November 24, 2005
Families Displaced by Hurricane Look for Work, New Homes
Three months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, many families are still struggling to find new jobs, homes and a return to a normal lifestyle. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser provides a report.

October 20, 2005
Army Corps Investigates Levee Breaches
The Army Corps of Engineers has launched an independent investigation into the levee breaches in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in an unprecedented effort to learn why the structures failed. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports on the levee failures and what the Army Corps plans to do in response.

October 6, 2005
FEMA to Reassess No Bid Contracts Following Hurricanes
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reassess some no-bid contracts awarded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, acting FEMA head R. David Paulison said Thursday.

Transcript: A report from Slidell, La., examines how evacuees are moving into trailers and looking for other means of housing following the storms.

October 4, 2005
Search for Katrina Victims Ends; Children Return to School
Signs of normalcy continued to return to New Orleans Tuesday as officials ended their door-to-door sweep for corpses and some schoolchildren returned to classes.

October 4, 2005
Flood of Federal Aid to Katrina-impacted Region Attracts Contractors
Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports from Louisiana about private contractors' work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

September 30, 2005
New Orleans Mayor Organizes Rebuilding Commission
On a day in which he reopened neighborhoods that once housed more than 100,000 residents, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin announced a 17-member commission to draft a rebuilding plan for New Orleans, tapping business owners and others, including Roman Catholic Archbishop Alfred Hughes and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, to the job.

Three experts in urban planning and recovery -- Mary Comerio, professor of architecture at the University of California at Berkeley; John Norquist, president for the Congress of the New Urbanism and former mayor of Milwaukee; and Paris Rutherford, director of planning and urban design at RTKL Associates -- consider the job ahead.

September 29, 2005
Media Coverage of Katrina Aftermath Faces New Scrutiny
In the days that followed the devastating landfall of Hurricane Katrina, the nation's media descended on the flooded and chaotic scene along the Gulf Coast, reporting on suspected anarchy and rapes at the New Orleans convention center and Superdome and taking a hostile skepticism into interviews with government officials.

Michael Brown, the former FEMA director who resigned amid a torrent of criticism after Katrina, accused the press of "hysterical" and "often inaccurate" coverage. Jeffrey Brown looks at the media and the job it did in covering the unfolding scenes in the hurricane zone.

September 28, 2005
Algiers Residents Return as New Orleans Continues Counting the Dead
Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on efforts by the residents from the first major community in New Orleans, the historic area of Algiers south of the Mississippi River, to return to their shattered homes and begin the process of rebuilding and recovering.

Kaye also reports on the latest information from officials in New Orleans on the search for and identification of those killed when Hurricane Katrina tore into the region more than four weeks ago.

September 27, 2005
Former FEMA Chief Blames State, Local Officials for Katrina Response
Former Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday, saying his agency's role was one of coordination and that failure in leadership had come from the state and local levels.

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," two days before the storm hit, Brown told the panel.

Kwame Holman reports on Brown's testimony before the House committee investigating the response to Katrina.

September 27, 2005
Policyholders, Companies Struggle with Insurance Claims
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of thousands of policyholders are seeking money and support from their insurance companies, but the news they get has more to do with how their homes and businesses were destroyed than if their policies were up to date. Correspondent Spencer Michels provides a report.
Background Report: How the Insurance Industry Responds to Major Disasters

September 23, 2005
Hurricane Rita Sparks New Flooding in Abandoned New Orleans
Water poured back into parts of New Orleans as the storm surge from Hurricane Rita overran the levees weakened by Hurricane Katrina. Water was reportedly several feet deep in parts of the impoverished Ninth Ward, where it stood 20 feet deep after Hurricane Katrina. Ceci Connolly of The Washington Post reports on the situation in New Orleans and the prospect of the widespread flooding seen earlier this month.

September 23, 2005
Communities Continue to Struggle with Influx of Katrina Evacuees
Correspondent Tom Bearden reports from Baker, La. about the stress many communities are facing from absorbing Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and the prospects of having to accommodate Hurricane Rita evacuees as well.

September 22, 2005
Hurricane Rita Poses New Risk of Flooding in New Orleans
Hurricane Rita, churning toward the Gulf coast of Texas, poses a risk to New Orleans where officials continue to work to secure the levees that failed less than three weeks ago during Hurricane Katrina and flooded the city.

