5:45 p.m.: Fats Domino OK After Hurricane Katrina
Legendary R&B singer Fats Domino was among those rescued after Hurricane Katrina. The sports information director at Louisiana State University said Domino was apparently picked up by boat Monday, and taken to the Superdome. He was eventually put on a bus to LSU's basketball arena, which was being used as a triage center.

A news release from LSU said Domino, who is 77, spent two days with the school's quarterback, whose girlfriend is friends with Domino's family. The news release quotes Domino as thanking those who helped him, and telling the people of New Orleans, "I wish I was able to still be there with them, but I hope to see them soon."

Domino had been reported missing by his longtime agent and his niece. But his daughter said she saw a picture of him in a newspaper. -- Associated Press

5:43 p.m.: Doctor Creates Treatment Center In Sheraton Hotel
New Orleans physician Greg Henderson has set up a treatment center in the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street, but nobody knows it's there. Henderson said the hotel is dry, accessible by foot and close to the New Orleans Convention Center, just five blocks from the Greater New Orleans bridge.

Henderson told KFWB NewsRadio in Los Angeles that police officers helped him salvage drugs from flooded pharmacies. He's using hotel beds for his clinic. Henderson needs help, too. He has no other doctors or nurses with him. He wants medical volunteers to walk to the hotel via the bridge.

Henderson said many of the dying simply need treatment for heat exhaustion, diarrhea and general dehydration. -- Associated Press

5 p.m.: Bus Overturns, Killing 1 Evacuee
State police say a charter bus carrying evacuees overturned this afternoon in Opelousas and one person is dead.

The accident happened on Interstate 49 at Creswell Lane. Troopers had no further details. -- Associated Press

4:24 p.m.: Consider Parishes Closed
If you have evacuated St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes, consider them closed. There is no electricity, no utilities and it's not safe. Some folks have been talking about returning but that's not a good idea. New Orleans Councilman Jay Batt told WDSU he received an e-mail about Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard's efforts to get things cleaned up in the parish. While Broussard was working on a flooded street, a 3-foot shark swam by him. -- WDSU.com Web Staff

4:02 p.m.: Hungry Tourists Get Creative
Some hungry tourists in New Orleans had engineered a creative way to get some food. They found some ramen noodles, let water sit in the sun to get hot, soaked the noodles in the water and served them with crackers. -- Associated Press

3:50 p.m.: Convoy Gets Mixed Response
National Guard troops in trucks loaded down with water and food have gotten a mixed reaction from the starving masses outside the Superdome and convention center. Some threw their hands in the air and screamed, "Thank you Jesus!" But others swore at the troops, unhappy that it took them days to get there.

The pool photographer watching the National Guard convoy approach the convention center area noted that heavily armed soldiers were keeping a wary eye on things as they drove by -- many with their automatic weapons pointed out the windows.

He said the troops had been told to be on the lookout for sniper fire, and they were ready to engage citizens if fired upon. -- Associated Press

3:20 p.m.: Arrivals From Louisiana Screened In Houston
Passengers getting off buses from New Orleans may be in sight of the end of their nearly week-long ordeal. But first, they have to go through screening.

Police in Houston are guiding people through lines where they can undergo pat-down searches. Paramedics wearing rubber gloves are helping medical teams conduct a triage operation. Kidney patients and others who might need immediate medical attention are being transported to hospitals.

The evacuees are also being offered icy bottles of water as they get off the buses. Disposable diapers are being passed out to those with small children.

Many of the people are asking total strangers for a few seconds of cellphone time to try to locate loved ones. -- Associated Press

3:13 p.m.: Morgue Is Full
The morgue at New Orleans' Big Charity facility is full, and it's under water.

Spokesman Don Smithburg said the morgue is holding 12 bodies, and another five are stacked in a stairwell, which also is flooded. Other bodies are elsewhere in the public hospital.

Smithburg said some doctors and nurses are at the breaking point, and giving each other intravenous fluids to be able to continue functioning.

But the primary concern is at the city's other public hospital, University Hospital. About 500 family and staff members have joined 110 very ill patients, along with hundreds of others from the general community needing evacuation. Emergency radio communication with University has been lost.

