LIMESTONE – Federal officials have made preliminary inquiries at the Loring Commerce Centre about the availability of housing for hurricane victims at the former U.S. Air Force base, according to the president of the Loring Development Authority on Tuesday.

Carl Flora said he received inquiries Tuesday morning from several federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the air force.

The center is more than 1,700 air miles from the hurricane-stricken area of New Orleans and southern Louisiana. Driving time from the area would be about three days.

Flora said the base has several facilities that could be made livable in a very short time. Empty apartments also may be available at the Loring center, but those are operated by private parties.

“It’s been a flood of inquiries today,” Flora said. “They are trying to get a fix on availability.

“The discussions have been very preliminary,” he said. “We have facilities that can be brought up to use in days and a couple of weeks.”

Flora said the officers’ quarters have 80 to 90 rooms, and the Blue Roof dormitories could house 200 to 400 people.