Gulf Coast Invaded...With Kindness
New figures out Saturday show damage estimates from Hurricane Katrina could climb to $200 billion dollars in the coming weeks -- and could top more than $300 billion eventually.
In the meantime, CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker reports that help from foreign countries continues to pour into the hurricane zone.
By land and by sea, the United States is being invaded -- with kindness. Sailors from the Netherlands and Mexico stormed Biloxi with supplies.
Dutch Naval officer Stefan Luteijn calls it a bit strange "for a powerful nation to be in need of help."
"On the other hand, anyone can be in need of help, so, even the United States," Luteijn said.
The U.S. has accepted about a billion dollars in foreign aid for Katrina's victims, including a planeload from France and Britain. Even tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka offered $25,000.
Mexican troops last crossed onto U.S. soil in 1846. That brought on the Mexican-American War. Now, the sight of Mexican troops driving through San Antonio has brought out smiles.
"We are so proud to be here to help you in America," said Lt. Ruben Oyarvide of the Mexican Navy.
And President George W. Bush, who last week said the U.S. didn't need foreign help, this week said thank you.
"In this time of struggle, the American people need to know we are not struggling alone," Mr. Bush said.
But some critics say the usually tough-talking Bush Administration is sending mixed signals.
"It's a national security disaster, because it signals to our enemies that we are not as strong as we like to pretend or project that we are," said Susan Rice, former Under Secretary in the Clinton State Department. "That weakness ought to concern us greatly."
But in Biloxi, the needs are great and the people are grateful.
"My whole life, I've seen the U.S. forces constantly going out and we rarely get to see any reciprocating," said Lt. Cmdr. Monte Mechler. "How can you turn that kind of help down?"
At the main staging area on Biloxi Beach, you hear Dutch, Spanish and lots of broken English. The foreign sailors say they'll stay and help as long as they are needed.