Bush In Disaster Area

President George W. Bush, second from right, drives through a devastated area of New Orleans, La., with local officials on Sept. 12 2005. With him are, from left, Vice Admiral Thad Allen, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. Embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Mike Brown's resignation earlier in the day seemed to catch Mr. Bush and the White House off guard.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave before boarding Air Force One Sept. 5, 2005, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. For the second time, Mr. Bush was going to visit Gulf Coast areas battered by Hurricane Katrina, stopping in Louisiana and Mississippi.

President Bush sits with Ailisa Eugene and Frank Jack at Bethany World Prayer Center Sept. 5, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La. The couple, from Metairie, La., was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and are expecting a baby in November.

President Bush hugs a little girl at the Bethany World Prayer Center Sept. 5, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La.

President Bush with Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, left, talks with victims of Hurricane Katrina at the Bethany World Prayer Center that is now a makeshift shelter Sept. 5, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La.

Marine One, carrying President Bush, takes an aerial tour over Louisiana in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Sept. 2, 2005. Mr. Bush toured the Gulf Coast communities battered by Hurricane Katrina, hoping to boost the spirits of increasingly desperate storm victims and exhausted rescuers.

The president hugs hurricane victim Sandra Patterson, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Sept. 2, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss.

President Bush places his arms around hurricane victims Kim and Bronwynne Bassier on the street where their destroyed home used to be Sept. 2, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss. Bush visited the town of Biloxi, in parts completely devastated, during his tour of the Gulf Coast to view damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Bush tries to comfort the Bassier sisters.

Seen through the remains of a destroyed home, President Bush talks with Biloxi firemen who had been searching the rubble for victims Sept. 2, 2005, in Biloxi.

President Bush sits with Patrick Wright on the steps of what was his parents' house Sept. 2, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss. Wright's parents survived the storm, despite the fact that they were inside it.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, left, greets President Bush as he arrives at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005, for a briefing during the president's tour of the Gulf Coast.

President Bush talks with rescue swimmer Dustin Skarra during a briefing on damage from Hurricane Katrina in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005. Mr. Bush was hoping to boost the spirits of increasingly desperate storm victims and exhausted rescuers. At far right is Michael Chertoff, director of homeland security.

President Bush comforts Debra Foster as he talks to Charles Foster in Biloxi, Miss., Sept. 2, 2005. The president toured the storm ravaged area of Point Cadet and met survivors at a Salvation Army food line.