"It's well known the levee systems in and around New Orleans and the surrounding parishes are substantially weakened following Katrina," Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who is coordinating the federal response in New Orleans, told Jim Lehrer Thursday. "We're concerned that if we get a substantial amount of rain there could be re-flooding in the city."

September 20, 2005
Cost of Katrina Construction Poses Major Challenge to Washington
President Bush has pledged the federal government "will do what it takes" to rebuild areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, even as estimates of the costs have soared to between $200 billion and $300 billion. The enormous price tag has pushed lawmakers in Washington to consider a wide array of ways to pay for the effort, although Republicans have promised not to raise taxes. Two budget experts consider how Congress and the president may handle the costs of helping the Gulf Coast recover.

Seafood Industry Struggles in Wake of Storm
Spencer Michels reports from the Gulf Coast about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the fishing and shrimp industry.

September 19, 2005
New Orleans Mayor Suspends Reopening of City
Heeding calls from President Bush and other federal officials, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin reversed course Monday, ordering a suspension of the planned reopening of part of his battered city.

Nagin cited concerns that Tropical Storm Rita could pose a threat to the region in the coming days.

Transcript: Kwame Holman updates the day's events and Tom Bearden returns with residents of the Algiers section of the city and what challenges await the residents of their starm-ravaged neighborhood.

Transcript: Walter Leger, chairman of St. Bernard Parish Economic Development Commission, and Fred Lopez, infectious disease specialist at Louisiana State University's School of Medicine in New Orleans, discuss the business, health and redevelopment issues that underlie the debate over when to return to New Orleans.

September 16, 2005
President's Address Opens Debate Over Future of Gulf Region
President Bush's pledge to do "what it takes" to rebuild areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina has sparked a debate among officials, activists scholars and other about the scope and goals of the government's effort.

Ray Suarez speaks with Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution; Alison Fraser of the Heritage Foundation; Mark Shleff-Steen, environmental reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune; Ronnie Seaton, a chef and teacher from New Orleans; and William Julius Wilson, a professor of social policy at Harvard University, about their reaction to President Bush's speech.

Specter of Katrina Weighs Heavily on Future of Bush Presidency
New York Times Columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant consider the task facing the nation in rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and whether the president has offered enough leadership.

September 15, 2005
President Vows Massive Federal Rebuilding Effort in Wake of Hurricane
In a prime-time address to the nation Thursday, President Bush promised the federal government "will do what it takes" to rebuild areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and took responsibility for the response effort many have criticized as too slow.

"[W]e will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives," he said in the speech delivered from Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans. "And all who question the future of the Crescent City need to know: There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again."

Full Text | RealAudio: President Bush's address

RealAudio: New York Times Columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant offer differing takes on the president's efforts to assert leadership in the aftermath of Katrina.

September 15, 2005
Look and Makeup of Future New Orleans Spark Debate
From engineers to authors and bankers to urban planners, the debate over what the rebuilt New Orleans will look like and who will live there continues has drawn out hundreds of plans and concerns.

September 15, 2005
New Orleans Mayor Lays Out Repopulation Plan
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Thursday residents may start returning over the weekend to large areas of the gradually recovering city -- although certain parts remain flooded and soiled from the levee breaks caused by Hurricane Katrina.

September 14, 2005
Hurricane Highlights Problems with National Response to Emergencies
As governments at all levels are reassessing their ability to respond to another natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, the 9/11 Commission released a report detailing problems with aviation security.

The panel's vice chairman, Lee Hamilton, discusses what the nation can do to prepare for future natural and human-caused emergencies and how well the federal government has learned the lessons from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

September 13, 2005
Experienced Emergency Worker Takes Helm at FEMA
The new acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, R. David Paulison, pledged Tuesday to find more permanent homes for the tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors now in temporary living arrangements.

Transcript: Meanwhile, 44 patients were found dead over the weekend at a flooded hospital in New Orleans. Washington Post reporter Douglas Struck reports on the discovery of the bodies.

In another case, the owners of a nursing home in New Orleans where 34 people were found dead after Hurricane Katrina were arrested and charged Tuesday with 34 counts of negligent homicide for not evacuating those patients.

