In the days since the attacks, an enormous wave of charitable giving has stunned even veteran disaster officials.

In some areas, though, disaster officials are reconciling themselves to the reality that it will not be possible to get everyone out in time.

And disaster officials are saying that the new flooding will probably push the flood's monetary damage past $12 billion.

Closer to the coast - and the the churning storm - local disaster officials said the gusts had been building throughout the evening.

Should the Mississippi levees give way, which is a concern to disaster officials, the level of water in the flood plain would rise even higher.

Thus far, some disaster officials say, total losses are pushing close to $10 billion.

The new worry for disaster officials is bridges.

Red Cross and national disaster officials reported that more than 4,000 people were moved to safer ground and evacuation continued.

The station appealed to disaster officials to send medical crews and acetylene torches to free trapped victims.

The information would be used by geologists and disaster officials for "internal readiness," he said.