Many of the staff at WWL had time to rest yesterday, because we are here to relieve them. Most of them have lost everything, and I think the rest allowed them to realize their losses. The mood around the building has changed considerately from yesterday to today. Some of the reporters and photographers have been able to make it back to New Orleans, and their homes, to assess the damage, but most of the people here still don't know what is left of their lives.

Amazingly, even the people who know they have lost everything are here, working, often with little or no sleep. When they do sleep, it is often on the floor.

I am fortunate that I have a hotel to return to at night. I am sharing with several other people, but I am lucky to have a place. When I left this morning, I saw at least ten busses outside the hotel, and hundreds of refugees were standing outside, waiting to get into the ballroom to sleep. There was a riot at one of the shelters in Baton Rouge this morning. The police swat team had to move in and restore calm to the area. People are at their witts end. They are starting to understand that they have lost everything, and it may be months before they can get back to see for themselves. They no longer have jobs, because that washed away with their houses. The shelters are low on supplies, and everyone knows that help is on the way, but it is hard to wait on the trucks. It breaks my heart to look at the massive amout of people who are just surviving, not living, but surviving.

Bob Van Tieghem