HURRICANE KATRINA: DoD Joint Task Force Sets Up at Camp Shelby, Miss.

Joint Task Force Katrina is setting up today at Camp Shelby, Miss., as the Defense Department's focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, American Forces Press Service reported.

Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, 1st U.S. Army commander, will head the task force to coordinate DoD active-duty support for disaster relief efforts in the hurricane's aftermath, much of it already under way or in the works.

Meanwhile, the number of National Guardsmen on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida rose to almost 8,300 today.

National Guard units and members in 17 more states remained on standby today, ready to provide assistance as required in the wake of extensive damage, rising floodwaters, and power and communications outages throughout the region, according to Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a DoD spokeswoman.

The guardsmen remain under their respective governors' control, which enables them to provide law-enforcement support in the affected regions -- something the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits active-duty forces from doing within the United States, American Forces Press Service said. While under state control, the National Guard is not bound by Posse Comitatus, according to NORTHCOM officials.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Military Response Begins; Helicopters, Rescue Teams Arriving to Help with Medical, Search and Rescue Needs

As of this morning, four MH-53 Sea Stallion and two HH-60 Seahawk helicopters from USS Bataan were flying medical-evacuation and search-and-rescue missions in Louisiana, and Bataan's hospital was preparing for possible use for medical support, American Forces Press Service reports.

Bataan, based out of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, is in the waters off the Louisiana coast. High Speed Vessel Swift, also based at Ingleside, sailed to the waters off Louisiana to provide support, as well.

Three helicopters from the Army's 3rd Corps, in Fort Hood, Texas, are in Baton Rouge, La., and two more in Mississippi to help with searches and rescues and damage assessments, NORTHCOM officials said.

In addition, five Air Force helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing, from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and 347th Rescue Wing from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., are in Mississippi for search-and-rescue missions, officials said. These aircraft are capable of nighttime searches and rescues and also will transport FEMA assessment teams over the area to gather critical information for state and federal emergency managers.

In addition, eight U.S. Transportation Command swift-water rescue teams, each with 14 members, were headed from California to Lafayette, La., today to rescue stranded civilians from flooded areas, NORTHCOM officials reported.

A wide range of other military members and assets were also bound for the Gulf Coast to provide more support, NORTHCOM officials reported.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group was preparing to sail from Norfolk, Va., loaded with disaster response equipment and was expected to reach the Louisiana coast in five days, officials said. The group consists of USS Iwo Jima, USS Shreveport, USS Tortuga and USNS Arctic.

The hospital ship USNS Comfort was preparing to leave Baltimore to bring medical assistance to the Gulf region and was expected to reach the area in seven days, officials said.

Plans were being made bring USS Grapple, a Navy rescue and salvage vessel, to the region to support maritime and underwater survey and salvage operations.

NORTHCOM has also established federal operational staging areas at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Alexandria, La.; and Fort Polk, La., to expedite the movement of relief supplies and emergency personnel to affected areas, officials reported.

In addition, NORTHCOM liaisons are operating in Clanton, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Jackson, Miss., to coordinate efforts between the command, other DoD elements and FEMA, American Forces Press Service said.

Standing Joint Forces Headquarters North will provide an augmentation cell and its command-and-control vehicle to Joint Task Force Katrina, and JTF Civil Support will provide a joint planning augmentation cell, officials said.

Officials said NORTHCOM's Joint Operations Center remains on 24-hour duty to expedite any additional requests for help from FEMA representatives.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Saudi King Sends Condolences, Country 'Stands Ready' to Incrase Crude Oil Production

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz today called U.S. President George W. Bush to offer condolences to the victims of the disaster and the people of the United States from the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the loss of life and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

King Abdullah said in an official statement that Saudi Arabia stands with the United States as it faces this tragedy, and is ready to provide assistance to mitigate its effects and consequences.

