Cajundome waiting for FEMA check.

Ten million dollars is needed to reimburse the Cajundome for its use as a Red Cross shelter, to cover routine operating expenses and to repair and refurbish the arena after Hurricane Katrina evacuees move out, Cajundome Director Greg Davis said Monday.

However, the Cajundome faces an immediate monetary need. The facility is spending $75,000 a day to serve as a shelter and has yet to receive a penny from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"We have used just about every nickel in our checking account," Davis said. "We need a FEMA check this week. We need it to make payroll Friday."

Davis said nearly 13,000 evacuees have filtered through the Cajundome since it opened as an evacuation shelter for Hurricane Katrina, which hit southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29. About 1,000 remain at the shelter, but at one point, 6,700 evacuees were housed there, he said.

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