New Orleans gives up its dead

Thursday, September 08, 2005

As flood waters left by Hurricane Katrina begin to recede in New Orleans, the gruesome task of recovering the bodies has begun.

More than 30 bodies were discovered in St. Rita's Nursing Home, in St. Bernard Parish, a suburb just east of New Orleans. St. Bernard Parish was one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The nursing home, was believed to have been home to some 80 residents. Forty to fifty residents were evacuated before Hurricane Katrina moved in, but as to why the rest of the nursing home residents were not, there are no answers yet - nor no clues.

As of late Wednesday night, the death toll in Louisiana was at 83 confirmed deaths, but that number is expected to rise sharply as flood waters recede.

Bob Johannessen, a spokesman for Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, told The Associated Press that FEMA has 25,000 body bags in the state.