and Southeastern Indiana. Thunderstorms are also expected in central Indiana Tuesday evening, but forecasters don't expect flooding.\nWhile powerful wind and driving rain pummeled the Gulf shore, Indiana utilities and rescue agencies were preparing to participate in a large-scale disaster relief effort.\nCinergy spokeswoman Angeline Protogere said 100 company line workers, including 64 from Indiana, were working to restore power in southern Florida, where Katrina struck last week.\n"That is probably all we can spare right now," she said.\nMore than a dozen volunteers manned phones Monday at the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis. The toll-free call center was one of eight operating across the country to field questions from victims of Katrina in Florida and throughout the Gulf area.\n"It's very, very busy," said Chris Hintz, a Red Cross spokesman. "I can only imagine that means there's a lot more need for help right now."\nOther Red Cross volunteers from Indiana were waiting in Montgomery, Ala., to be deployed to hard-hit areas, Hintz said.\nMeanwhile, 34 members of an Indianapolis-based search and rescue team were in Mississippi and were expected to be sent to Biloxi, Miss., after the storm passed through the region.