Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, said Thursday he has asked the Department of Veterans Affairs about whether vacant buildings at the Waco VA Hospital could be used to shelter some of the thousands of refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

Texas is already providing shelter for 25,000 or more at the Houston Astrodome and will make space for another 25,000 at the former Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio.

"VA hospitals are uniquely prepared to assist in times of national tragedy, and I am working with the Central Texas VA system to utilize space at the Waco VA hospital to assist in that vital effort," Edwards said Thursday.

"I think the VA is moving ahead, but we have to be decisive in this situation with families in dire need, and I am going to urge the VA to not let any bureaucratic process slow down needed services to victims of the hurricane."

Edwards said VA officials have asked all regional hospitals to report on bed space.

The Central Texas VA system told Edwards it could offer 60 beds in Waco, 30 in Temple and 20 more throughout Central Texas.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: HURRICANE ASSISTANCE WEB SITES

Click Here For Information About Ten Cares, Central Texas Shares Drive To Help Hurricane Victims

Click Here For Charity Tips From FEMA

Click Here For American Red Cross Web Site

Click Here For Salvation Army Web Site

Click Here For Second Harvest Web Site

Click Here For Catholic Charities Web Site

Click Here For National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web Site

Click Here For Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Web Site

Click Here For United Methodist Committee On Relief

Click Here For Episcopal Relief & Development Web Site

Click Here For Information On Southern Baptist Relief Efforts

HURRICANE INFORMATION RESOURCES

Click Here For WWL-TV Survivors Web Forum

Click Here For National Hurricane Center Web Site

Click Here For National Weather Service Web Site

Click Here For Hydrologic Information Center For Information On River Flooding

Click Here For Federal Emergency Management Agency Web Site

Click Here For Louisiana Homeland Security Web Site

Click Here For City Of New Orleans Web Site

Click Here For Louisiana Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For State Of Mississippi Web Site

Click Here For Mississippi Emergency Management Web Site

Click Here For Alabama Governor’s Web Site