BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Some New Orleans evacuees fleeing Hurricane Gustav are expected to arrive in Birmingham. Officials expect the first of as many as 4,000 evacuees to arrive by bus.

Red Cross spokesman Billy Baxter says the first two of 100 buses headed for Birmingham left New Orleans shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday and should arrive at shelters Sunday morning.

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex has set up 1,200 cots for evacuees, Boutwell Auditorium can house 700, and Bartow and Fair Park arenas each can take up to 500 evacuees.

The shelter preparations in Birmingham are reminders of the rush three years ago to care for 15,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who fled to the area.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)