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FROM WWL

Updates as they come in on Katrina

05:32 AM CDT on Friday, September 2, 2005

Tom Planchet

5:31 A.M. - HOUSTON (AP) -- After accepting more than 11,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees, officials said the Astrodome was full and began sending buses to other shelters in the Houston area Thursday night.

"We've actually reached capacity for the safety and comfort of the people inside there," American Red Cross spokeswoman Dana Allen said. She said people were "packed pretty tight" on the floor of the Astrodome.

Buses that continued to arrive were being sent on to other shelters in the area and as far away as Huntsville, about an hour north of Houston.

5:27 A.M. - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- After helping to triage and evacuate hospital patients in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina's wrath bore down on the city, Louisiana Health Secretary Fred Cerise could only choke back tears. "We have people there that we know we haven't been able to reach yet," he said, his voice breaking and his eyes rimmed red from lack of sleep.

5:24 A.M. - UNDATED (AP) -- Hurricane Katrina damaged or displaced an estimated 58 Gulf of Mexico oil platforms and drilling rigs. The American Petroleum Institute says among those, 30 rigs and platforms have been reported lost. Tim Sampson, an A-P-I spokesman says no company breakdown was available.

5:10 A.M. - CNN reports explosions believed to be railroad cars.

5:07 A.M. - CNN producer Jim Spellman, who has been stationed with police sharpshooters, says reports indicate that New Orleans officers are not showing up for work. In some districts as many as 60 percent of officers have not reported for duty.

4:55 A.M. - Refugee Alan Gould spoke to CNN from inside the New Orleans Convention Center. He said sick, eldery and children are dying and children have been beaten and raped. He pleaded for help.

4:41 A.M. - CNN reports fires, explosions erupting in southwest part of New Orleans. Thick smoke is billowing into the air. Police are working to get hazmat teams to the area, which is near Chartres Street. That is where railroad cars are housed.