At last word, staffers were begging for help. They were rationing a liter of water a day and had minimal food. -- Associated Press

2:59 p.m.: Guests, Employees Of Hyatt Removed

The evacuation of Superdome refugees was interrupted briefly when school buses rolled up so some 700 guests and employees from the Hyatt hotel.

They were move to the head of the line to be evacuated -- much to the amazement of those who had been crammed in the stinking Superdome for days.

The 700 had been trapped in the Hyatt just like the others, but conditions were considerably cleaner, even without running water, than the unsanitary crush inside the dome.

The mayor has used the hotel as a base since it is virtually across the street from City Hall, and there were reports the hotel was cleared with priority to make room for police, firefighters and other officials.

A hotel guest said they would be taken to the airport, but that could not be confirmed.

The Hyatt was severely damaged by the storm. Every pane of glass on the riverside wall was blown out. -- Associated Press

2:48 p.m.: Three Hospitals Open, Ask Employees To Return
Three New Orleans-area hospitals remain open.

The Louisiana Hospital Association said they're asking their workers to report.

Those are East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero and Ochsner Clinic Foundation in Metairie.

The hospital association said all three have power, air-conditioning and security, and remain committed to serving their communities during these difficult times. -- Associated Press

1:41 p.m.: Army Works To Deliver Food And Rescue Ill
Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore tells CNN the high water near the convention center and Superdome is making it tough for troops to get in. But he says they've been unloading trucks full of food and water and will go restock when they're empty. Honore says they'll also clear areas for helicopters to conduct medical evacuations. He downplayed talk of mass criminal activity in New Orleans, saying most of the people on the streets are families just waiting to get out of a bad spot. -- Associated Press

1:34 p.m.: Airlines Begin Evacuation Flights
The nation's major carriers have begun flights meant to airlift more than 25,000 people stranded in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. The evacuees will be taken to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and other sites chosen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The New Orleans airport is functioning only on a limited basis, so the flights will be limited to daylight hours. -- Associated Press

1:18 p.m.: Petroleum Supply Improves
The post-Hurricane Katrina petroleum supply outlook improved somewhat today as U.S. and European governments agreed to release more than 60 million barrels of oil and refined products from their emergency reserves. -- Associated Press

11:42 a.m.: Satellite Images Of Hurricane Damage
The following link shows satellite images of some of the damage following Hurricane Katrina. Not all neighborhoods are shown, but you might see your neighborhood. Satellite Images Of Katrina Damage

11:25 a.m.: Gulf Coast Economic Loss Estimated At $100 Billion
A leading risk assessment firm is projecting the economic loss from Hurricane Katrina and flooding in New Orleans at over $100 billion. Risk Management Solutions says the losses are the result of two separate catastrophic events: the landfall of Hurricane Katrina on Monday, and the New Orleans flood which resulted from failure of the levee systems that protect the city. -- Associated Press

11:12 a.m.: Second Fire Burns In New Orleans
In New Orleans, one of the few areas to escape flooding is now facing fire. A blaze has erupted in an old retail building on a dry section of Canal Street. It's the second large fire to burn in the downtown area today. There are no reports of injuries, but the fires are adding to a sense of collapse in the city. -- Associated Press

11:00 a.m.: Agriculture Costs Will Top $2 Billion
Hurricane damages to farm-related industries will cost more than $2 billion and could increase food prices according to estimates from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Farm Bureau says a conservative estimate is that direct damages to crops and livestock will rise above $1 billion. The group says indirect costs, such as increased shipping rates and fuel prices, also will reach at least $1 billion dollars. -- Associated Press

10:46 a.m.: New Orleans Drainage May Take A Month
Lieutenant General Robert Flowers used to head up the Army Corps of Engineers, the group that's working on the problem now. Flowers says it all depends on how much of the pumping system can be dried out and repaired quickly. He says that, most likely, the draining of New Orleans will have to start slowly and take a month or more. So far, the Corps of Engineers working in New Orleans has said there's no way to know exactly how long it will take to drain the city. Officials say there are a number of factors, including how much rain falls on the city in the meantime. -- Associated Press

10:40 a.m.: Bush Promises Assistance
President Bush promises to restore order in New Orleans and says the $10.5 billion in emergency funds being appropriated by Congress is a small downpayment on recovery costs. -- Associated Press

10:29 a.m.: WDSU Broadcasting On Channel 49
The WDSU broadcast can now be seen on channel 49 in the New Orleans area.

