Katrina-s Trail of Death, Destruction and Despair

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Search and rescue teams are working 24/7 from Biloxi to New Orleans and the death toll continues to climb in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of homeless residents sit and wait for help, with scant supplies of food and water; thousands more are evacuating, some with no destination in mind. There is reportedly little police or National Guard presence in the city, and civil unrest, looting and carjacking are not yet under control, although though 30,000 troops, FEMA food and water air drops, and convoys of ships and trucks are arriving or on their way. Guest host Diana Nyad speaks with emergency workers and others about the crisis and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast. (An extended version of this segment aired earlier today on To the Point.) Making News: State Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage The California state Senate today passed a bill that legalizes gay marriage. While both Massachusetts and Vermont have already approved gay marriage, today's vote is the first time that a state legislature has approved taking gender out of marriage, and done so without a court order. Lynda Gledhill of the San Francisco Chronicle has more on the bill's provisions and the battle it still faces before it becomes California law.
Guest host Diana Nyad, 2002 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recommends that if you want to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, the greatest need is for financial aid. A number of relief organizations are accepting contributions now: For more information on how you can help, visit the FEMA website.

Gender-Neutral Marriage (AB 849)

Gledhill-s article on state Senate-s passage of same-sex marriage

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton