Agencies Poised For Storm Recovery
As Residents Suffer Through Hurricane, Disaster Relief Mobilized
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Play CBS Video Video FEMA's Katrina Plan Mike Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, spoke to The Early Show's Harry Smith about how the government will help Gulf Coast areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.
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Video Louisiana Governor On Katrina Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco spoke to The Early Show about how the state's emergency workers are prepared to handle the expected damage from Hurricane Katrina.
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Video Hoping To Miss Mississippi Residents of Biloxi, Miss., have a good reason to fear the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Many still remember the last storm that killed 250 people. CBS News' Jim Acosta reports.
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President Bush is handed a map by Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, center, during a video conference with emergency management organizations on Hurricane Katrina at his ranch Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005. (AP)
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Members of the National Guard hand out ready-to-eat meals to some of the thousands of evacuees taking shelter at New Orleans' Superdome. (AP)
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Interactive Storm Tracker Follow all the storms of the 2009 season with satellite images, warnings and wind speed charts.
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Interactive Katrina Hits Florida Hurricane Katrina socked the densely-populated South Florida coast.
Mr. Bush spoke with reporters on his central Texas ranch shortly after New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered an immediate mandatory evacuation for all of New Orleans.
"I appreciate the efforts of the governors to prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm," Bush said. "I want to thank all the folks at the federal level and the state level who have taken this storm seriously."
Mr. Bush said he had spoken earlier Sunday with federal disaster management officials and with the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
And Brown told CBS News he doesn't question Mr. Bush's dedication to the relief effort, and he is sure FEMA will be able to finance even a major recovery.
"I don't want to say our pockets are limitless, but I know president Bush and Congress support FEMA in a very great way," Brown said. "Our number one priority is to help victims, save their lives, protect property. Whatever resources we need, there's no question in my mind the president and congress will get those to us."
For years, forecasters have warned of the nightmare scenario a big storm could bring to New Orleans, a bowl of a city that is up to 10 feet below sea level in spots and relies on a network of levees, canals and pumps to keep dry from the Mississippi River on one side, Lake Pontchartrain on the other.
The fear was that flooding could overrun the levees and turn New Orleans into a toxic lake filled with chemicals and petroleum from refineries, as well as waste from ruined septic systems.
Governor Blanco said although the city is at tremendous risk right now, she is confident New Orleans can hold up to the storm with the help of federal agencies.
"Our people are sturdy people, strong people," Blanco said. "We've dealt with storms before. We know we're going to lose some property. There will be extensive damage but we will rebuild."
©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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