Lousiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (L) speaks with Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen, who is in charge of the disaster relief operation aboard Marine One at the South East Texas Regional Airport in Beaumont, TX, before touring the area recently affected by hurricane Rita with US President George W. Bush. The death toll from Hurricane Rita rose amid new wrangling over the government's disaster management as Bush again toured devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana.(AFP/Jim Watson)