10:05 a.m.: Mail May Possibly Reach Evacuees
The U.S. Postal Service is making arrangements to get mail to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Officials are urging the evacuees to file change-of-address cards listing their shelter's address. The plan could help reunite familiy members sent to shelters in various cities. A change of address can be filed by telephone at (800) ASK-USPS. People who believe they may have family members at the Houston Astrodome can address their mail to the named individual at "General Delivery Houston, Texas 77230." -- Associated Press

9:55 a.m.: Second Navy Hospital Ship Prepares For Departure
A second Navy hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, is preparing to respond to the Gulf Coast today, as the Pentagon continues to send resources to the battered region. The Mercy, which is based in San Diego, will be ready to depart Wednesday. It will take about two weeks to complete the trip. -- Associated Press

9:16 a.m.: Baton Rouge Absorbs Displaced Population
Officials say Baton Rouge has become Louisiana's most populous city, at least temporarily, in the span of a week. Evacuees and rescue personnel from the hurricane ravaged New Orleans area have poured into East Baton Rouge Parish. Walter Monsour, the top administrator to the president of the city-parish government, says a number of companies are relocating their offices and many are buying homes and entire apartment complexes to house their employees. Monsour says that with the New Orleans airport closed, air traffic at Baton Rouge's Metro Airport could easily grow from 700,000 passengers to 3 million passengers per year. -- Associated Press

8:55 a.m.: Military Responds
More than 11,000 Army and Air National Guardsmen and 7,200 active-duty troops are supporting hurricane relief operations. Approximately 10,000 more National Guard troops are expected to join the effort soon. They are assisting with security, supply distribution, search and rescue, and carrying out other missions to support life and property. The Army has a toll-free number for families of deployed soldiers to get a message to the military members. The number is (888) 777-7731. -- Associated Press.

8:27 a.m.: Corporate Donations Expected To Exceed $100 Million
Businesses large and small are pitching in to provide disaster relief. Wal-Mart says it is providing $15 million. The world's largest retailer is also planning to set up "mini-Wal-Mart" stores in the area to provide free supplies like water, diapers and clothing to those in need. Drug maker Wyeth says it plans to donate antibiotics and pain relievers, while Johnson and Johnson is providing $250,000 worth of kits containing toothbrushes, soap and shampoo. Beer giant Anheuser-Busch says it will donate more than 2 million cans of drinking water a week to Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says corporate contributions could soon top $100 million. -- Associated Press

8:04 a.m.: President Bush Speaks
President Bush says a lot of aid is "surging" to hurricane victims but so far, "the results are not acceptable." As he prepares to depart for a tour of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, Bush assures people "we'll get on top of this situation." He says millions of gallons of water and tons of food are on the way and progress is being made. -- Associated Press

7:35 a.m.: FEMA: Hotline Set Up For Shelter, Donation Referrals
Emergency officials say a telephone hotline has been set up for Hurricane Katrina refugees to find shelter. The hotline also will direct concerned citizens to agencies where they can volunteer their work or make donations. The number is (888) 312-4567. -- Associated Press

7:22 a.m.: HHS Ships Medical Supplies
Six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to hurricane-stricken Louisiana and Mississippi. And officials say 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by today. The 10 additional shelters at military facilities together will have 2,500 beds for patients most in need, but also can offer outpatient care. They are the first of up to 40 emergency medical shelters that Health and Human Services plans to establish in the area in coming days. -- Associated Press

6:53 a.m.: Governor: Look For Show Of Force
Louisiana's governor says she's "not playing the blame game" amid criticism that the government's been to slow to act following Hurricane Katrina. Kathleen Blanco acknowledges that things didn't ramp up as quickly as they could have. Blanco now is seeking up to 40,000 troops to help "create order out of a chaotic situation." The governor tells CNN, "I think you'll see a show of force today and in days to come." -- Associated Press

6:35 a.m.: FEMA Chief: 'We Understand' The Situation
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to make clear that the government understands how dire the situation is in New Orleans. There's been a growing chorus of complaints from refugees and the city's mayor, who complain about what they say has been a slow federal response to the hurricane, flooding and lawlessness. Mayor Ray Nagin said Thursday night that the feds "don't have a clue" about what's happening. Mike Brown tells CNN he didn't know the New Orleans Convention Center was being used as a staging area for evacuees until he saw news coverage. He blames that on a lack of communication with city officials. -- Associated Press

