Updates as they come in on Katrina
12:15 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tom Planchet
12:15 P.M. - Army Corps: 1,200 sandbags that are 20,000 pounds each are
being brought in to bridge gap...water level is no longer rising.
12:11 P.M. - Army Corps: Water has become level with the Lake in the
city so no more water should flow into the city, except at high tide.
12:10 P.M. - Engineers and construction experts are at the 17th Street
Canal. They've filled 100, 3,000 pound sandbags and are trying to drop
the bags and concrete barriers into the area.
11:49 A.M. - (AP) AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas is opening its doors to
hurricane refugees from neighboring Louisiana.
Texas Governor Rick Perry says he expects evacuees to start arriving
within the next 24 hours at the Houston Astrodome. He says Louisiana
Governor Kathleen Blanco asked him this morning if the Astrodome could
house the 23-thousand people currently being sheltered at the Superdome
in Louisiana, and he quickly agreed. He says even before the request,
Texas officials had been talking about using the Astrodome as a
long-term shelter for people already stranded in Texas because of the
storm.
Perry says the hurricane survivors are welcome in Texas for "as long as
they want to stay." Children who are sheltered at the Astrodome will be
able to attend public schools in Houston. Perry says the Astrodome
schedule has been cleared through December.
11:46 A.M. - WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal emergency officials are looking
for two-thousand Homeland Security Department workers to volunteer for
hurricane relief efforts. The head of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency has told Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff a-thousand
people are needed within 48 hours and two-thousand within a week.
11:40 - (AP) Roving bands of looters are breaking into stores in
Carrollton area to get food and supplies. They've also stolen guns and
armed themselves.
11:33 A.M. - Director Walter Maestri: We have no food or water for the
evacuees. Says emergency workers have seized the food and water and
drinks from Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and other groceries for evacuees, but
he said that is all gone. Says water supply is gone. More water
expected, but its not there right now. Says evacuees are getting upset
and harried.
11:32 A.M. - Director Walter Maestri: FEMA and national agencies not
delivering the help nearly as fast as it is needed.
11:30 A.M. - Emergency Operations Director Walter Maestri: Evacuees from
New Orleans and the east bank of Jefferson are flocking to the west
bank, overwhelming the facilities.
10:58 A.M. - (AP) The New Orleans International Airport has reopened to
allow humanitarian flights in and out, officials said Wednesday.
10:55 A.M. - (AP) The Dallas school district says it'll enroll in
district schools the children of any Hurricane Katrina refugees that ask
for it.
10:52 A.M. - (AP) Every branch of the U.S. military is involved in the
rescue-and-relief mission following Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Northern
Command is coordinating search and rescue, medical help and supplies.
The work will support the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the
states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
10:14 A.M. - WWL-TV: Governor Blanco confirms plans to move evacuees to
the Houston Astrodome. Blanco said she remains in contact with the White
House, and has asked for a military presence in New Orleans, adding it
was important to stabilize things as soon as possible. Buses are on
their way to the Superdome to remove the evacuees.
10:06 A.M. - WWL-TV: Gas prices expected to rise by as much as $1.10 by
this weekend.
10:00 A.M. - State Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley: People
interested in checking up on their insurance can contact the Dept. of
Insurance at 1-800-259-5300 or online at LDI.state.la.us. Nationwide
damage estimates stand at $26 billion, and $17 to $19 billion in
Louisiana alone.
9:51 A.M. - WWL-TV: No information available from Washington and
Tangipahoa Parishes.
9:48 A.M. - WWL-TV: St. Charles Parish residents may return to their
homes to grab personal items before leaving the area.
9:46 A.M. - CNN: Commercial flights coming out of New Orleans
International Airport could resume in two months.
9:31 A.M. - WWL-TV: UNO campus surrounded by water.
9:30 A.M. - WWL-TV: Lakefront Airport is totally submerged.
9:22 A.M. - (AP) Looting broke out in some New Orleans neighborhoods
today, prompting authorities to send more than 70 additional officers
and an armed personnel carrier into the city.
Police say one officer was shot in the head by a looter yesterday, but
is expected to recover.
The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reports today that a Wal-Mart in the
Lower Garden District was looted, and the entire gun collection was
taken.
9:09 A.M. - (AP) VATICAN: Pope Benedict says he is praying for victims
of Hurricane Katrina and urged rescue workers to persevere in bringing
comfort to survivors.
9:04 A.M. - (AP) Plans are being put into place to transport evacuees
from the Superdome to the Houston Astrodome via a bus convoy.
8:41 A.M. - Gov. Blanco and Archbishop Hughes lead the State O.E.P. in
prayer. "We look to (God) for our care," Hughes said. The Governor said
monumental work lay ahead, and that a "higher power" was needed.
7:59 A.M. - Suzanne Parsons: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office - 2,186
in public shelters in St. Tammany and number is growing.
7:49 A.M. - Governor Blanco: Four Navy ships headed to New Orleans with
food and water.
7:38 A.M. - CNN report...another attempt will be made to sandbag the
17th Street Canal.
7:24 A.M. - Slidell Mayor Ben Morris: Electricity is six to 12 weeks
away.
7:06 A.M. - Governor Blanco wants the Superdome evacuated within two
days.
6:57 A.M. - Governor Blanco: "Absolutely necessary" that the Army Corps
of Engineers drop sandbags into the levee breach.
6:50 A.M. - Sen. Landrieu: The whole parish of St. Bernard is gone.
6:27 A.M. - (AP) Conditions in New Orleans hospitals deteriorate. Click
for story.
6:22 A.M. - (AP) No time to count the dead as rescue efforts Click for
story.
6:20 A.M. - Governor Blanco: Estimated 20,000 people in dome and they
will be dispersed around the state to rescue centers being set up.
Situation 'unteneable' in Superdome.
6:13 A.M. - Governor Blanco: Essential personnel will stay in city, but
general public needs to go. Logistical nightmare to bring in food and
water.
6:11 A.M. - Governor Blanco: We have found places around the state to
house the refugees, we just need to get them out.
6:10 A.M. - (AP) -- Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman says the Bush
administration will release oil from petroleum reserves to help refiners
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
5:55 A.M. GOVERNOR BLANCO: Stopping the looting is important, but saving
lives a higher priority right now. Not sure where looters think they are
taking the stuff since city may soon be under water.