A Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman says the agency could decide as early as Thursday when thousands of people should evacuate temporary housing in the state's coastal counties.

Tropical Storm Gustav is predicted to strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane as it crosses the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.

Some forecast models show Gustav aiming at Louisiana, but that projected path could change and other Gulf Coast states could be hit.

MEMA spokesman Jeff Rent said Hurricane Katrina victims still occupy about 5,500 various types of temporary housing in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.