FAIRFIELD, Ohio -- Officials with Tom Raper RVs in Fairfield said 44 recreational vehicles are headed for Baton Rouge, La., Friday morning.

The vehicles are headed south as part of a plan to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency house people who have been left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

The 44 drivers had planned to leave around 8 a.m. Friday, but they ran into a problem. Once every RV was equipped with an electronic brake light, they finally took off around 11 a.m.

The group is on a goodwill mission to help those affected by the hurricane. The owner of Tom Raper RVs said he got a call from FEMA requesting RVs, campers and trailers. Dave Bane agreed to sell some to FEMA at cost. Bane also said he would donate some of the vehicles as well.

FEMA plans to use the vehicles as offices and as temporary shelter for the homeless along the Gulf Coast.

On Friday, drivers from all over brought trucks and hitched up the vehicles to tow them south. The drivers left from the Fairfield dealership near Cincinnati.

On Monday, another caravan from Tom Raper is leaving. In addition to taking RVs, they will also haul donations from customers to the Gulf region.