Thousands return to New Orleans

Thousands of people are travelling into New Orleans to inspect the damage done to their homes by Hurricane Katrina.

Roads are jammed as residents have been allowed back into the city for 12 hours to collect their possesions.

A week after the storm, rescue crews are still searching for survivors, checking every room in every building.

President Bush is making his third visit to the area on Monday, but many people are angry as they think he took too long to send help to the region.

Thousands feared dead

So far, 59 bodies have been recovered in New Orleans, but it's thought that the actual number killed in the disaster could rise to thousands.

Officials say 130 British people are unaccounted for in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, but some of them may have left the area before the storm hit.

Newsround's Laura is in the hurricane zone - read her diary here

Thousands of people have been taken to Texas, Indiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. Officials in Texas now say they are running out of space for people to stay.

UK aid

Britain is sending aid to the US, and 500,000 military ration boxes have been flown out from RAF Brize Norton.

Each pack includes enough food to last one person a day. The UK government will also send out blankets, camp beds and tents.

The charity the British Red Cross has launched an appeal for money to fund the relief effort.

Police shooting

Officials in New Orleans have promised to restore calm to the city after US police shot eight people, reportedly killing five.

Click here to see pics of the impact of the storm

The shooting happened when army contract engineers, brought into help the rescue effort, came under fire from gunmen and police officers shot back.

In a separate incident, a helicopter crashed near the city. The two civilians on board survived with minor injuries.