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi on Monday said that Saudi Arabia stands ready to immediately increase its crude oil production to 11 million barrels per day, and sustain that level to replace any market shortages resulting from the effects of Hurricane Katrina in order to stabilize world crude prices, according to a news release from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Transocean Begins Assessment Efforts, 'Significant' Damage to Deepwater Nautilus Rig

Transocean Inc. is deploying personnel to its U.S. Gulf of Mexico-based fleet and damage assessment efforts are underway, the company said today.

A preliminary inspection of the company's semisubmersible rig, Deepwater Nautilus, has revealed significant damage to the rig's mooring system and the loss of approximately 3,200 feet of marine riser and a portion of the unit's subsea well control system, which remained suspended at the time the unit was evacuated, the company said.

The rig, which was previously reported to have drifted off location, has been secured by an offshore service vessel approximately 80 miles from its moored position prior to the storm. Because further inspection is necessary to determine the full extent of damage, the company is presently unable to assess the length of time required to complete repairs and return the Deepwater Nautilus to service.

Preliminary inspections of three other moored semisubmersibles, the Transocean Marianas, Transocean Amirante and Falcon 100, have at present revealed no damage, although the inspection process is still underway.

Inspection of the semisubmersible rig C. (Kirk) Rhein, Jr., which is stacked in a Mobile, Ala., shipyard, has revealed no evidence of damage.

The company's six dynamically positioned Fifth-Generation Deepwater Floaters, which moved away from the storm's projected path, did not sustain damage and are in the process of returning to pre-storm locations to recommence operations.

"We are thankful to have received no reports at this hour of injuries or loss of life among our people, both on duty and off duty in the Gulf Coast. However, some of our employees who reside in and around the areas hardest hit by the storm have lost their homes and other property. Our thoughts and prayers for safety and comfort are directed to these individuals, their families and friends," Robert L. Long, president and chief executive officer of Transocean, said.

HURRICANE KATRINA: FAA Gives Helinet Aviation Clearance to Continue Flying News-Gathering Helicopters

Helinet Aviation Services, one of the country's largest operators of electronic news-gathering helicopters, today said it received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration last night to continue providing aerial images of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Selected by the networks as their partner of choice for aerial footage, Helinet is the only commercial operator to receive clearance from the FAA to fly in the affected airspace.

On Monday, Helinet provided the first aerial images in the wake of Hurricane Katrina from its Cineflex HD aerial camera system. The company is continuing to provide live and taped images to relief organizations and news networks from above New Orleans, Biloxi and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

HURRICANE KATRINA: BellSouth Assessing Services, Providing 'Tent Cities' for 13,000 Affected Employees

BellSouth today said that of the approximately 1.75 million customers in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina, 750,000 customer lines are in the most heavily damaged locations. It added that 180 of its central office locations are currently running on generator due to a loss of commercial power in affected areas.

BellSouth is still assessing the full impact on the network and its customers' operations, and as a result, it is too early to project the total magnitude of destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The company is focused on restoring operational facilities and services to customers, as well as ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees.

Approximately 13,000 BellSouth employees in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have been affected by the storm. The company is planning to set up several "tent cities" in severely affected areas to provide its employees and their families with necessities such as food, shelter and clothing, in addition to cash loans and employee assistance programs.

"This is not a normal hurricane restoration situation," said Bill Smith, Chief Technology Officer. "For example, the water level in New Orleans is still rising and working conditions are extremely difficult. As the water recedes in Mississippi and Alabama, our normal restoration efforts are progressing."

BellSouth is also coordinating with wireless providers to improve communications in the hardest- hit areas.

"Given the scope of the damage, the entire restoration effort in the hardest hit areas will take more time than BellSouth would normally expect," the company said.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Plains All American Pipeline Reports Damage to Mobile Bay Terminal

Plains All American Pipeline L.P. has performed a preliminary damage assessment of the impact of Hurricane Katrina on certain of its Gulf Coast assets and said that the most significant damage appears to be the loss of ship docking facilities at the Mobile Bay terminal, the company said today.

The Mobile Bay terminal's barge docking facilities and tanks appear to be fully intact and the terminal should be partially operational once power is restored to the facility and appropriate measures have been taken to restart the facility, the company said.