6:16 a.m: Nagin Frustrated By Relief Efforts
The mayor of New Orleans is seething over what he sees as the government's slow response to his city's disaster. Ray Nagin went on WWL Radio Thursday night to say the feds "don't have a clue what's going on." The mayor says he needs troops and hundreds of buses to get refugees out. Congress is rushing through an aid package of more than $10 billion and the Pentagon is promising 1,400 National Guardsmen. --Associated Press

6:14 a.m.: Feds, State Officials Field Gas Complaints
We know that Americans are being forced to pay sharply higher gasoline prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Are they being ripped off? Federal and state authorities are fielding thousands of complaints from angry consumers. The federal Energy Department reports getting more than 5,000 calls to its price gouging hotline in a single day. -- Associated Press

5:21 a.m.: Explosion Sends Flames Into Pre-Dawn Sky
A series of explosions has rocked the riverfront a few miles south of the French Quarter in New Orleans. The explosions appeared to come from an area on the east bank of the Mississippi River, near a residential area and railroad tracks. At least two police boats were at the scene. The first explosion sent flames shooting into the pre-dawn sky. A series of smaller blasts followed and then acrid, black smoke that could be seen even in the dark. The vibrations were felt all the way downtown. -- Associated Press

5:02 a.m.: Explosions Reported Near Superdome
A series of massive explosions has rocked the New Orleans riverfront a few miles south of the French Quarter. There is no word on the cause of the blasts or the extent of possible damage. CNN reporters say they can see thick smoke. -- Associated Press

4:59 a.m.: Hurricane Andrew Survivors Offer Advice
Survivors of Hurricane Andrew are offering words of support and encouragement for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Andrew wiped out most of Homestead, Fla., in 1992. Kim Sovia manages three Homestead radio stations. She says the Katrina victims are in for a "rough road" emotionally, spiritually and psychologically. Sovia advises them to be patient but firm in dealing with insurance companies and governments. -- Associated Press

3:54 a.m.: Unemployment Rate Will Likely Climb
There are dire predictions about where the unemployment rate may be headed in the areas walloped by Hurricane Katrina. Some analysts say 20 to 25 percent jobless figures are a real possibility along the Mississippi coast and in the New Orleans area. The figures before the storm had rates in those areas around five or six percent. -- Associated Press

3:32 a.m.: Astrodome Declared Full
A second big stadium in Houston is now being used to house evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. A city spokesman says they've begun putting refugees at the Reliant Center adjacent to the Astrodome, which the fire marshal has declared full. The decision not to accept more evacuees at the dome came after about 11,000 people were allowed inside the stadium that once was home to the Astros and Oilers. -- Associated Press

2:22 a.m.: Louisiana Governor Demands Apology From Hastert
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco is demanding an apology from House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Blanco is upset with comments Hastert made about rebuilding New Orleans. Hastert said it makes no sense to rebuild a city that's seven feet below sea level. He added it looks like much of New Orleans "could be bulldozed." -- Associated Press

2:07 a.m.: Oil Prices Ease
Crude oil prices have eased a bit in Asian trading today and gasoline futures have fallen for the first time in a week. But supply fears aren't going away. One analyst in London says there are worries that Hurricane Katrina has all but wiped out the world's thin cushion of excess refining capacity. A sign of the jitters: crude oil contracts from the high demand months of November through February continue to trade above $70 a barrel. -- Associated Press

2:02 a.m.: Bush To Tour Hurricane Zone
President George W. Bush is making several stops today in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He will fly in a helicopter over some of the hardest-hit areas along the Alabama and Mississippi coasts and land in some places to meet with storm victims and rescue workers. It's not yet clear whether Bush will stop in New Orleans or just do an aerial tour. -- Associated Press

1:20 a.m.: Katrina Too Strong For Levees
An Army Corps of Engineers official says the levees in New Orleans failed because Hurricane Katrina was too strong for them. Al Naomi is the senior project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers' New Orleans district. He says the levees were designed to withstand a Category 3 hurricane. Katrina was a Category 4. -- Associated Press