Topeka ? Cliff Turner spends most of his day keeping the Statehouse tidy for government workers and visitors who traverse its halls.

But lately, he has had more on his mind.

Turner grew up in New Orleans, where his family home is flooded with 10 feet of water. His family got out, but he is still waiting to hear from his son, Cliff Cyres.

On Wednesday, he went outside to find Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to thank her for the state’s role in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“When I had the opportunity to see her today, I wanted to thank her,” said Tuner, 51. “She didn’t have to do what she did, but she did it.”

On Sebelius’ orders, the Kansas National Guard has sent 230 people to the Gulf Coast, including two people assisting with the Expeditionary Medical Support System, a mobile hospital that was transported to Bay St. Louis, Miss., over the weekend.

More than 4,000 evacuees are expected to arrive in Kansas in coming days. About 800 are scattered throughout the state. Additional evacuees will stay for weeks or months in shelters, hotels, vacant schools and private homes from Garden City to Johnson County.

The governor has asked for federal assistance to cover the cost of caring for evacuees.

Turner said that when warnings came, some people decided it was best to ride out the storm, having survived other warnings and storms.

“They had the means to get out, but they didn’t want to get out for fear of losing things,” he said.

In the end, he said, most of his family’s possessions have been lost, including photos from generations past.

“My mom wants to see if she can get back in,” Turner said.

On Wednesday, Sebelius joined law enforcement, fire, rescue and Kansas National Guard officials in kicking off preparedness month in Kansas. The event was planned weeks earlier, with September starting a second season of severe weather in Kansas.

Officials said the hurricane disaster reinforced the need for residents to take steps to prepare for disasters, including having a first-aid kit, emergency food supplies and a duplicate set of vital documents.

Sebelius said Katrina has prompted the state to revisit its own disaster plans, including developing an inventory of resources and key personnel, as well as identifying where vulnerable populations live in cities and towns.

Kansas churches have organized efforts to help hurricane evacuees find shelter, medical care and jobs during their stay. Schools have begun enrolling students who may not get back into their regular classrooms for months.

Some Kansans also are urging people to wear red ribbons as a sign of solidarity for the hurricane victims.