Katrina Disaster Blog: Sept. 5

This is a running list compiled by CBSNews.com staffers of the latest developments in the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry said the country will start releasing about 200,000 barrels a day of crude oil and refined products from its oil reserves held by refiners to the market from Wednesday.

"We are not planning to release any government-controlled crude oil stocks at this time," Nakagawa said.

The International Energy Agency announced Friday that its 26 members, including Japan, would draw on 2 million barrels a day of oil over the next 30 days to help offset the loss of output and refining capacity in the U.S. caused by Hurricane Katrina, and restore confidence in the market.

7:58 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Fed up with the criticism, New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass said Monday that his officers held their ground without food, water and even ammunition in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"In the annals of history, no police department in the history of the world was asked to do what we (were) asked," Compass said with a mix of anger and pride.

Two police officers killed themselves. Another was shot in the head. Compass said 150 had to be rescued from eight feet of water and others had gotten infections from walking through the murky soup of chemicals and pollutants in flooded areas of the city.

1:30 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) President Bush is visiting an emergency operations center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It's part of today's hurricane-inspection tour in Gulf Coast states.

12:00 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) New Orleans' deputy police chief is urging those residents who haven't yet done so to leave, saying the city has "completely been destroyed."

Warren Riley says thousands of people remain in the flooded city -- many of whom don't want to evacuate. He says officers are trying to convince them there's no reason to stay, noting a lack of food and jobs.

10:00 a.m.
Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton announced they had started the 'Bush-Clinton-Katrina' Fund to help with victims in the Gulf region.

They said the funds would go directly to the Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, who would best be able to decide how funds should be allocated within their state borders.

8:00 a.m.
METAIRIE, La. (AP) One week after Hurricane Katrina turned the region into a disaster of biblical proportions, miles-long lines of vehicles crawled into Jefferson Parish on Monday as residents were allowed to return for
brief inspections of what's left of their homes.

The traffic began moving into the parish west of New Orleans at about 6 a.m., and officials planned to allow traffic in for 12 hours, though they encouraged residents to inspect their property, pick up personal items and leave.

5:47 a.m.
TUPELO, Miss. (AP) Best-selling writer John Grisham and his wife have decided to disclose their $5 million contribution to establish a relief fund to help Mississippians rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

The fund at BancorpSouth in Tupelo will be called the Rebuild the Coast Fund Organization.

4:40 a.m.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Gov. Bob Riley says donations collected by the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund will help Alabama victims of Hurricane Katrina who are uninsured or without federal assistance. Volunteers will take calls Sept. 5 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The toll-free number is at 1-877-273-5018.

2:32 a.m.
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) A week after Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast damage remains stunning.

In Mississippi, utility crews are all around, with workers in cherry pickers trying to get power back to thousands. The beachfront remains a disaster. And there's no telling when Biloxi's famed riverboat casinos will be back in business.

12:03 a.m.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Governor Christine Gregoire announced today that the state is making plans to host up to two thousand hurricane refugees.

Gregoire says state officials don't know exactly when the refugees will arrive but it could be within the next few days. She says the two thousand figure is just an initial estimate.