BOSTON (AP) – The state is making plans to shelter up to 2,000 people from areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in anticipation that refugees will be sent to Massachusetts.

Federal authorities have asked Gov. Mitt Romney to prepare to provide help, including letting them know how many people Massachusetts would be able to take, said Julie Teer, a Romney spokeswoman.

“It seems we can accommodate about 2,000 people,” Teer said. “Once we draw up a plan on how we will do it, then we’ll let the federal government know. We anticipate that we will temporarily provide shelter for these victims.”

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said Saturday that he would provide the convention center in South Boston as temporary housing for the refugees, should the city be asked to help.

Teer said no formal decision has been made on the location of a shelter.

Local authorities met with officials at Logan International Airport Saturday morning to discuss plans should a military jet need to land refugees there as part of the relocation plan.

Menino said members of his administration were contacted by the Centers for Disease Control to find out how many beds are available in Boston for refugees needing medical care.

The state also plans to send 475 troops from the Massachusetts National Guard to the region as part of “Operation Helping Hand,” the name given to its hurricane relief effort.

Teer said the guardsmen, who are likely headed to Louisiana, are expected to leave sometime this weekend.

In a statement, Romney said, “Massachusetts will rise to the occasion. We have one mission, and that is one of compassion. The people of the commonwealth want to offer a helping hand to victims of this tragedy.”

More details of the state’s relief operation are expected to be announced Sunday at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s bunker in Framingham.