Children separated from their families after Hurricane Katrina are being helped by the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children NCMEC.

The Washington-based center has set up a Katrina Missing Persons Hotline and posted dozens of photos of children on its website in an attempt to reunite families.

Robert Hoever, deputy director of the NCMEC, said the center was facing its biggest operation so far.

"Normally we help missing and exploited children, but in this case we are helping missing adults as well," he told CTV's Canada AM.

"I can't think of anything more horrifying than the situation they are facing right now."

Hoever said that so far at least 380 missing children had been reported to the center, of which around 25 had been reunited with a family member.

Photos, names and descriptions of missing children, relocated children and also adults in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi are being posted on the website.

One entry about a little boy apparently too young or too scared to speak reads: "His name may be Neiamaya or Jeremiah. His date of birth is unknown, however, he is believed to be about 2 years old."

A five-month-old baby was also among the children. He was transferred from a hospital in New Orleans to Baton Rouge General Hospital after Katrina but his mother's whereabouts were unknown.

The U.S. Department of Justice asked the NCMEC to set up a coordinated missing persons process to find and reunite those caught up in Hurricane Katrina across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

The NCMEC has also sent out its network of volunteers armed with mobile phones -- many of whom are retired police -- to affected areas to help families file their missing person alerts.

They are also helping them find and post images to the website.

The center's toll free number is 1-888-544-5475 and website is www.missingkids.com.

Meanwhile rescue teams are still hunting for survivors in New Orleans.

There are thought to be several thousand still in the city, but they have been urged to leave while the massive clean-up operation starts.