It is taking the necessary steps to remove debris and repair or replace the ship dock as necessary, but the timing and potential costs of the repairs are unknown at this time.

The company had activated its Hurricane Preparedness Plan for facilities that were expected to be impacted by the storm. Depending upon the facility, steps taken by the company included suspending operations, securing the facilities, relocating equipment and evacuating employees.

The current assessments included aerial reconnaissance, on-site inspections where possible and review of available aerial photography.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Duke Energy Pledges Up to $200,000 in Donations to American Red Cross

Duke Energy, through The Duke Energy Foundation, today committed up to $200,000 to the American Red Cross for disaster relief efforts associated with the flooding and storm damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The Foundation will contribute $100,000 to the American Red Cross immediately. In addition, the Foundation has set aside another $100,000 to match donations made by Duke Energy employees and retirees through the end of September.

"Our thoughts are with all those who continue to suffer through the tremendous destruction that Hurricane Katrina brought with her," said Martha Wyrsch, president and chief executive officer, Duke Energy Gas Transmission, which has operations in the affected region.

"We applaud the Red Cross for all they are doing to help people and communities that have been so devastated by this event, and we are pleased to be able to provide this assistance toward their efforts," she said.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a diversified energy company with a portfolio of natural gas and electric businesses, both regulated and unregulated, and an affiliated real estate company. It supplies, delivers and processes energy for customers in the Americas.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Entergy Assessing the 'Extraordinary Damage' to Its Electrical System in Louisiana and Mississippi

Entergy is beginning the process of assessing "the extraordinary damage" to its electrical system in Louisiana and Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina, "the worst storm in Entergy's history."

Company officials today said it could take crews several days to fully assess the damage, and expect "a long and difficult restoration process due to the scope and amount of damage to its electrical system."

As of 5 a.m. today, Entergy's electrical power outages from Hurricane Katrina peaked at nearly 1.1 million homes and businesses, with some 790,000 in Louisiana and more than 300,000 in Mississippi without power.

Entergy crews were able to restore power to some customers Monday night in areas that did not suffer heavy damage from Katrina. The company is expecting that additional outages could occur due to wet soil and occasional strong wind gusts.

The outage total already has more than quadrupled the previous Entergy record of 270,000 set only last month during Tropical Storm Cindy. The record prior to that was 260,000 in Hurricane Georges in 1998.

Entergy will first concentrate on restoring service in areas where it is not inhibited by flood waters or other obstacles. The company will work toward the harder hit areas as it gains access to those areas.

The company said customers should be prepared for extended power outages. Severe damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to Entergy's system could require weeks to rebuild. In addition, restoration may be hampered by flooding, blocked access or other obstacles. Entergy crews and contractors are prepared to work long hours after the storm passes, restoring service to customers as quickly and as safely as possible.

HURRICANE KATRINA: NPRA Applauds Decision to Temporarily Lift Specifications for Gas, Diesel Fuels

NPRA, a national trade association that includes owners and operators of virtually all U.S. refining capacity, as well as major U.S. petrochemical manufacturers, today said it welcomes the temporary lifting of specifications for gasoline and diesel fuels announced today by the Bush administration.

"President Bush's swift and decisive actions concerning emergency fuel waivers for certain gasoline and diesel fuel standards are certainly appreciated and will clearly help alleviate potential supply disruptions throughout the nation," said NPRA President Bob Slaughter.

"There remains much to be done and NPRA looks forward to working with President Bush, the Administration, and Congress to supply the nation with the transportation fuels that are vital to the U.S. economy."

While the physical impacts of Katrina are devastating, the economic impacts range far beyond geographic boundaries, said Slaughter. "With the nation facing record high fuel prices before Hurricane Katrina, the closure of vital refinery and pipeline operations has placed an extreme burden on an already strained transportation fuels market."

"It is the goal of our member companies to restore capacity as quickly and as safely as possible. At this point, it is impossible to predict the full impact of the storm and how long shut downs will persist," he added.