September 13, 2005
Massive Outpouring of Donations Raises Question of Scams
Americans responded to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina by donating nearly $800 million. The massive outpouring raises concerns over possible scams aimed at acquiring some of those dollars. Jeffrey Brown discusses the possibility of scams with independent charity evaluators Trent Stamp of Charity Navigator and Stacy Palmer, editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

September 12, 2005
Mass Migration from Gulf Coast Poses Long-term Challenges
Hundreds of thousands of evacuees have fled the Gulf Coast region for other parts of the country. These dislocated people are seeking employment, education for their children and other services.

Three experts consider the impact of the largest mass migration of people since the 1930s and how it might affect the social and political order of different parts of the nation.

Transcript: Health correspondent Susan Dentzer also looks at the challenges facing public health workers in hurricane-ravaged areas.

September 12, 2005
FEMA Director Resigns Amid Criticism over Hurricane Response
Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, resigned Monday following a barrage of criticism of his agency's handling of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Update: President Tours Flooded New Orleans

September 9, 2005
Federal Relief Official Recalled to Washington; FEMA Role Debated
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown, who has become a target of much of the criticism about the slowness of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, was recalled to Washington and relieved of his duties coordinating the Gulf Coast relief effort. The coordinating role will be filled by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who has been in charge of relief, recovery and rescue efforts for New Orleans.

Background Report: FEMA Faces Intense Scrutiny

September 9, 2005
Analysts Consider How Katrina Has Undercut Support for Government
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant discuss the response to Hurricane Katrina and how it has weighed on the public opinion of President Bush, Congress and government's ability to help those in need.

Transcript: Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, discusses recent poll results indicating a drop in support for President Bush and strong disapproval of government at all levels in response to Hurricane Katrina.

September 8, 2005
Congressional Leaders Spar over Investigation into Katrina Response
Top Democrats in the House and Senate vowed to oppose the panel Republican leaders said would be charged with investigating the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Democrats allege the commission will lack the authority and powers necessary to find out why the government took as long as it did to bring aid to the Gulf Coast.

Susan Collins, the Republican slated to head the panel, and Democrat Joe Lieberman have agreed to hold open hearings on the response, and discuss the congressional role in finding out what went wrong with Jim Lehrer.

Update: Congress Approves $52 Billion in Katrina Relief Funds

September 8, 2005
Families, Students Struggle to Recover in New Cities
In communities throughout the nation, families are seeking one another through the Internet and aid agencies and students are preparing to return to school in cities many have never visited. Following a report on the situation in Houston, two experts discuss the challenges specifically facing administrators and educators as they struggle to bring some normalcy to those students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

September 8, 2005
Louisiana Hospital Struggles in the Wake of Katrina
Health correspondent Susan Dentzer reports from Louisiana about how one hospital is coping with a surge of patients.

September 7, 2005
Floodwaters Pose Murky Danger of Disease
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin gave authorities the go-ahead to use force if necessary to remove the remaining 10,000 residents from their ruined homes, where bacteria-infested floodwaters pose a severe risk of disease. Gwen Ifill discusses the potential health risks of the stagnant water with Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Transcript: After a background report, Margaret Warner speaks with New Orleans Police Capt. Marlon DeFillo about the rescue mission.

Transcript: Following excerpts from a teleconference featuring Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour describing the needs of his storm-ravaged coastline, Tom Bearden reports on how Gulfport, Miss. residents are surviving on community help.

September 7, 2005
Experts Tally Economic Ripple Effects of Katrina
The massive damage to the Gulf Coast region also is expected to have lingering national economic impacts. Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Louisiana State University economics professor Jim Richardson provide their insights.

September 6, 2005
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Warns Most Difficult Days Lie Ahead
More than a week after Louisiana suffered the double blow of Hurricane Katrina and the catastrophic failure of New Orleans' levee system, officials in the storm-ravaged state have said months, if not years, will be needed to return to a state of normalcy. Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu warned that in addition to the painful process of uncovering and burying the dead, the work of rebuilding New Orleans and a functioning society will take much longer.
Transcript: Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago looks at the gigantic task of relocating the hurricane victims, many of whom have ended up in Baton Rouge, La.

September 6, 2005
Probes Launched into Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina
President Bush and Congress each announced on Tuesday that they would investigate the federal government's highly criticized response to Hurricane Katrina.
Transcript: Kwame Holman reports on how newly returned members of Congress are reacting to the government's response to Katrina.

