U.S. readies 25,000 body bags for Katrina victims

Across miles of ravaged neighborhoods of clapboard houses, grand estates and housing projects, workers struggled to find corpses and persuade the city’s last stubborn residents to leave.

“Right now, human life is paramount so I’m concentrating all my power on getting out people who want to leave,” Police Chief Eddie Compass told NBC’s “Today” show Thursday.

Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, just appointed as deputy to FEMA Director Michael Brown, said it was unsafe to be in New Orleans.

“We’re starting an operation today going block by block through the city, requesting people to leave their homes,” he said on CBS’ “The Early Show.” “We need everyone out so we can continue with the work of restoring this city.”

Government tests confirmed that the floodwaters are thick with sewage-related bacteria in amounts at least 10 times higher than acceptable safety limits. The muck is believed to contain E. coli, certain viruses and a type of cholera-like bacteria.

“If you haven’t left the city yet, you must do so,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She urged anyone coming into contact with the water to scrub up with soap and water.

The danger of infection was not limited to the New Orleans area. The bacteria are feared to have migrated to crowded shelters outside the state, where many evacuees are staying. Four deaths — one in Texas, three in Mississippi — have been attributed to infected wounds, said Tom Skinner, spokesman for the CDC.

Bob Johannessen, spokesman for the state Department of Health and Hospitals, said officials have 25,000 body bags on hand in Louisiana. Asked if authorities expected that many bodies, he said: “We don’t know what to expect.”

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Mayor C. Ray Nagin had earlier said New Orleans’ death toll could reach 10,000. Already, a temporary warehouse morgue in rural St. Gabriel that had been prepared to take 1,000 bodies was being readied to handle 5,000. The official death toll in Mississippi climbed to 201 Wednesday, but more than 1,000 are feared dead there, too.

In Mississippi, efforts to restore power to residents along the battered coast were moving along. Gov. Haley Barbour said Thursday on “Today” that power would be restored by Sunday to all homes and businesses able to receive it.

Katrina victims could also soon get federal money in their pockets — and even in the mail.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, stung by criticism that it failed to act fast enough when Katrina hit, was prepared to hand out US$2,000 (euro1,606) debit cards for each household affected by the storm. At the Houston Astrodome where many New Orleans evacuees are being housed, long lines formed to register.

“The concept is to get them some cash in hand which allows them, empowers them, to make their own decisions about what do they need to have to start rebuilding,” said Michael Brown, FEMA’s head.

In addition, the Postal Service has delivered some 15,000 Social Security checks to collection points in areas affected by Katrina, despite being unable to locate 2,000 of its own workers.

Postmaster General John Potter vowed to get the checks to customers.

“Regardless of where they are, we’ll move their mail to them,” Potter said. “My message to everybody is, if they are relocated, please inform us.”

The administration of President George W. Bush on Wednesday asked Congress for US$51.8 billion (euro41.6 billion) in Katrina relief and recovery expenses, in addition to US$10.5 billion (euro8.4 billion) already approved, calling it the latest installment — but not the last.

“We will in fact need substantially more,” said budget director Josh Bolten, estimating that the money would cover expenses for a few weeks.

The need to move on with their lives has refugees in shelters across Texas slowly moving out. Some are staying in the state. Others are catching buses or taking flights elsewhere.

In Houston, the number of refugees was down Wednesday to a total of 8,096 among four shelters, including the Astrodome, said Coast Guard Lt. Joseph Leonard.

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