September 5, 2005
President Returns to Louisiana as Questions of Race Remain
President Bush, who has faced withering criticism for the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina, visited the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast for the second time in four days as some activists and commentators continued to question the potential role race has played in the aid effort.
Transcript: Four perspectives on the role race and class have played in the disaster in New Orleans and the government's response.

September 2, 2005
Evacuated New Orleans Residents Face More Troubles
Survivors of Hurricane Katrina continued to flee New Orleans on Friday seeking shelter in Texas as emergency convoys reached the city to assist remaining residents and try to halt criminal activity.
Transcript: Jeffrey Brown gets the latest on the hurricane's aftermath from the Washington Post's Peter Slevin, who is in New Orleans.

September 2, 2005
Mississippi Situation Deteriorating; Death Toll Tops 180
Coastal residents desperate for water and food are facing long lines and deteriorating conditions as hundreds of National Guardsmen arrive to keep order in the hardest-hit areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Transcript: A report from the scene in Biloxi.

September 2, 2005
Evacuees Look for Loved Ones, New Beginnings Far From Home
Hundreds of evacuees have begun the process of rebuilding their lives in Houston after nearly a week separated from loved ones.

September 1, 2005
Victims Fleeing New Orleans Face Uncertainties
As thousands of flee the floodwaters of New Orleans, they face new challenges as they seek emergency aid from neighboring towns or as they attempt to start over at the Astrodome in Houston.

FEMA Director Defends Government's Efforts
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown said President Bush has promised all resources necessary to aid relief efforts but added it would take time to fulfill the needs of all survivors.

Transcript: Two experts discusses the violence and chaos that erupted in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina flooded the city and left many residents without food or shelter.

Transcript: Todd Bassett, the national commander of the Salvation Army, and John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation discuss efforts to get emergency aid and supplies to those in the most desperate situation in Louisiana.

September 1, 2005
Military Orders Added National Guard Presence in Gulf Coast
Some 22,000 National Guard troops will join forces already deployed along the Gulf Coast in an effort to bring security and calm to the region in what officials predict may be the largest military response to a natural disaster in U.S. history.

RealAudio: Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff says every effort is being made to help those in need.

August 31, 2005
New Orleans Struggles With Floodwaters, Looters
Floodwaters, which have inundated nearly 80 percent of the city of New Orleans, appeared to stabilize late Wednesday as officials struggled to evacuate victims and end sporadic looting. President Bush, cutting short his vacation, flew over the devastation and pledged to deliver federal aid to those struggling in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

RealAudio: President Bush's comments about federal assistance

August 31, 2005
U.S. to Release Oil from Reserve to Aid Refiners Hit by Hurricane
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Wednesday that the administration will release oil from the federal petroleum reserves to help refiners affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Transcript: Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute, discusses the disruption in production and distribution of U.S. oil as a result of the hurricane.

August 31, 2005
Intricate Levee System That Had Protected New Orleans Failed
For more than a century an elaborate system of the levees and canals had kept the city of New Orleans, much of which exists below the water level around it, dry and functioning. John Rennie, the editor of Scientific American magazine, discusses the breaches in the levee system that unleashed a deluge of water and flooded the city.

August 30, 2005
Flooding Worsens in New Orleans; Superdome to Be Evacuated
With several critical levees used to keep the city of New Orleans dry failing, water overwhelmed some 80 percent and forced officials to order the evacuation of the tens of thousands of people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers. Following excerpts of the press conference, Jim Ballow of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security updates the worsening situation in the state.

Transcript: Peter Slevin of the Washington Post provides a report from Biloxi, Miss.

Transcript: Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Patrick Rhode offers an overview of the federal government's response.

August 30, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Carves Path of Death and Destruction
A day after Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast, leaving broken buildings and flooding in its path, the governor of Mississippi reported Tuesday that as many as 80 people may have died in one county alone.

August 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Sweeps Across Gulf Coast
Hurricane Katrina smashed into the Gulf Coast Monday, bringing damaging winds and torrential rain. An emergency official in Mississippi and a reporter in New Orleans discuss the damage in two of the hardest hit areas.

August 29, 2005
Katrina Hits Louisiana, Threatens New Orleans and Biloxi
Hurricane Katrina, a powerful Category 4 storm packing 145 mph winds, slammed into the coast of Louisiana Monday morning, bringing torrential rains, spawning possible tornadoes and threatening devastation to the cities of New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss.